New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-13
america No Less Quick
Than Europe to Insist
on Facilities for
Development
By Grover c. Looming
resident Aeronautical Chamber Of
Commerce Of America

H
n tagging behind the rest of the
...,s in aviation ?" The answer to
MS. most emphatically. is, ''Nol" 1t
!. secessary, in order to gain clear
understanding Of the aeronautical sit
,.,Ier. to Judge, not according to ap-
,,srsnces, but according to facts.
From the remotest times mans am
,;t;o,s 70 fly have mingled with his
a,sams. The aeronautical art of to-
s.v which stands literally at the pin
.,.,s If science, is the result of cen
.ar;es of patient effort, in which
..g,ra has been so predominant as
.lr,ost to obscure the successive sue
,...ful steps and lead us to-day into
n. error Of regarding practical human
fight as something indefinite and far
81 ASS matter of fact, it is at hand
The erroneous conclusion that Eu-
.,,e annears to be superior to the
Y,r;.ed States in aviation is readily
! c,a;ned. At the beginning OF the
twentieth century experiments in
mechanical Eight were being carried on
in practically every nation. The Wright
brothers were fortunate in being the
erst 10 achieve actual demonstration.
That was in 1903. From 1908 to 1914
aviation claimed more serious attention
IN France, England, Germany and
1,a,v than IL did in the United States.
On the opening Of the World War all
the European nations possessed the
rudiments Of an aircraft industry. We
In this country had but the semblance
Of one. The exigencies of war from
e 1914 to 1917 forced tremendous de-
ysopment in European aviation. 1t
was not until 1917, when we entered
the conflict, that we were compelled to
begin the colossal task of training en-
gnsers and creating production facili-
ties. The war ended, in the fall Of
1918, Just as the newly formed Ameri-
can industry was getting into swing.
And with the ending of the war, the
pressure which forced this expansion
was withdrawn.
European Nations Quick
To Adjust New Industry
Whether it was because four years Of
suffering had made them apprehensive
Of the next war or whether by expert
cree their vision had been eharpened,
the major European nations were quick
to adjust the new industry to new con-
aitons. First of all, instead of alb
ruptly ending all war contracts, these
we're tapered off. Second, the very fun
damental Of all successful business
Standing before the law-was provided
by the enactment of aerial codes.
Third. systems Of direct and indirect
encouragement for aerial transporta-
ton companies were established.
The effect in England, France, Bel
GUM, the Netherlands, Italy and Japan
vas to remove many of the natural OBJ
stacles and to provide substantial as
sistance to the aeronautical pioneers.
As result, lines were established radi-
ating from London, Amsterdam, Paris,
Rome, etc. The effect in Germany was
even more marked. The hiatus be-
tween the armistice and the signing of
the peace treaty was taken full advan-
tage Of by the Germans, particularly in
the development Of airships and in
metal airplsne construction. Even
when, under the treaty, all overt work
was prohibited, scientific experiment
went on, eliminating in the truly start
Ing gliding tests which so alarmed
france as to prompt the calling by that
country of an International gliding
contest this summer.
The aircraft situation in the United
S'ates' anxious as we were to free our
serves as quickly as might be from the
p0hsicai entsnglements invited by the
war; may be summarized thus: On No
SsnOe. l, 1918, we were at top produc-
y Oh planes and engines for war pur-
loses On November Ii, practically ON
Ae publication Of the armistice, pro-
auction was stopped. From then on
through to the close Of 1919 tn. indus
Ny underwent liquidation. Invested
.api'ai shrunk from 100000, 900 to less
man slo,oOO,o00, and the number of
Employees from quarter of a million
lew thousand. The airplane, being
va. manufactured product, could not
mat very reason quickly find its
place IN peace.
We were no less quick than the
Aat0peans to insist on the need for
.sliai law and for such tangible en-
engagement as airways and terminals,
uu'' lacking the impetus of fear and
nc spur Of rivalry which came from the
',O's proximity and traditional policy
many Of the European countries. we
go no political urge. And as for pub-
oemand, 1t did not exist. The peo-
- vers curious but the practical
A'y OF aircraft had yet to be
demonstrated.
slos Reimbursement Comes
A''er Sharp Slump
aver the slump Of 1919 came the
=. NV and frequently discouraging re.
!. a'.menr of 1920, marked chiefly by
- determined though unsuccessful