New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-21
$500 Machines Will Be
Turned Out This
Year
Coffin to Head
Aircraft Board
Plans Constant Stream of
Skilled Aviators to
Aid Allies
From The Tribune Burtaul

Coffin.
This step, according to Mr.. Coffin,
marks the completion of plans to turn
out in American factories about $500
air machines this year and double the
output next year. They will include
both training and battle types. The
establishment of schools and training
fields is also planned, with sufficient
capacity not only to man these ma
chimes, but to supply constant stream
Of aviators and mechanics to the Amer
lean forces in Europe. This means the
education Of 5000 aviators this year.
Under the auspices of six Of the ma
tion's leading engineering schools,
cadets are already under preliminary
training for the American military air
service, and negotiations for three OF
the nine training fields now contem-
plated have been approved by the War
Department. Their preparation will
begin Immediately.
Won't Purchase Abroad
Negotiations on contracts for aero
planes are under way and some neces-
sary orders have already been placed.
The United States will not buy aircraft
abroad. The members Of the board, be-
sides Chairman Coffin, are George o.
Squire, chief signal officer, U. S. A;
Rear Admiral d. W. Taylor, chief OF
the Bureau of Construction, U. s. NJ;
S. d. Walden, former vice-president OF
the Packard Motor Car Company; +. A
Deeds, former manager Of the National
Cash Register Company, who was head
Of the Miami conservancy district
formed to prevent a repetition of the
DAYTON food, and r. l.. Montgomery, OF
the Philadelphia firm Of Montgomery
Clothier e. Taylor, who will serve as
financial adviser Of the board.
The Aircraft Production Board viii
act in the closesJ cooperation will
the War and Navy departments, espe
cially with the recently created joint
/ army and navy board on design anC
/ specifications. The membership o
this Joint board includes Major B. ID
Foulois. L. s. A.; Captain V. f. Clark
| L. s. A.; Lieutenant A. X. Atkins
IL. S. N; Lieutenant J. II. Towers
L. s. ~; Assistant Naval Constructor
J. C. Hunsaker, u. S. n, and Captain
f. S. Gorrell. U. S. A. Henry Souther
the consulting engineer Of the sigma
corps, will act in a similar technica
capacity to the aircraft board.
To Urge Cooperation
The general function of the Aircraft
Production Board, according to Mr.
Coffin. will be TO bring manufacturer:
together and help make their re
sources available to the government
and assist in stimulating the produc
ton of better types and greater guam
titles Of air machines.
1--WE have been in constant touch fol-
weeks with the aircraft manufacturer:
on the problem of quality production
of machines" Mr.. Coffin said to-day
"and the government authorities are
already signing contracts for as many
machines as our present appropriation
permits. The United States can de
mend on a minimum of $500 aircraft
/ of all types the first year if Congress:
authorizes us to proceed. The pro
gramme we now have in mind would
provide for both training and combat
I machines.
Engine Chief Problem
"Only few American manufacturer:
, are in a position to handle large con
tracts. but European orders for train
ing machines within the last two years
have helped in some measure TO over
come tremendous disadvantage ex
isting at the beginning OF the war. In
building battle planes the engine is the
chief problem. American manufactur
crs are now conducting successful ex
periments with both new and foreign
types and we are confident that we
shall be able to develop within the year
! the manufacture of motors OF sufflcien'
power and endurance for use at the
! front. go,
arrangements have been made with
British and Canadian officers to stand
ardize the training machine IN use IN
/ Great Britain, Canada and the United
| States. so that machines can be dis
tributed impartially and without DIM
Guilty among the three nations.
Observers Visit Canada
"The country has made progress IN
developing aviators. Last month a
group of army officers visited the tram
ing camp of the Royal Flying Corps, at
Borden, Ont, one Of the four camps
established in Canada. and the avia-
tion school at Toronto, where cadets
are trained under military discipline
for the service. In these schools there
has been incorporated the latest Euro.
pean experience in the development OF
this new art of the air.
"Our officers were deeply Impressed
with their observations, and as re-
suit we called together here the heads
of six prominent engineering schoois,
which also have military training. and
made plans to establish n similar sys-
TEN in the United States. The SIX m
stitutions are the Universities OF Call
fornia. Texas. Illinois and Ohio. Massa,
ohusetts Institute Of Technology ana
Cornell University. Three technical
instructors from each Of these places
we're sent to Toronto. They returned
on May 8, after a comprehensive study
of the course given there, prepared to
teach il themselves. On May 10 these
six engineering schools opened similar
cadet aviation schools at their re-
speetive institutions.