Evening star., 1941-02-15
New Wright Factory
Hopes 10 Ship First
Plane Motor in July
First Wing of Huge Plont
At Cincinnati Expected
To Be Reody in March
Hy JOSEPH s. EDGERTON,
Star Aviation Editor.
Twenty sixth article Of 4 seriss.)

PATERSON, N. j., Feb. Is
Transfer Of foreman and skilled
rnachinists from the Paterson plants
of the Wright Aeronautical Corp.
to the new 2,l2O,OOO- O-square-foot
engine factory under construction
at Cincinnati will begin next month,
and the first aircraft engine Is ex-
pected to be shipped out of the new
plant in July.
The corporation is shifting key
personnel 10 Cincinnati to super
wise completion of the factory which
Is expected to add at least 80 per
cent to the production of Wright
engines this wear and possibly to
double production next year, Men
have been brought from Cincinnati
tn Paterson for training in the
existing plant, chiefly skilled ma
chanics who require only advanced
training in special avia ton SklllS.
Three training schools are in
operation al Cincinnati TO provide
additional manpower for what is
expected TO bP the largest single
story factory in the United States
and possibly IN the world. One
ving Of the new structure is to
be opened in March and the entire
building is To he ready for use by
MAY.
Army Of Workers Required.
The recruiting of an army OF
men with mechanical training and
theh further training in the exact
ing operations of aircraft engine
production has been a ma Tor fea ture
of the Wright engine program En-
ployment in the company has in
creased in little more than two
years from 6.63l 10 l5.346 workers
and will be increased to more than
10000 when current expansion is
completed and new units are
equipped
The Cincinnati plant is 10 en-
plov between 12500 and $4,000
workers Al its production peak next
year, The goal of that plant is 1000
engines a month. most of them Of
the double-row, 14-cyhnder type
The five New Jersey Curtlss-
Wright plants today are on basic
five-dav week. three full shifts per
day The sixth day is rapidly be
coming full three-shift day. how
crev a. pnur no,ripry,oy ir 5nlirnro5
and production smooths out. There
Is an increasing amount of Sunday
work. which will continue 10 in
crease. Saturday and Sunday work
ct present is devoted mainly TO
making up shortages Of parts which
fall behind the general production
schedule and 10 the maintenance
Of machines and tools.
5000 Parts in Cyclone Engine.
During a rapid expansion pro-
gram. it was explained it is i'm
possible TO expand evenly. The
modern Cyclone engine produced at
Paterson is composed Of 5000 parts
snd requires total of $1,000 ma
Ginning operations and $4,000 in
spectionS
The full-time operation of all
machines would mean an oversupply
Of some parts and shortages in
others IF acute shortages develop
In the supply Of any one part.
naturally. additional machines and
workers are provided 10 make them
up In the case of minor shortages
which are not sufficient TO warrant
edditional machinery. however. the
6lfhcultv is overcome by overtime
work on Saturdays or Sundays.
AS uneven production is smoothed
out and the 7oW of all parts is
adjusted to the common pattern.
however, the tendency is toward
the full siX-d day. three-shift week,
with Sunday reserved for catch
up and machine maintenance
work When this process is carried
IN completion the factories will be
busy % hours a DAY, 7 days a week
This goal is being approached today
N many of them. There are few
aviation plants in the United States
llSdSth pil ueItIlSP pEOOuCLlOn
today which are completely idle at
any time in the week.
Federal Housing Project Sought.
Expansion of the Wright plants
At Paterson is resulting in so great
an influx of new workers that
housing facilities throughout the
area are badly overtaxed and efforts
are being made to bring about
Federal housing program which
will provide economical quarters
with the least possible delay in the
Paterson area.
To feed its growing army of en-
nloveS. the Curtiss- Wright organiza-
ton has set up three huge, modern
cafeterisS in its factories here and
Is operating II mobile '1unch
wagons" which really are more in
the nature of Army field kitchens
providing balanced hot meals for
thousands Of employees scattered
over scores OF acres Of plant space.