Evening star., 1943-12-03

make up peaSetlme America have been geared,
into building the greatest air power the world
has ever seen.
Typical of such teamwork is the wartime
story OF United Aircraft Corporation, whose
powerful Pratt & Whitney engines and HAM
llton Standard propelers are found in action
the world over, whose Vought Corsair fight
ers are slapplng the Japs around in the South
Pacific, whose Sikorsky helicopters give
promise of potent new weapon of the future.
From the beginning, United Aircraft had
dedicated itself to developing aerial weapons
to make America supreme in the air. 1t was
apparent however, that demands for Uniteds
products would be so great that an organiza-
ton big enough to meet those demands would
itself be so huge as to be unwieldy
Onlteds program therefore aims at draw
ing wherever possible upon the management.
production skill and facilities of other indus
tries.
United a Primary Source
Obviously, United is the primary source
of Its engines, propellers and aircraft. To
meet the wartime demand, each of its divi-'
sions has expanded its facilities and UNDER
taken to provide as great a volume of products
as can be handled without losing efficiency.
Zach division has followed the basic policy
OF avoiding excessive concentration in any
one area and of taking the work to commu-
mites where facilities are available.
The rignal Pratt & Whitney factory isl
rapidly becoming an engine assembly plant
using parts such as cylinders and crank cases
which have been fabricated in satellite plants
in nearby communities. Hamilton Standard
has added to the production of its main plant
by converting abandoned textile mills into
complete propeller factories Chance Vought
is using an increasing percentage of major
sub-assemblies which have been completely
built by outside companies.
This of itself represented great team
hundreds of sub-contractors and suppliers of
parts. The thousand and one things for en-
glnes, propellers and airplanes had to arrive
from them not too little too late nor too much
too soon but enough on time.
There is another team, partnership with
few parallels. United Aircraft has enlisted
the aid of manufacturers in other lines, pro-
vided them with the designs which it had
developed over the years and taught them how
to build United products.
Pratt & Whitney engines are being built
by Ford, Nash Kelvinator, Buick, Chevrolet,
Continental and Jacobs Hamilton Standard
propellers are being built by Nash-Kel-
vinator, Frigidaire and Remington Rand;
Nought Corsair fighters by Goodyear and
Brewster. Consolidated Nultee will build
Nought-designed aircraft, and Nash-Kel-
vinator will build Skorsky helicopters
Each of these licensee companies concen-
trates upon one or two models, permitting the
closest possible approach to mass production.
Engineers Work at Top Speed
But production ism enough to win the war.
Development OF aerial warfare is so rapid
that mere quantity from frozen designs is
not enough United's engineering staffs have
worked night and day to develop new and i'm
proved equipment
Thanks to this emphasis upon development,
the beginning of Americas third year of war
finds United preparing to lead the way to
greater airplane performance than ever be-
tore possible. Engine power, engineers point
out, is everything in airplane performance.
Hence, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft has devel-
veloped new and more powerful engine mod
els. Hamilton Standard in turn will have the
propellers to absorb this new power, and the
engineers of Chance Vought will have air.
planes to utilize these engines and propellers.
Meanwhile in the field of the newest flying
machine, Sikorsky Aircraft is continuing
development of the helicopter.