New Britain herald., 1928-02-02
tBY FRANK J. cARMoDY.,

(61 fHANA J. CAFtN1ODY.D
 That the aircraft industry fs . lusty. husky, and rapidly growing infant is . generalization that is given prominent mention in the con- versation of virtually everyone these days. In some cases. of course, it is based upon specific knowledge. In others, 1t grows out of the fact that . good many more airplanes are to be seen or read about as do- ing this, that, or the other thing.
 But, just what kind of an industry is that which produces the airplanes which have been so much in the public eye and the public prints :? Where is 1t located? Is it geograph- ically centered in one state. much as the automobile industry is, or is it scattered throughout the country? :? Are there many manufacturers? Is the capitalization of the industry sig nificantly large or Is it small: Are newcomers Hooking into the air plane manufacturing ranks as i'm cvitably is tho case when something new takes the nation by storm?
 An Inclusive Industry.
 These and many similar questions might be asked by the individual in search Of specific information con corning the status Of the aircraft industry. In answering them. one is faced with the difficult task of deciding just where the industry be- gins and ends. Are the makers of aircraft accessories. whose output also goes to other mark cts, to be in : cluded in an estimate Of tho manu- factnre of aircraft? To prevent tho possibilities of ramification that may deal largely with those concerns en- gagged m the manufacture of com plete airplanes.
 Most significant of the facts sd- duced by study Of the aircraft field. is that everyone seems to be getting into it. At present. accord ing to recently compiled reports of the United States department oi commerce. there are 63 plane manu- lecturers and the number is growing all the time. Last year, there were les than 50. The most recent com pilation includes manufacturers of planes of all types, land and sea. commercial, military and private.
 Unlike the automobile industry, the manufacture Of aircraft Is scat tered throughout all parts of the country, save that the south has it's lone representative in Texas and Alabama. Two significant signs of concentration are to be found. d. though they represent geographical extremes. These are in the cases of New York and California. the former Eoastiny of 1G airplane plants, the latter of 12. In the Empire State, Long Island seems rapidly being converted into an air plane manufacturing center. boast ing of some of the largest plants as well as some of the newcomers Here. for instance. are located ma iority of those concerns which sup ply the army and navy air services with their special types of ships.
 In California, the aircraft concerns seem to be locating in the central and southern parts Of the state.
 Ohio ranks third in the number of aircraft factories. with six. Its list includes the name of the manu. facturer of the famous bomber plane of the army air service. Michigan standing first in the automobile field is fourth in the aircraft list with five factories. Illinois and kansa, are tied for fifth place, each boastine of four airplane plants. Pennsy1. vania has three. and Missouri, New Jersey and Nebraska, each have two States in which one airplane planI is in operation are: Colorado. Arkan. sas. Washington. Texas. Okklahoma Alabama and West Virginia.
 A far-flung industry. How is il getting along?
 According to figures provided by manufacturers themselves, it is an,