Evening star., 1940-08-08
IN mn Cain In S,x Mantle

10000 Gain in Six Months.
The latest figure on the number
of private pilots as reported by the
C.. A. B. indicates gain of nearly
10000 in the roster of such pilots
during the first six months of this
year, and shows that the training
program is hitting the maximum
pace visualized in the national plan
outlined by the President several
months ago. The gain in the num-
ber of certified private aircraft dur
ing the first half of 1910 is less
clear. The total of 1912 given for
January l. 1910, includes about $50
airline planes, and it is not known
whether the latest c. A. B. estimate
includes or excludes such planes. In
addition to certified private aircraft
at the beginning of this year, there
were about 1000 more planes un-
certified.
The latest directory number of the
magazine Aviation lists some "a diff
ferent models OF one to three seat
light planes made by 26 manufac-
turers. In the four to five seat
range, there were l3 different models
made by nine manufacturers.
1t is estimated that some $500
light planes were manufactured in
the United States during 1899, and
If we accept the optimistic state
ments of many of the leading makers
there will be substantial increase
in production and sales this year.
From so to 80 per cent of such
planes are sold like automobiles: that
Is, on down payment of 20 per
cent or so Of the list price IF. A. F."
factory air field. with the bal
ance payable in equal monthly in
stallments over q variable period of
time.
Piper Leads Output.
Piper Aircraft Corp. heads the
makers of light planes, with a 1899
production of about 1900. The out
put of this company alone last year
was double the production of all the
two 10 four place planes produced
by all American makers in 1885,
Other sizable production figures were
turned in by the Aeronautical Corp
of America, which built and sold
more than 600 "Aeroncas";; Taylor
craft Aviation Corp, which sold ap-
proximately 48o planes; Luscombe
Airplane Corps, which sold 285
planes, and Stinson Aircraft, which
sold 264 light planes of model in
troduced in June.
With close to $4,000 light planes
in private operation, private flying is
now about where automobile owner
ship was in 1901, when some 14,800
passenger cars were registered. Pri-
| vate ownership of motor cars was
multiplied more than five times dur
ing the next four years, however, to
reach a total of 77,400 in 1905. It
hardly seems likely that private fly
ing will approach that rate Of
growth. incidentally, private flying
was practically ruled out by the
totalitarian nations several years
ago, and wartime restrictions in
other countries have left the United
States as the only important nation
in the world where civilians may
learn to fly, purchase and operate
their own planes.
If we include the commercial
airlines, private flying has, as Grover
Looming, aeronautical engineer, re-
Gently pointed out, given us our
greatest possession in air power, and
because it has created, not only q
personnel in the field, but the shops,
service stations, supply depots,
trained mechanics and other facii-
ties required to support and operate
large fleet of aircraft, it may have
a real defense value in case of need.