Evening star., 1945-11-18

WltH vast surplus OF aircraft pro-
duction facilities, the size of Americas
future air feet now is limited only by
public demand, and the Nations airlines
are hurrying plans that soon may place
air travel within reach of almost every
one.
In q year or so there will be three
times as many commercial planes as
In prewar 1941, and the seating capacity
will be five times as great. That is the
forecast. Service will be faster, fares
lower. Interairline competition and air.
rail-highway competition will reduce
ticket costs still further. One expert
has set a 3-cent-a-mile goal for to
10 years hence. The August rate re-
vision already has brought airline fares
between most big cities below the cost
of a first-class rail ticket and Pullman
lower berth.
The recent comprehensive report of
the Government Air Co-ordinating Com
mittee on demobilization of the aircraft
industry illustrates pointedly the super
abundance of plants and equipment now
at the disposal of American manufac-
turers. In estimating the total probable
annual peacetime demand for aircraft.
including military planes, commercial
transports and private planes, the COM
mittee foresaw a production level in
terms of airframe weight of between
two and three and one half times the
level Of 1910, but only S to 9.4 per cent
of the 1914 level.
Commercial Picture Aluring.
In terms of planes this would be 5000
to $3.50 military craft, 325 to ATS COM
mercial transports and 10000 to $4,000
private planes. In terms of dollars it
would mean 750 to 1,400 millions for
military planes, 125 to ITS millions for
transports and 72 to l20 millions for
private planes.
Although 1t appears that military
production will comprise approximately
three-quarters of the aircraft industry's
market over the near future, it is OBJ
vious that commercial demand will be
of growing Importance" the committee
stated.
The commercial picture Is alluring.
The average man, who eventually may
be expected to cease regarding a plane
trip as an adventure and come to look
upon it as simply one way to travel, can
expect the following developments, as
summarized by the Air Transport As
ISOLATION:
With cruising speeds of more than 300
miles an hour incorporated in many of
the new models, the time for crossing
the continent will be cut far below the
IL to "A hour schedules now flown reg
ularly. Commercial airlines will achieve
quickly 9-to-10 hour schedules.
Trolley Car" Schedules.
The passenger on fairly short trips of
125 to 225 miles, which are expected to
become increasingly popular, may en-
JOY greater speed, more comfortable ac-
communications and trolley car" sched-
ules without advance reservations. The
short-haul planes will remain about the
same size and have the same general
characteristics as those now in general
use.
The passenger on longer flights within
the United States and overseas will find
himself riding in much more commod-
ious planes. They will be faster and
run on more frequent schedules.
For overnight hops, there will be diff
ferent combinations of staterooms,
berths and reclining seats with oppor-
tunity for the traveller to choose varying
accommodations to suit his pocketbook.
There will be. plenty of room for stretch
ing and separate restrooms for men and
women.
There will be pressurized cabins to
maintain low altitude conditions at
"over- r-the-weather" heights, together
with air conditioning, individual and