The sun., 1918-12-01

This is the first of a series of
articles on the military, industrial
and economic development of the
arplane in America. They will tell
what wss done to provide airpIanes
for war, the causes of the delay in
carrying out the air programme and
Row they were overcome, and the
amazing revolution aviation is ex-
pected to bring about in the world
al peace. In short, they will pre-
sent 4 complete picture of the air
plane industry in this country and
indicate what its future will be.
The writer haG.siust completed a
tour of the principal airplane fac
tories of the United States, receiv-
ing unexanpied opportunity for in
veStgatiel and information.
By AGNES c. LAUT.
TINE sudden stoppage of the war
makes very little essential
difference to the airplane in
dustry in this country. To be sure
eirplane contracts for war purposes
have been largely cancelled; thus. out
Of 10000 employees in one Buffalo
plant, 5000 were laid off four days af-
Ter the announcement of the armis-
tee; but il you think the cancellations
caused grief among airplane manu-
faCturers you have very little idea of
the true inwardness of airplane prog
T,ss.
Prizes have been boned down so
close on some war machines and labor
costs lacked up SO high, while per-
peiuai changes were ordered for war
ends that many manufat turers were
eager TO 20 out of war work and back
TO normal plans for industrial pur-
poses. Contracts that had gone too
far to be cancelled are to be turned
over for postal mail air routes, and
1000 such planes will be used at once
Then for the first time in four years
the airplane manufacturers are free
10 give the public facts of the won
dertul progress in air work.
For instance. it will be news to peo-
pie outside navy circles to be told that
for year we have had great flying
boat capable of carrying eleven tons
ana fifty passengers patrollinS our
coast on the lookout for German sub
marines. This type of craft will now
70 turned TO ocean flight. and with
fuel capacity for thirty-five hours con-
'ndoIs night and speed OF 1870
miles an hour, the crossing of the At
laniln Is now nearer achievement than
hgali"E flights were before the war.
II the war had gone on We could
have produced $4,000 fighting planes
within six months, and as $4,000 fight
ers must have 5000 replacement ma
chimes behind them and supply of at
east two training planes per fighter
A mat means this country could have
reached a peak production OF 10000
| arplanes for war work within a year
Airplane Era Here.
\ The airp.ane Is to-day where the
automobile was fifteen years ago-or
The verge OF a development that will
eS.Ound and revolutionize a war worn
1 word.
| HOW are YOU going to maintain hard
| IN" tt,t international boundaries, fol
Instance, when the argosies of the all
pay hide and seek with the clouds
4"opp or $4,000 feet overhead, numer
Gus "a motor cars on a we'll paved city
street What are YOU going to say
boodt distance when you are crossing
'he Atlantic in forty-eight hours? d.
s"d mink You can ever work up per
"dnent onmity between European
Countries when an air passenger car
'"ke Hrcailfast in London, run acros!
70 say hello 10 a friend in centra
rance and be back in London fol
'.Ncheon; or have luncheon in Paris
"Iernoon tea in Switzerland and din
n'r after freezing fight over tn,
s4o"y Alps with friends down on tn,
; NeI1ierranean?
Al THESE things have been done dur
ing the war for war purposes; blu
"ey were not told. Such flights viii
"'come as commonplace after the wa
"S mop in taxi TO cover grount
I"'kly from Riverside Drive to tn
Battery.
For little while with wages an
"a" materials at war rates, we ma,
"pI produce airplanes for everyda
.Se, hut in the very near future W
wa" have $500 planes for the bus!
'ss man OF moderate means to so t
".'0 from work, and we shall have lux
.'"uaIy equipped high priced plane
.'' pleasure, such as limousine motors
o. prices from $4,000 to $4,000" de
AIRED Glenn Curtiss in expressing hi
'enei at the end Of the war.
II you had predicted these thing
'' Tour years ago sensible peopl
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