The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-12-27
Washington Bureau
The Pensacola Journal


highly satisfactory progress has been
made during the last month IN the
manufacture of the fleet of Amer
lean airplanes that the officials OF
the Aircraft Production Board have
no longer any apprehension about
having the machines ready when the
time arrives to make the whlriwlnd
attack on Germany, Howard Coffln,
chairman of the board seated 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 Pro-
duction Board, in an interview with
the correspondent today, the first ne
has given the newspapers IN q
month, outlined the rapid progress
being made by the United States to
prepare a fleet of airplanes which
would be superior to any planes now
in existence, manned by a corps OF
air pilots who will equal the deeds OF
any Of the men who have become IA
nous during the war.
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 mo
tor will prove to be the superior of
any aircraft being used by Germany
or any of the allies.
. Second The aircraft experts of
the Allies, after thoroughly investi-
eating the liberty motor, have FORM
ed conclusions as favorable as those
of the American experts regarding IT,
and have made repeated requests for
deliveries of several thousands of the
new motor devised by American
genius.
Third. The European aircraft eA-
perts We're at first unwilling to be-
ieve that America could within a
short time grasp the intricacie. or
airplane motor constructions and
surpass the skill of the Europeans,
who have devoted many years to that
line.
They are now willing to admit the
liberty motor is the best ever made.
Fourth. Twenty -four aviation train
ing station have been authorized and
most of them are now in operation.
1t has been found possible to reduce
the period necessary to trian avia-
tors from SIX months to four months.
Two months are devoted to ground
| work, the training of the flyers in
| the construction mechanism and up
keep of the machine, and then two
| months are given to actual flying.
Fifth. In addition to sae twenty
| four training stations for aviators in
the United States, American flyers
are in training at airplane stations
maintained by our allies in England
Canada, France, Italy and Egypt.
Sixth. Wonderful progress has
been attained in training the flyers
The stage of development in turning
out flying men is far in advance of
what the: aircraft 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 sub
Ject to the next draft can still enlist
| in this branch. Mr.. Coffin made it
very clear that the young men going
| into this branch of the service will
Jump into a line of work that is in
its infancy and which will not cease
after the war.
| Eighth. There is no truth in the
reports that the liberty motor loses
its highest effectiveness after reach
ing height of 5000 feet or that
there is any other motor IN exist
ence superior to it in any line of
work
Ninth. The standardizing of type
is expected to prove one of the great
4 NSt aCcnfa nS hn
forces. Mr.. Coffin explained the adj
vantage that would come from hay-
ing parts of all the American ma
chimes interchangeable and easily re-
placed. This will entirely prevent the
occurrence of the difficulty the allies
had during the early part of the wal
IN Keeping airplanes in repair when
there were about sixty types of air
planes in use.
Tenth. The talk of having 100, OOG
American airplanes on the German
west front next sprins - extrava.
giant. The almsot impossibility OF
such development may be graspeo
from the fact that ordinarily ter
ground men are required to each
flyer, and that more than 10000
men would be need to tldle that
number Of machines. And Their
where could 100000 airplanes b
quartered when it requires about 1OC
square feet of ground to house on.
machine? -:
Eleventh. 1t is highly improbable
that any of the American airplanes
will be sent to France through the
air. 1t is more than likely they will
| be sent knocked down to be assem-
bled on the other side. The number
| of airplanes which the United States
plans to place on the western from,