The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-23
BY LOWELL B. NUSSBAUM
Tlnnrs ArIatinn Editor

NdIlOuS PHASES VI lllAS AtVWt4t All aCNhlls
BY LOWELL B. NUSSBAUM
Times Aviation Editor
Aviation, in one short year, has
grown in Indianapolis from a
struggling, little-noticed infants to
a full-grown industry, demanding
recognition.
From almost nothing a year ago
it has evolved into a million-dollar
industry, employing more than $50
skilled workers in Indianapolis,
with prospects Of more than
doubling this number before the
close of 1929.
Daily more and more Indianapolis
citizens are overcoming fear, or dis
trust, of the new industry, and are
learning the pleasures of the
speediest and cleanest form OF
transportation.
At the same time, Indianapolis
business men, manufacturers and
capitalists are realizing that avia-
ton promises soon to become one
of the first two or three industries
in the nation.
Pour Capital Into Industry
This realization is taking tangible
form in establishment of airports
financing aviation ventures and
converting of factories into plants
equipped to turn out aviation
products.
Many Indianapolis business con-
Germs and factories + devoting
their entire efforts to manufacture
or development of aviation products
while other factories, foundries, ma
chine shops and similar companies
are beneflting through orders from
other plants engaged in aviation
work.
A year ago flying was confined
principally to the National Guard
fiers, and army reserve fiers at Fit
Benjamin Harrison, excepting the
air mail service, established by the
Embry-Riddle company, Cincinnati
in December, 1927.
Hoosier airport, KeSsler boulevard
and Lafayette pike, first of the Sue
cessful commercial ventures, just
was starting.
Allison Was Pioneer
Practically the only plant doing
anything at all in the way of manu-
featuring products used in aviation
was the Allison Engineering Com
pany.
Today the city boasts three sue
cessful airway companies, carrying
passengers, selling airplanes and
engaging in student instruction
These include Hoosier airport, in
operation just one year; Capitol
Always, Inc, incorporated March
10, 1927, and which became engaged
actively in aviation when it moved
to it's new field, West Thirtieth
street, west of Lafayette pike, in
August, 1927, and the Curtiss Fly
ing Service of Indiana, one Of a
nationwide chain of twenty-five
Curtiss schools, established last No
vember.
Daily round trip passenger serv-
ice by airplane to FIT. Wayne and
Detroit, and to South Bend and
Chicago, with service on request to
other cities, is offered by Capitol
Always. This was inauguratec last
October and soon is to be extended
to other cities.
Speed Airport Tlans
Legal technicalities incident to
acquisition and equipping of a LOCO
acre municipal airport, seven miles
west of the city on the National
road, are being worked out by city
officials with prospects of the field
being ready for use within a few
months. When completed it will be
one of the finest airports in the
country.
This city has been selected as one
of the few stopping points on the
48-hour, coast-to-coast, air-ra-.
passenger route to b established by
Transcontinental Air Transport, Inc.
about May l.
Other steps along the path of
progress include establishment OF an
extensive aviation information serv-
ice by L. Strauss 81 Co.; formation
of a glider club at Butler university,
following presentation Of a new
glider to the school by the Strauss
company; formation of a n Indian
apolis branch of the National Aero
nautics Association and other mem
Der associations; addition of an avi-
alton engineering class at Arsenal
Technical high school. and actiV-