Evening star., 1933-11-09
j. S. TO FOSTER BIG
PLANE PRODUCTION
10000 Small Craft for Pri-
= vate Use Seen Stimulus
- to Aviation.

Volume production of 10000 small air.
planes for the private flyers OF the coun-
try, as q means of stimulating the de-
velopment of aeronautics in the United
States saving an industry which has
been hard hit and providing employ
fnent for thousands of persons, Is being
fostered by the aeronautics branch OF
the Department Of Commerce.
Declaring that development OF pri-
vate flying Is being retarded through
lack of low-priced, easily operated and
maintained airplane and that there can
not be natural, healthy growth in pri-
vate flying until such a plane is avail
able on q volume production basis, Eu-
gene L. Vidal, director of aeronautics.
today launched plans for fostering the
production Of 10000 such planes before
next Spring.
Vidal pointed out that, although there
are $4,000 licensed pilots, 11,000 student
pilots and $500 licensed airplane me-
chanics on active status in the United
States, there are only 1000 licensed air.
craft, 600 of which are identified with
scheduled airlines.
High in Original Price.
"This condition exists" he said, "be-
cause the aircraft on the market today,
owing to limited production, are high
in original price, high in operating
costs and require very close attention
with respect to maintenance. They are
not within reach of the thousands OF
people whose automobiles must cost
around S700 or $780,
Vidal took the stand that if airplane
manufacturers brought airplane prices
down in the $500 class a market would
be created at once for thousands of
planes.
= "All that is really needed" he said,
SIS some step which will bring the pro-
ducer and consumer together, with def
mite assurance to the industry that the
market actually exists. We are now TAX
ing this step"
The aeronautics branch todaI ad
dressed memorandum to all licensed
pilots, student pilots and mechanics,
total of nearly $4,000 persons, outlining
briefly the specifications for a volume
production airplane and calling for
definite statement from them on the
plan and an indication as to the num-
Der of airplanes which would be likely
to find a sale under this plan. This
information will be made available to
the industry.
Monoplane at 500.
4AC PlhIlC COllIclIIpldJcQ ny IIlC
aeronautics branch for the Nations
private flyers would be a small, low
wing monoplane, selling for about $700.
1t would carry two passengers, be con-
structed of a new steel alloy, fitted with
an eight-cylinder small-bore engine
turning at about 1000 revolutions per
minute and driving q geared propeller
The landing speed would be brought
down to about rs miles per hour by use
Of wing flaps as 'air brakes" Cost of
operating and maintaining plane of
this type, it is believed. would be less
than that Of an average priced auto
mobile. The low landing speed would
be a guarantee of safety, Mr.. Vidal said
Leading aeronautical engineers have
given assurance" Vidal said, that such
craft can be constructed at the price
mentioned. 1t will be produced. if the
pilots in the United States are inter-
ested, and we are now furnishing them
with a means for making their interest
o matter Of record. II favorable re-
sponse does not follow, we will at least
learn what Is retarding the development
Of private flying"