Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-29
AIRCRAFT RESULTS
Up TO EXPECTATION
Ryan Declares Planes Are Now
Going Across Sea in Fair
Quantities.
LIBERTY MOTORS IN DEMAND
Orders Increased From 22,5oo to
Approximately 5o,oo0-Allies
Calling for Them.

WASHINGTON. August 2s.-"rm
trying to establish a reputation as a
practical man." said John d. Ryan.
newly named assistant to the Secretary
OF War in charge of aircraft produc-
ton. in only apparent facetiousness,
for he added. "and / Will not be made
prophet SO his long statement to-
day. the first day as supreme aircraft
director, con;ented itself with the fol-
lowing:
we are fully UP to expectations on
motor production that we had in May.
when the Bureau of Aircraft Produc-
ton was formed, and motor production
is the limiting factor in building air
planes.
Planes are going across in fair
quantities now. not in many types. but
we are supplying engines for planes
that are built in both England and
France, and in that way we are obtain
ing just that many planes for our own
armies and in considerable number.
we have increased the orders for
Liberty motors from 22,5O0, when this
bureau was formed, to approximately
$4,000. that is the Liberty twelve. We
have ordered a large number of Lib
erty eights, which were laid aside tenn
porarlly for the twelveS, when the
larger and more powerful engine was
decided on.
Every one of the allies is calling for
Liberty engines, demanding them, find
ing 1t impossible TO meet their own
production OF planes with engines for
them: They are relying on our pro-
few. engines. but for the larger part Of
their program.
They all have Lib erty engines now
and nave tested them. The English say
to us: We knew it was good before
you admitted 1t was and they all are
satisfied with it and demanding num-
bers that are out of the question for
more engines than we could make
NEED ON FRONT NEVER
bEEN MET BY PRODUCTION
We are not meeting the need on the
'front.'. because the need on the front
not only has never been met sa far as
me American army is concerned. but
nerer ~ ee mas been net, SO far as any army
lS concerned There has never been on
either SIDE of the war sufficient num-
ber of engines. They are tse limiting
factor I'm any air program
we have contracted here for the
building of some of the very best for
eiSn engines, such as the Hispano-
Suiza We are actually in production
power, and we are going into quite a
large production of the larger tvpe.
400 ;Ss M horse e-power; With the Liberty
Hispanos at $50 and 900, we need ono in
between; that is why we have ordered
me tne Liberty eieh,s, which are $50
I'm the building of planes in the last
Iew months. we think satisfactory
Prosress mas been made. We were un-
dnr,in dor,Tna'e IN having TO abandon the pro-
uuction OF the Bristol fighter which
WAS proved, fter thorough tests, to be
NOT safe plane and not useful for
military purposes.
And we are not going To m,Ee tho,
OF any other plane that is not sa fe or
III i,lntary value. We may repeat that
n hnna IN or mistake We may find that we
are even ready TO go into quantity pro-
ductlon with plane after spending a
iol OF time and money in developinr
~, nut when we get to the point, when
plane is not safe or of military v.ine
we are not going TO produce it,"