Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-12-05
Plane Survey Visions
New Plants al Peak
Production in July
Space to Be Quodrupled
Over Year Ago, Says
AeronouticoI c. Of c.
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
An amazing picture of expansion
In the aircraft industry to meet
American defense requirements and
to support the British fight was
revealed today in the first really
comprehensive survey of American
aircraft production, just completed
by the Aeronautical Chamber of
Commerce.
American manufacturers of aero
nautical equipment have spent $685.
356, $50 on plant expansion for ma
tional defense and have let con-
tracts for an additional 1892. 188, 472
worth of facilities which will be in
operation by next June.
The industry already has ex-
banded pay rolls from $4,000 shop
employees last January to 164,920 at
present. When current expansion
programs are completed next June,
the industry will have 1872, 900 shop
employees, not including additional
thousands employed by subcontrac-
tors. 1t is estimated there will be
approximately 100000 employees
turning out aviation equipment by
June, 1941.
S625,000,000 Output for 1910.
1t is estimated the industry will
make deliveries of equipment
amounting to $625,OOO0OO during
1910, as compared with $225, 900, 900
last year.
The survey resulted in the most
encouraging overall view of Ameri-
can aircraft production yet given by
an agency in the Government or the
industry and is viewed as lending
solid support to British plans for
carrying the offensive to the Ger
mans and Italians, possibly late in
the spring.
Space to Be Quadrupled.
Last January productive floor
space in American aviation factories
totaled 11,983,89 square feet. AS
OF December 81, this year, the total
will amount to 22,53O,988 square feet
with an additional 22635, 100 square
feet under construction. This total
of 45,166,178 square feet-nearly
four times the space available a
year ago-wiu be ready for use in
the spring.
The investment in increased space
for production since January /
1910 has reached a total of S315,-
545,052, including contracts now in
process.
1t is estimated that the airplane
manufacturers today are subcon-
tracing up to 10 per cent of their
products and that engine and pro-
peller manufacturers are subcon-
tracing up to 40 per cent of their
output.
Backlog Nearly $4,000, 00O, 900.
The aeronautical chambers sur
vey shows a backlog, as of November
/, 1910, of 1881 ,665. 159, as COM
pared with S675 ATS on Deem
Der 81, 1899.
Taking up the various branches
Of the industry, Col John H Jouett,
president of the aeronautical cham
Der, reported:
The airplane manufacturers, as of
January l, 1910, had 7,410133 square
feet of productive space, compared
with 1864, 900 square feet today
They have under construction an
additional Is, 965 ,951 square feet. At
the completion of their present con-
struction program, the airplane
manufacturers will have 28,630,55
productive square feet
The engine manufacturers, as of
January /, 1910, had 2,210,730 square
feet of productive space. which has
been increased today to 5,272, 479
square feet. Upon completion OF
their present program they will
have 9700,985 square feet.
The manufacturers of airplane
propellers on January l, 1910, had
1913 ,240 productive square feet. To-
day they have $4,000 square feet,
with an additional 100000 square
feet under construction, upon COM
pletion of which they will have
$4,000 square feet of productive
shop space.
The principal accessories manu-
facturers have increased productive
space from 1,969.793 square feet on
January 1 last to 3,74S, 100 square
feet and have an additional 2.132,-
760 square feet under construction,
to bring the total to 5,880,869 square
feet upon completion of the pro-
gram next spring.