The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-11-09
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PLANES
family

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How many families will buy
private airplanes after the war?
If anyone knows the answer to
that question it should be the
aviation experts in large airplane
companies, in the government and
in aviation associations. But a
review of statements made by
these authorities indicates that
your guess or mine is apt to be
just about as accurate as theirs.
William Burden, assistant to the
secretary Of commerce for air, &C.
cording to a study of Aviation
Predictions" published by ST.
monds Accessories, Inc, predicts
that within five to ten years there
will be 100000 privately owned
planes in this country, which is
the high among predictions. S.
Paul Johnston, Washington rep
resentative of the Curtiss- Wright
corporation, gives the conserva-
tive low estimate of 10000 planes.
The National Resources Planning
board estimates $4,000, while
Charles I. Stanton, civil aeronau-
tics administrator, thinks there
will be 100000 private planes in
active service within four years
after the end of the war.
AS for prices, the experts are a
little more in agreement. Prac-
tically all those quoted expect pri-
vate planes to be available in the
$1,000 to $4,000 price range. Com
menting on probable price reduc-.
lions, Andrew Kucher, director of
research of Bendix Aviation, said:
'In 1910, automobiles cost $1.52
per pound, whereas in 1910, the
price of a much better and more
complete auto was in the range of
IS to 80 cents per pound. AS air
craft manufacture undergoes a
similar evolution, it's present cost
of So to SIS per pound will inevita-
bly, come down, and the all-round
airplane of the $4,000 to $4,000
class will begin to approach the
ideal cost of $4,000 to $4,000"
SAFETY proof
The number of planes sold after
the war will depend almost entire
ly on the public demand. There
will certainly be little problem
about quantity production of all
the planes the people will buy
with the plane-producing facili-
ties we now have in this country.
But the public demand will be
governed to a great extent by cost
and safety-and that still is pro-
duction problem. Costs will I'M
doubtedly come down rapidly and
all sorts of safety devices have
been invented which will make
private planes much safer than
they were before the war. Will
liam Piper, president of the Piper
Aircraft corporation, one of the
leading manufacturers of private
planes, says: 'The postwar private
plane will be practically fool
proof, but not darn fool proof"
Perhaps we can never expect a
plane which is darn foop proof,
but many people, who are now
timid about venturing into the air,
will want to see a long demon
stration of safe flying before buy
ing family plane.
Although the perfection of the
use of the helicopter, according to
the experts, will take some time,
I imagine it will be the helicopter,
or something similar, which final
1y will bring real popularity to
private flying. I think most in
look for the day when
they can learn to fly in the way
which w. Lawrence LePage, pres
ident of the Platt-LePage aircraft
company, says they will be able
to do with the helicopter. He
says: "a novice need only lift the
machine a few inches off the
ground at first, hover, move
around and land. AS he gains
more confidence he will rise fur
Their and fly forward, backward,
and sideways until he is accus-
toned to his controls, the feeling
of flying, and judgment in land
ing"
EUROPE $1O0
Undoubtedly the biggest de-
velopment Immediately after the
war will be in commercial rather
than private flying. Plans are
now in the making for gigantic
expansion of the use of big pas
senger planes and freight planes
flying to all corners of the world
In addition, small planes and hell
copterS will be operated to carry