Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-19
! AIRCRAFT PROGRAM
PRESSING PROBLEM
Nor Department Undecided What .
Do With Factories and Air.
planes Already Built.
ENJOYS FULL MONOPOLY NOW
Governmcnt Will Seek to Retain Ser
vices OF Expert !Avi;.tors ana
Mechanics Developed by WaI-No
Commercial Demand for Machines.

n.y. yy4kSHINGTON. November lS.-Dc
mobilization Of the army air service
yT scenario problem o" On wn'sh
work. How il is To he 3ccomniished
q so that the aircraft manufacturing in
8dustry. now sovSrnmen. n"mop niS
xcaosod. but ii is possible to state au-
some OF the conSidera-
sstions that will govern rehabilitation
d Secretary Baker is known 10 regard
Sths air service as tho field OF mill
astsEE Snterpr!sc In which the grea,csl
shat treason the army program to be
StSid Sbefore Congress probably VIII
b Show recommends tons for continuing
2Sthe aviation branches on scale dis
to tho other arms OF tho
1t Us certain that the plans now
being formulated will make provision
+ Tor retaining in the permanent mill
sstsry festabishment officers and men
SWho S,ave displayed marked ability in
1.-The Operation. production and equip
mentsof airplanes, balloons and other
s Tho monopoly OF the government en-
Stcndst to every branch of aircraft pro-
Extraordinary program laid out. IT was
;snecossnry to build from the ground
up; to- create virtually every facility
8requHed. even to the growing of cas-
tor bPans to furnish the lubricating oil
sAEequifed. The only executions are the
from .buildinE. engines for motor cars
ITO the production OF Liberty motors and
other! aircraft engines.
N$Sf Fot. these plants tho transition back
Isto pesce-timc industry is natural. and
many have completed plans for after
55the-Tpr conditions on which they are
market except tho eovernmcnt for air
5craftIthat can possibly engage any
part of the other plants now devoted
Wholly to that production, and the
nj iS
e BEEN CONTRACTED ron
outktandinE contracts for military
pa p nos a OF various tyres are understo od
is regarded as likely that virtually all
8of these will be cancelled
IN addition to the manufacturing
monopoly. which Includes the assent
ling OF scientific data Of the utmost
value on tho whole question of air
light. the government had complete
monopoly over the training facilities
for flyers. The home aviation schools
i arc now fitted L. turn on; 1000 men
"a month rated as reserve military avia :
try more than 1900 men who either
GhaSe passed through that school sys-
tom or are nearing completion of their
training: There also are tens Of thou
y sands of airDlane mechanics and 1000
#aviators in France at least one-hals
of whom are fully qualified military
Ms In The orinion OF many officials. the
ESfutur4 OF air navigation in the United
States rests largely with these men
< trained TO i'y By the government HAY
inS ind Il taste OF air work, 1t is be
K teve6 that majority OF these meu
4 always Will yearn to continue dying
sand through them great stimulus viii
4 nc given to the development of the air
4 craft industry by private enterprise
SSFor tho time being, however. the army
n ana navy services. supplemented by
5Ethe aerial postal service Will IA, ~,
only outle- for the product Of such al,
Industry. "