The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-05
Aviators in Training in This
Country and Europe to Man
Them All Next Year
EVERY TYPE OF FLYING
MACHINE REPRESENTED
First Equipped With New Lib
erty Motor viii Be Sent
Abroad Soon-Allies Lend
Valuable Cooperation

progress on practically all OF the co.
900 airplanes Appropriated for by
congress TO carry the war to the Hin
denburg line. Hundreds of American
aviation students are already In all
the allied countries completing their
trtiring.
In addition to the machines being
number are being manufactured in
Europe to meet immediate demands
of the American field forces.
Thounands Of men are training to
fly on the government fields IN Amer
lea, AS soon as they learn they are
sent abroad. The first ali-America
airplane. equipped with the famous
liberty motor, will be sent overseas in
A reasonable time" America Will
have every known type of fighting
machine--the training airpiane, the
fast scout plane and the powerful,
dynamite-carryfne battle plane of the
Caprnni txpe These-xia-nt- air dread
noughts will he used TO drop tons OF
high explosives behind the German
lines.
These and other important state
nents were made by Secretary of War
Baker today in summarizing the ac-
plishments to date of the United
States in aviation
Work Already Begun.
Contracts have been let and work
is In progress on practically the en-
tire number OF airpianes and motors
for which provision was made in the
100000. 900 aviation bill passed by
congress in July" says the secretary.
This program called for more than
20.oo0 airplanes.
1.-THE types Of airplanes now In
process OF manufacture cover the en-
tire range Of training machines. light
high speed fighting machines and
powerful battle and bombing planes
of the heaviest design. Our contracts
call for An ample number of training
machines and embrace as well giant
battleplanes capable Of the. work of
the Caproni the Handley- Page and
similar types
Every measure Of insurance has
been taken that 1he American fnEces
in France 'sfqa1i be amply equipped
with aircraft The training OF avi-
ators. the building Of motors and the
construction OF wings Ia proceeding
uniformly-each keeping pace with
the other and with general war plans.
Plan Is Comprehensive.
The preheusive plan is that
when motors are ready. there shall
be ready also the planes necessary;
and when the motors and planes are
ready. aviators and machine guns
shall be availa BILE,
within reasonable time. consid-
ering the period for preparation. this
country will send it's fsrst airplane TO
Europe This atrplane. from the tip
of it's propellers TO the engine. ma
chine gun and camera will have
been made In the United States"
Referring 70 the difficulties encoun-
tered ar the beginning Secretary Ra-
ker said
TT has been necessary greatly TO de-
veiop and expand the aircraft industry
IN this country This work OF increas-
ing the output OF existing manufactnr-
ins establishments. creating new plants
and providing tools, gauge aud 5ig
equipment fer great quantity produc-
tion, has required time and the months
of the summer have been and the early
fall win be devoted to this essential
groundwork.
Omitted States airplanes are being
constructed both in this country and
abroad Approximately one-fourth OF
tho number needed will be made
abroad"
The liberty motor" already spoken
of by Mr.. Baker as probably the great
est single achievement of the war"
has been accorded foreign recognition.
The allies have already asked for sam
pies OF these motors and are investi-
eating the possibilities or quantity
production In this country. Discussing
this phase OF the situation. he went on:
America Controls Materials.
THE United States today Ii in Practt-
cal control of many OF the materials
required for the manufacture of air
craft both for this government and It's
allies. Steps have been taken for the
conservation and distribution of such
materials and the great resources Of
this country.
Under the direction of the aircraft
production board there is being accom-
Pushed an international standardizs :
ton in the tests OF materials and their
specifications, so that through uni
fication OF the demands upon this coun-
sry there may be full utilization of our
resources.
experts of the allied nations have come
to Washington and are on regular duty
with the officers OF the army and navy
air service and with the members OF
the aircraft production board. The
best man of the air service OF the al
lied countries have been loaned To this
government and were sent here to aid
in getting our aviation program un se.'
way with the fewest possible mistakes
and the greatest economy In time
There has been a remarkably grati-
tying response to the call for await rs
Today thousands of Americans are be-
ing fitted for flying. The ground schools
conducted by several of our great unl.
versities are turning out cadets stead
lily. Twenty-four training schools have
heen authorized and construction work
Ia up to schedule.
Realizing there would be a short.
age. in the beginning. OF American
built training planes. a successful plan
was evolved Arrangement was made
with the allied countries for the ac-