Evening star., 1947-09-30
u. ). Matches Britain
On JET Propulsion,
Air Policy Board Told
BY the Assoeioted Press

The engineering chief for the Ma
tion's major builder of jet engines
said today that the United States
has 'at least caught up with and
in some ways is ahead" of the Brit
ish in jet propulsion.
This view was expressed to the
Presidents Air Policy Commission
by r. M. Hazen, engineering director
for the Allison Division of General
Motors Corp, Indianapolis. Allison
builds a large share of the turbo-
jet engines now in use.
Mr.. Hazen said the United Ste tes
leads in building and using axial
flow compre pressors-a type in which
the air is showed straight back by
series of blades, as compared with
the centrifugal type, in which air is
compressed by throwing it Of the
ends of the blades-and in the use
of water injection for extra thrust.
Flight Tests Emphasized.
But, he added, the British gas
turbine flight tests are ION a lavish
scale compared with this country
Mr.. Hazen urged greater investment
of funds and more emphasis on
flight tests here, along with support
OF experiments to adapt gas tur-
bines to commercial planes.
He predicted that within five
years all new. large aircraft will
be powered by turbine engines, the
military using turbo-jets (such as
the P-80 Shooting STAR for short
ana medium ranges and turbo-prop
IA gas turbine driving a propeller)
for long-range planes.
William M. Allen, president of
Boeing Airplane Co., Seattle, out
lined a program for maintaining a
heavy bomber plant in peacetime.
He said the minimum number of
employees should be $4,000 and the
annual volume of business $780,
900 900.
His figures are based on the B-50,
a modification of the Big Super
fortress now in production, and
will require substantial upward ad-
Justment" for the much larger
bombers" being designed.
Mr.. Allen recommended produc-
ton contract for each experimental
bomber that proves meritorious.
Preparedness Plan Offered.
]. H. Kindelberger, president of
North American Aviation, Inc, In
gleWood, Calf, offered a prepared
ness plan which included four
points:
l. Military planners should de-
termine how many planes, guns,
tanks, shells and ships will be
needed.
2. Then they should set up a
schedule OF material requirements
sufficient to meet the program of
deliveries in the master plan.
3. Steps should be taken to as
sure stockpiles of materials neces-
sary to comply with the program.
4. The military planners then will
know to what extent they can pro-
dIce as compared with the schedule
osA4N o'oAN tlAC fCIy SIcdU QdllSST OF
basing strategic plans on unrealis-
tic estimates of material strength" :"
Record Losses Reported.
Ralph v. Hunt, vice president and
controller of Douglas Aircraft Co..
Santa Monica, Calf, outlined the
industry's financial situation, which
he said revolves about 'losses of
record proportions, mounting costs
and a steady shrinking of working
capital resources
He recalled that the industry had
made nearly 100000 after taxes
IN l945, but recorded a loss of al
most $l2,000,000 after taking tax
credits last year. For the first six
months of this year, the record
shows a loss of $l9,496, 900 before
Claiming tax adjustments, which
Will make a net income for 10 re-
porting companies of $417,O0O, he
said.
Mr.. Hunt said that because of
rising labor and material costs.