The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-10-03
Dutch Designer Foresees
Skies Thick With Winged
Takes.

The airplane industry in America
eventually will surpass the automo-
bile industry, Anthony H. G. FOX
ker. Dutch airplane designer and
one Of the foremost authorities on
aviation in the world, declared Fri
day night in connection with the
Ford airplane reliability flight. FOX
ker broadcast a talk on aviation
from The Indianapolis Times studio
at the SEVERN Friday night,
Fokker said there is nothing
alarming in the fact that Europe
has outstripped America IN COM
mercial aviation,
Explains Boom
Commercial flying in Europe was
the natural outcome Of the war. d"
Fokker said. After the war Eu.
rope found itself in possession of
hundreds Of airplanes and OF flying
fields already constructed and in
operation. 1t was natural that these
planes and flying fields would be
put to commercial use. In America
there were few planes and few fly
ing fields, Development was neces-
sary on this side"
Fokker said he is finding a
tremendous interest in aviation in
the United States. He declared the
success of the air mail has opened
hn AP 20 Aa
possibilities OF air transportation.
The success Of commercial air
transportation Is not dependent on
subsidies" he said. "All that the
airplane interests ask is that suit
able landing fields be provided near
cities. Commercial air organizations
can not afford to invest money for
landing fields and for ground organi.
cations, but with these taken care Of
w can operate planes without as
sistance."
Harbors Cited
Fokker said he believed the Gov.
eminent or municipalities should
furnish landing fields. He pointed
out that the United States has spent
enormous sums for harbor improve
ments to facilitate water shipping
and contended that air transporta-
ton deserves the same kind Of con
sideration.
Fokker warned cities thinking 81
providing landing fields that the first
necessity is that the fields be easily
accessible. They should be within a
very few minutes Of the heart Of
the city, he said
There would be no object in flying
from indianapolis to Chicago in two
hours If 1t took an hour to get from
Indianapolis to the landing field and
another hour to get from the landing
field to Chicago" he said.
Fokker said he saw within the near
future a sky filled with airplanes,
not only operating as regular freight
and passenger lines, but as takes.
No Schedules
There will be an enormous devel.
opment in the air taxi business" he
said. I'm the near future 1t will be
possible for a person to go to the
flying field and obtain an airplane
and pilot on a moments notice, just
as We can call a taxi now. One Of
the best features about airplane
service Is that planes do not have to
run on schedules"
Fokker estimated that there are
now 1000 airplanes in the United
States outside the military and naval
service. Most Of these, however, he
said, are old and not fit for regular
commercial use. He estimated that
within two or three years as many
as 1900 planes will be travelling
regular routes, carrying mail, pas
sengers and freight.
Fokker has an airplane factory in
New Jersey and is planning to estab-
lish another at Kansas City.