Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-11
Army0rders Lay Basis
For Standardization
OF WarpIanes
All Craft Expected
To Be Duplicates of
Present Models
BY the Associated Press.

military aircraft was laid today with
the placing of tentative orders for
1884 Army planes in one huge lot.
All the planes were expected to be
virtual duplicates of models already
being manufactured for the Army.
One off1cial said a majority Of them
would be procured simply by exer-
cising the options in some existing
contracts. Other contracts will pro-
vide for the rest.
Representing an eventual expendi-
ture of approximately $1,251 100000,
the tentative orders placed late yes
terday cover all the Army planes
contemplated in the S5,251 900 900
Defense Act, which was signed Mon
day.
The War Department did not dis
close delivery dates for the planes,
contract amounts for individual man
ufacturers or how many of the ships
were combat types.
Will Cost SS17 100000.
Besides planes, which will cost
an estimated $617, 100000, the orders
included 1882 engines at $377, 100000
and an unspecif1ed number of pro-
pellers at $570O0,O0O.
The Navy is engaged in making
contracts for 2,400 more planes pro-
vided for in the defense appropri-
alton.
Attempting to standardize produc-
ton, the Army does not now intend
to call for any new types of planes
under the expansion program. All
models which are needed are now
under contract. an official said, and
the procedure is merely to increase
the orders for those types.
Included in the list Of 81 COM
panies to which tentative orders
were sent were the manufacturers
of the most celebrated American
fighters and bombers-ranging from
the new 500-mile- an-hour intercept
tor to the Forthcoming super-bomber
with a 7,000-mile range.
Advantages Gained.
BY purchasing from plants already
engaged in Army production, War
Department official explained, the
Army gains these advantages:
l. From so to 80 days will be
saved in advertising for and OPEN
ing bids from aircraft manufactur-
ers.
2. No tests of new models will be
necessary.
8. The same plants, tools and ex-
perienced personnel can be used,
without waiting for new contractors
to get into production.
4. Manufacturers can proceed to-
ward mass production with assur-
ances of large orders and standard
types and without fear of having
their plans thrown out of killer by
new models.
Procedure for placing the tenta-
tive orders was similar to that en-
ployed recently by the Army and
Navy In making agreements with
two companies for $1,000 engines
and Al, 900 propeners, and by the
Navy in reaching agreements for
2,9ll planes.
Formal Contracts Later.
Those agreements were to be re-
placed with formal contracts after
final congressional action on poll
cies covering amortization of emery
ency plant expansion costs, taxes
and profit limitations.
Yesterday the War Department
sent speed up letters" to 81 air.
plane, engine and propeller manu-
facturers authorizing them to buy
jigs, dies, tools, material and equip
ment to execute the 14,394-plane
program.
Each letter was said by a spokes-
man to contain an assurance that
the manufacturer would receive
later formal contract for specific
number of planes, which was esti-
mated roughly in the letter. If no
difficulties are met, those contracts
eventually will ratify the letters.
All IS airplane manufacturers
among the 81 to which letters were
sent now have Army contracts. Four
of the five engine manufacturers
have produced aircraft motors. The
fifth is the Ford Motor Co, which
once made planes. The one pro-
pellor manufacturer also Is produc-
ing for military use.
Firms Receiving Letters.
The letters were sent to the fol-
lowing firms:
For airplanes-Boeing Aircraft
Co., Seattle; Consolidated Aircraft
Corp, San Diego, Calf; Glenn L.
Martin Co., Baltimore; North
American Aviation, Inc, Inglewood,
Calf; Douglas Aircraft Co., Inc,
Santa Monica, Calf; Lockheed Air
craft Corp, Burbank, Calf; Bell
Aircraft Corp, Buffalo, N. Y; Cur
tiss Aeroplane Division of Curtiss-
Wright Corp, Buffalo; St. Louis
Airplane Division of Curtiss-W Wright
Corp, Robertson, Mo; Repub-
lie Aviation Corp. Farmingdale,
N. Y; Beech Aircraft Corp,
Wichita, Kans; Vultee Aircraft,
Inc, Downey, Calf; Fairchild Air
craft Division of the Fairchild En-
CINE & Airplane Corp, Hagers-
town, Md; Ryan Aeronautical Co.,
San Diego, and the Stearman Air
craft Division of the Boeing Air
plane Co., Wichita.
For engines-Ford Motor Co.,
Dearborn, Mich; Continental Mo-
tors Corp, Muskegon, Mich; Lycom-
ing Division of the Aviation Manu-
featuring Corp, Williamsport, Pa;
Allison Engineering Co., Division of
General Motors Corp, Indianapolis,
and Wright Aeronautical Corp,
Paterson, N. J.
For propellers and blades-Curtlss
Propeller Division of Curtiss-W Wright
Corp, Clifton, N. ].