New Britain herald., 1924-12-08
LACK OF AIRCRAFT
 INDUSTRY NOTED. Plants to Make Machines
 Essential to Govt.

adequate aircraft industry is a mat ter of grave concern to the govern ment, in the judgment of the nation- al advisory committee for acronau- ties as expressed in It's annual re- port transmitted to congress today by President Coolidge.
 An aircraft industry is absolute ly essential to national defense" the report declared. One lesson of the war that will not be forgotten is that it takes a great deal of money to develop hastily an aircraft industry almost from nothing, The American people can i'll afford to pay that price a second time." &
 The government is concerned that there should be at least "an ade- quate nucleus capable of rapid ex- pansion to meet war needs, the re- port continued. To that end 1t rec commended steps to remedy substan- tialy the existing bad condition" but declared that proposals either to increase the volume of government orders for aircraft or to allot such orders withoutsregard to competitive bidding would not meet the neces- slty.
 The committee suggested four moves to produce the necessary types or aircraft at reduced cost and also assure manufacturers of ade- uuate peace time markets. The steps to be taken by the aircraft builders were to read just plans to a peace- time basis immediately and for spe- calization in particular types Of ships with a view to gradual rec ognition of proprietary rights in new designs" Those suggested for the government were to fit a balanced production program for the army, navy and post office with needs and types made known a year in ad- vance, and to place orders for differ ent types "at such intervals as to in- sure continuity of production and the gradual development of special facilities and skill by each manu- facturer in the production of a given type of aircraft"
 While the air mail service, par ticuarly with its present efforts to- ward night flying, was classed as the. most important development in aviation today" so 'ar as stimulating development of commercial aviation goes, the report pointed out that the chief reason for faster commercial flying progress in Europe was military consideration.
 They realize more keenly thau we do in America, the vital neces- sary of aviation to national defense," the committee said, adding that commercial aviation had been en- couraged overseas fin a very prac- tical way, principally by subsidizing common carriers by air"
 Tn the United States" 1t was add cd. "direct subsidy appears 10 be out of the question because of our ad- horence to a traditional policy. In our country, aviation must make its own way"
 While speed and maneuYerability might be prime military factors for aircraft, civil aviation required more in the way of safety in operation and low cost of equipment and mainte- nance, the report said. The point where these economic factors with aircraft justified general use of air routes had not been reached In the United States 1t added.
 As general recommendation the board suggested:
 The continuous prosecution of scientific research work.
 Continuation of the air mail serv- ice, under the post office depart ment with the ground equipped for night flying from New York to San Francisco.
 Steps to increase the reliability and economy of operation of com mercial aircraft. with reasonable regulation of fers and flying fields and necessary aids to navigation along designated national airways.
 Continued study Of the air defense problems and continued support of aviation development in the army and navy.
 In transmitting the report Presi- dent Coolidge concurred in the gen. eral recommendation and agreed "that In the last analysis substantial progress in aviation is dependent upon the continuous prosecution of scientific research"
 Through the work of this com mittee," he said, "the talent ot America has been marshalled in the scientific study of the problems oi flight, with the result that today America occupies a position in the forefront of progressive nations ir the technical department of aero. nautics."