Statistics

Balance of Air Power, 1914-18

 

1914
Aircraft Airships
Belgium 24 -
Britain 113 6
France 138 4
Russia 226 11
Total Entente 501 21
     
Austria-Hungary 36 1
Germany 232 11
Total Central Powers 268 12

 

1918
Aircraft Airships
Britain 3,300 103
France 4,511 n.a.
Italy 1,200 n.a.
United States 740 36
Total Entente 9,751 n.a.
     
Austria-Hungary n.a. n.a.
Germany 2,390 56
Ottoman Empire 80 -
Total Central Powers 2,470 56

 

Notes:

(1) The Aerodrome gives 244 aircraft for Russia and 86 aircraft for Austria-Hungary in 1914.

(2) Italy aircraft (150) and United States aircraft (55) in 1914 not included in totals.

(3) Front line strength only. Serviceable strength in 1918 estimated as Britain (22,647), France (15,352), U.S. (7,900), Germany (20,000).

Sources: Salamander Books, The Encyclopedia of Air Warfare, RAF Centre for Air Power Studies, The Aerodrome.

Last modified: 10 December 2022