Evening star., 1934-09-13
y. S. AS AIR LEADER
V|S|QNED BY VIDAL
Radio Forum Speaker Sees
Opportunity for "Poor
Mans" Plane.

Opportunity has been given the
United States to lead the world in
production and operation of q poor
mans" airplane, as it took world
leadership In the production Of pop
uIar-priced automobiles, Eugene l..
Vidal, director Of Air Commerce, De-
partment of Commerce, said In
radio address last night in the Ma
tional Radio Forum arranged by The
Evening Star and broadcast over q
Nationwide hook-up Of the National
Broadcasting Co.
The Bureau Of Air Commerce is
seeking to foster the quantity pro-
duction by the American aircraft in
dustry Of q small, safe, economical
airplane suitable for use by the aver
age man. Such an airplane, the
bureau believes, should be as easy and
safe to operate and as economically
maintained as an automobile.
II know" Director Vidal said, that
people In this country are keenly in
terested in the low-priced airplanes,
but 1t was a pleasant surprise to us to
learn it to be the subject Of deep in
ternational interest. Inquiries from
European and South American coun-
tries are continually received. Also
surveys of possible employment of
such o type of aircraft in the serv-
ices Of many Federal and State de-
partments and bureaus, replacing
i other vehicles of transportation, have
been made and are exceedingly prom
1sing.
I'VE now have an opportunity in
the United States to lead the way In
the production and operation of a
poor mans airplane, just as we hold
world leadership In the manufacture
Of the popular-priced motor cars"
Looking to Future.
In preparation for the day when
the average family will have its air.
plane, as 1t does an automobile, the
Bureau of Air Commerce has spon-
sored the construction with Public
] Works Administration funds of air.
ports and landing fields.
More than ZOO landing field prof.
ects were undertaken the speaker
explained, "and approximately 5000
municipalities were marked with roof
identifications to aid pilots in air
navigation"
Mr.. Vidal was introduced by Oliver
Owen Kuhn, managing editor Of The
Star.
Text Of vidaPs Address.
The full text of Mr.. vidal's address
follows:
Events Of last winter demonstrated
that the public wants an adequate and
properly. equipped military air force
and an expanded air transport system;
In fact, comprehensive aviation pro-
gram. For the first time in its history
the Air Corps was afforded an oppor-
tunity to demonstrate what 1t lacked,
and the subsequent Baker Board report
should pave the way for q constructive
program for that arm. The Navy plans
definitely include an increase In its air
unit. This military situation naturally
affects with promise the immediate
future Of the commercial manufac-
turers.
Foreign nations during the past year
have embarked on greatly expanded
programs, seeming to realize for the
1irst time, the true possibilities Of the
airplane, commercially and as q mill
tary weapon, and to such an extent,
that this country cannot afford to
relinquish its leading position. The
aircraft itself, particularly that devel-
oped in this country, has been
increased In speed and improved in
structure to such . remarkable degree
within the last year or so, that its use
and economics as a<yehicle -uf trans
portation show more possibilities than
ever before. Production Of q safer,
more easily controlled, and less expen-
eive plane for the individual flyer Is
practically assured, and that greater
but almost untapped field viii be
exploited. What should be Of more
Immediate encouragement to those