Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-08-30
COTTON FOR AIRPLANES
War Department Gives Interesting
Production Figures.

Washington, Aug. 26.--Thc produc-
ton OF American cotton airplanc fab
ric. said II statement authorized by
the war department to-day. is now
averaging about 100000 yards
monthly. sufficient for all require
mrn,s. and capable Of being largely
increased il necessary. No more linen
fabric Is being imported from abroad
Tor this purpose. and after the I'M
ported stock now on hand is exhaust
ed. cotton fabric will be- used cN-
clusivcly in covering American air
plane wings.
Al the outbreak OF the war in 1914
linen WAS the only material which
had proved entirely satisfactory Tor
covering airplanc wings. The essen
tial physical properties required be-
ing lightncss in weight, proprr all
surption of dope and strength and re-
sistanve to tear.
The chief countries before the war
producing flax for fine grades of lin
an were Belgium, Russia and Ireland.
The Belgian supply WAS cut of from
the Allies in 1914. The Russian flax
WAS difficult 10 obtain and was later
cut OF entirely. In the meantime the
consumption of linen Tor war puI'pos-
- had increased enormously. BY IN"
spring of 1917, when the United States
entered the war. the linen situation
was very serious and ii was obvious
that some substitute would have Ia
br found.
In developing a cotton airplan" fab
rio which would have the necessary
qualities of the linen. the United
States government received the great
est assistance from the various cot
ton mills.
Samples were made from cotton al
many constructions and numbers uf
yarn. varying from No. 40 iwo-ply Ia
No. loo iour-ply, the cloth having
| from so 10 80 threads an inch. Yarns
were in some cases mrrccrizcd under
tension and various twists were tried.
Several cotton mills co-oprratrd in
the work.
| When the new fabrics were secured.
samples were put on aiIpancs. "dop-
ed" and vanished. according to re-
gulation practice. and tested In ac-
tual use at Langley field and Pensa-
cola. Flying tests were also made
with several varieties OF fabric. The
/
vice. averaging ten hours a day. Mem
bcrs OF the United States air service.
members OF the foreign flying corps
and other EXPERTS assisted in the "X.
prrimcnts. They reported thai the
cotton fabrics developed in the Init
ed States app, arcd To srrv" most ia
vorTbly. Other very favorable rr-
ports have recently been received
American cloth sent over there.
After many experiments had been
made. the first contracts Tor 10000
yards each of cotton airpIanc fabric
were placed In the middle OF Scpt"m-
Der. 1917. The results obtained with
the first cotton fabric produced were
satisfactory and IL was decided Ia
place further contracts for cotton
airplanc fabric.
| Two fabrics were adopted. the spec
ifications calling for strength of not
less .han so pounds to IN" inch in
both wrap and filling. The cotton used
in the manufacture of the cotton air
plane fabric has 10 bc of n very long
staple and in November. 1917. the
air service purchased $1,000 bales al
long staple sea island cotton.
The first quality orders for cotton
airplanc fabric were placed in OctO-
bcr and November, 1917, and were for
l.2S0.0O0 yards Of grade a and 200
900 yards of grade B cotton airplan"
fabric. Deliveries OF cotton airplanc
fabric started In January with IN"
production of $4,000 yards. Produc-
tion has gradually increased until at
the present time 100000 yards are
being produced annually.
Subsequent contracts have been let
for cotton airplane fabric amounting
to 1l,5l3.0S4 yards. All OF these later
contracts. however, have been for
grade 4 cotton fabric as IL now sn"ms
clear that this cloth Is superior TO the
other.