Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-22
sGREAT AIR FLEET
FOR u. s. CERTAIN
Highly Satisfactory Prog
ress Made in Construc-
ton, Coffin Says
FLIERS NOW BIG NEED
Liberty Motor Makes Ameri-
can Machine Most Effective
Battleplane in World
BD n StuH Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Dec.

Such highly satisfactory progress has
been made during the last month IN the
manufacture of the feet Of American
airplanes that the officials bf the air
craft production board have no longer
any apprehension about having the ma
chimes ready when the time arrives to
make the whirlwind aerial attack on
Germany. Howard Coffin, chairman of
the board, stated today.
The greatest need now Is for young
Americans. sound of limb. clear of eye
and of high intellectual capacity to man
the fleet. Mr.. Coffin said.
The chairman of the aircraft produc-
tion board. in an interview with the
EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER correspondent
today, the first he has given the news
papers in a month. outlined the rapid
progress being made by the United
States to prepare a feet of airpanes
which would be the superior of any
planes now in existence, manned by a
corps of air pilots WHO will equal the
deeds of any of the men who have be-
come famous during the war.
BEST CRAFT IN WORLD
Much of the information given by Mr..
Coffin cannot be made public at this
time. but the following facts may be
stated:
First. The aircraft production board.
after innumerable laboratory and field
experiments. has become more strongly
convinced than ever that the liberty
motor is the best airplane motor ever
built, and that the American battle
planes and scout planes equipped with
the liberty motor will prove to he the
superior Of any aircraft being used by
Germany or any of the Allies.
Second. The aircraft experts of the Al
lies, after thoroughly investigating the
liberty motor. have formed conclusions
as favorable as those of the American
regarding 1t, and have made repeated
requests for deliveries of several thou
sands of the new motor devised by
American genius.
Third The European aircraft experts
we're at first unwilling to believe that
America could within a short time grasp
the intricacies of airplane motor con-
struction and surpass the skill Of the
Europeans, who have devoted many
years to that line. They are now will
ing to admit the liberty motor is the
best ever made.
Fourth. Twenty-four aviation train
ing stations have been authorized. and
most of them are now in operation. 1t
has been found possible to reduce the
period necessary to train aviators from
six to four months. Two months are de.
Az, W '.,,,,,,,tr,, 49, ' ,,',ai,a,,,
"'e ".e,S III '"e 'V'''i "'tio" '"eN1' i''7'' '''
M uu upn.p y. VI. '"'. my, ""
wv n,o'''''s are sNe" W a'."'' ny t'H'
rHth' III auui,ioh 10 Tue twenty
TOUR training stations ior aNlatorS III
the United states American myers are
In training al airplane stations main
tained by our allies in England canada,
France, Italy and EgyOt,
- Sixth. Wonderful progress has been
attained in training the fllers The stage
OF development in turning out flying
men is far in advance of what the alr-
craft board had even hoped for some
months ago.
Seventh The aviation corps is
anxious to secure the services of a large
number of intelligent Young men for
this service. and men subject to tho neyt
draft can s,iII en1fsy--In ,ni, hr.,,,h
Nr Coffin made n. rnr,, c,s,,, tha, ,ha
,,,,,,n ,,a,, ,,,i,,S -. ~, ,,,,,,, -, A.
.ar,,,oo ,,i,, 49,, 49," H. -, ,,,. 49,.
~, - a.. ,, ;sn ..e.ssa,', IN ~. "o,N
ns., - 70 :. u, .'anS SUI "'i''" VIII "o'
'eaee aioer '"e war IT,.
Eighth. There is no truth In the re-
ports that the liberty motor loses lis
highest effectiveness after reaching a
height of 5000 feet or that there is
any other motor in existence that is
its superior in any line of work.
Ninth. The standardizinr of tvne ;s
expected to prove one of the preatest
assets of the American airnIane forces
Mr. Coffir explained tho adyantaya tb, /,
would come from having narts of an tho
American machines in,errbangeabJe amd
easily replaced. This will entirely nre-