Aviation Development in Russia's Far East
Abstract
The majority of western scholarship on Russia and the Soviet Union focuses on European involvements, particularly aviation studies. Such literature overlooks Russia's sprawling East Asia holdings, its strategic position in the North Pacific and the large aviation investment the nation made in its Far East. Hence, this work offers a Pacific perspective on military and civil aviation development in Russia from 1904 to the early 1970s. This region's natural wealth and location between North America and Asia inspired plans to protect, connect and exploit it by aviation. Moreover, during the formative years of flight, enmity with Japan and a Soviet emphasis on self-sufficiency greatly influenced aviation's employment. Military expenditures overwhelmed civil development, and not until the early 1970s, did any regular international service connect with Russia's Far East. Perhaps other scholars will further investigate the military structuring, civil developments, economic consequences or personalities subsequent to those introduced in this work. Toward such understanding, this text offers both explanation for the Far East's lengthy aerial isolation as well as an appreciation for the Russian paramilitary approach to aviation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA311564
Entities
People
- David M. Bachler
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology