Journal paper

Issue No.	No. 52
Title	A Key Development in the Aviation Industry of the R.O.C. ─ A Study on the Operation of Dading Aircraft Engine Manufacturing Plant (1939-1949)
Author	Lee, Nan-hai
Page	133-182
Abstract	Acknowledging the importance of the aviation industry to a modern country, the government had decided to develop the aviation industry since the Republic of China was founded. In February, 1941, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the first aircraft engine manufacturing plant was established in Yangchangbah, Dading County, Gueizhou Province. 　　　Under the leadership of Li Borling, its first director, the plant set up technical training classes and created an excellent management system. With the cooperation of 3 successive directors and all the colleagues, the plant finally produced 32 aircraft engines which all passed the qualificationtesting by the original U.S. aviation factory.Such an achievement was indeed a pioneering event in China; and it also laid a solid foundation for the development of the Chinese aviation industry. After the eight-year Sino-Japanese War, Dading engine plant also manufactured motor vehicle parts to meet the needs of the market. No wonder, the Dading engine plant was called “the cradle of China’s aviation industry,” which promoted the development of China’s national defense science and technology. 　　　In 1949, due to the Chinese Civil War, the plant was moved to Taiwan and finally dissolved there. Although its original ideals were not completely fulfilled, the plant at least fostered many talented technicians in aviation industry for Taiwan and Mainland China. Therefore, it is a worthwhile task to examine theestablishment and achievement of the Dading aircraft engine manufacturing plant as a witness to the hardship and development of modern China’s aviation industry.
Keyword	The aviation industry, The engine manufacturing plant, Technical training class, National defense science and technology
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