New Britain herald., 1927-07-09
LOOKING AHEAD IN
 AVIATION PLANS
Survey of What This Country
 Is Doing

Washington, July 3 (UP)-The United States Navy regards aviation as an important and indispensable part of the naval establishment and has made aircraft an integral part of the fleet, according 10 a declara- tion of Secretary of Navy Curtis Wilbur.
 The most important event affect ing naval aeronautics since the war was the enactment by congress in 1926 of the five-year program. The same law also defined the status of the operating personnel. The bill provided for the construction over a five year period beginning July l, 1926 of airplanes sufficient to in- crease the total to one thousand use full planes. It also provided for two rigid airships of approximately six million cubic feet volume each at total cost for both ships not ex- ceeding $S,0O0,000.
 The law of 1926 also established the post of assistant secretary Of the navy for aeronautics, of which Edward P. Warner is the first occu- pant. He has been identified with aviation development since 1916. He is regarded as one of the leading aerodynamical experts of the coun- try and when appointed was profes- sor of aeronautical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech nology.
 In a report concerning naval air policy, Secretary Wilbur said: Naval Activities Since the end of the World war the principal effort of the navy de- partment has been directed toward the application of aircraft to fleet operation and the development of suitable aircraft for that use. It was largely pioneering work, as the experience with aviation during the war, concentrated on anti-submarlne activities, had not indicated clearly the role which aircraft might fill in fleet operation, nor was there any material experience in foreign coun- tries which would serve as guide. Progress in the art of aviation continues and the importance of the work of aviation with the fleet ln- creases correspondingly, but suili- cient experience has now been had so that the present scope of aviation with the fleet is growing to be well understood, and the navy now has reached the position of being able to lay down definite requirements for the small number of classes of air. craft to carry out the several strategical and tactical functions of
 naval aviation. Steady progress has been made in developing designs of aircraft to meet the special demands of each class, and research and de-
 yelopment are being carried on with the prospect of definitely continuing this progress"
 Perhaps the greatest contribution
 made by the navy to aeronautical development has been in the sphere of experimental and research work. Some of the navy accomplishments l reported officially are:
 Accomplishments Reported. CD Built the first wind tunnel l in the United States.
 CD In the construction of the Shenandoah a new and important
 metal was given to the trade of | this country-duralumin l All 1oQfuar anpipas hoth air cooled and water cooled, have been developed principally by the
 Navy in conjunction with the trade.
 l (4) Reduced to five and to a 1 great degree standardized the types of aircraft used by the navy.
 (5) Designed the first large rigid
 airship ever built in this country the Shenandoah.
 (6) Designed and installed cata-
 pults on United States vessels far in advance of any other country. (7)-Developed the use of the Langley arresting gear. believed to be the best in existence. (8) Developed two planes of the patrol type. one of which Ohe PIN type) holds the worlds record for endurance for seatlanes. The other
 made the longest flight over water
 ever accomplished.
 (9) Established an aeronautical
 engine laboratory, said to be the
 equal of any in existence.
 10-Made important contributions to radio communication and naviga- tion.
 Limitations on aircraft carries vas agreed at the Washington conference for the limitation of naval arma- ment. The tonnage limitation for q single carrier was fixed at 27.o0o tons. Total tonnage was limited as follows Great Britain. 1S5,0oo; United States, 5000; Japan, S1,- 900; France. 6o,0o0: Italy. 6o.ooo.
 It was agreed that each of the powers might build two aircraft carriers from ships already building and designated to be scrapped. Un- der this treaty provision the United States built the Lexington and the Saratoga. largest ships of their class in the world.
 Although not primarily concerned