New Britain herald., 1928-05-18
AIRCRAFT BOOMING,
 NOW BIG BUSINESS
Swift Ascent Of High Flying
 Affects Industry

Washington. May IS R-The swift ascent of high flying into high finance has gone largely unnoted behind the veil of glamour which has surrounded aviation since the Wrights piloted their rickety con- traption into the air c5 years ago.
 Within the last few years more than one transforming pilot has become a manufacturer of means. and reports compiled by government departments show many millions of dollars now at work in the flying in dustry.
 Latest figures at the department Of commerce indicate that approXi- mately S6,000,o00 is invested in air companies engaged in regular air way operations One hundred and twenty nine companies. a gain of o6 since January 1. are turning out airplanes, and 1o companies are activaly manufacturing engines.
 There are about 800 air schools training pilots, mechanics and fu- ture owners of airplanes and fig ures change so steadily that no es- timate is available of the number of pupils or the financial interests involved in this phase of flying
 In 1927 between 2,o00 and a.50o airplanes and seaplanes were pro- duced by 103 companies. this num- Der not including those built by in- dividuals. Of this number 1853 were commercial airplanes, the rest being military craft. The figure for commercial planes showed an in- crease of l60 per cent over previous years and still higher figure is forecast for 1928. Considering that planes range in price from $2,0OO to S$5o, ,0o0, it does not take a mathe- matclan to figure out that flying is running into big money.
 The bureau of aeronautics of the navy estimates the planes and en- zines produced in 1926 and 1927 had a value of sc4.161.752
 The extent to which the nation has taken to the air is revealed in the reports of 27 companies en- gagged in airwayys operations in 1921 There now are more than 30. These 27 flew 5,So9,es9 miles on scheduled trips, carried more than $500 passengers at ten cents g mile, carried 2,261,5O7 pounds of express and transported 1,654,165 pounds of mail. The mail income 10 contractors for the year was $2,643,454. The American Railway Express company has recently en- tered into contracts with ten airway operators to transport freight, and there is every indication that this item will exceed for 1928 that of last year.
 Statistics by the aeronautics de- vision of the deartment of con- merce show that on May i there were c,2o1 licensed pilots. 2,4s7 H. censed mechanics. 1.257 licensed airplanes and 1,111 identified air planes. By June 30 approximately 15,0oo miles of airways will be in regular operation, and of this total about 7,50o miles will be lighted.
 Much of the aircraft industry is concentrated in California, the area about New York and the area about Wichita. Kas.. but important manu- factories also are in Detroit, Denver and Ohio. It Is pointed out the proximity Of raw materials is more important than the proximity to the market in the future location of the industry.
 In 1927 the New York area rank ed first in production in point of factories producing airplanes for the government In total number of commercial planes produced Ohio and Kansas ranked first, followed by Nebraska and California.