Evening star., 1950-04-19
Air Force and Navy
To Buy 2,O48 Planes
For Nearly 81 Billion
By John A. Giles


The Air Force and Navy are
purchasing 2,04S new aircraft this
fiscal year.
The Defense Department, an
nouncing the award of plane con-
tracts yesterday, said the Air
Force would get 1880 planes at
an estimated cost of 81 .297 500 900
and that the Navy would buy 1893,
costing an estimated S557 SOC, 900.
The largest Air Force contract
went to Boeing Airplane Co., for
BAT Stratojet bombers. costing
an estimated 1903 100000. A
Stratoiet set an unofficial trans
continental record of three hours
and 46 minutes, flying 2,289 miles
from Moses Lake, Wash, to
nearby Andrews Air Force Base
last February.
The Air Force will spend S267,-
100000 with Consolidated Vultee
for the controversial B-36 bonn
bardment planes.
HellcOpterS ordered.
The only net type of procure
ment by the Air Force is for hell
copters. 1t will buy H-21 Arctic
rescue helicopters. or Flying Ba-
nanas," from the Piasecki He'll
copter Corp. for s9.3 million. The
Navy will spend S4,156,064 with
PiaSecki for helicopters.
North American Aviation, Inc,
received a $3.50, 100000 Air Force
contract for building F-95 inter-
ceptor fighters, while the Lock-
heed Aircraft Corp. was awarded
a S120 million contract for F-94
two-place radar equipped inter-
ceptors.
Fairchild Aviation will build
more Glib Packets" capable of
hauling Is tons of men and equip
ment. at cost of $40 million for
the Air Force.
The Navy's largest award went
to Grumman Aircraft Engineering
Corp. for twin-jet F9F Panther"
fighters costing $92.902,841. The
same firm also received a contract
for $41,308,714 for building AT
Guardian" single engine attack
bombers.
$68 Million for Banshees.
Mcdonnell Aircraft Corp. re-
ceived a $68, .434 contract for
building the F2H "Banshees,
which the Navy has said was cap
able of knocking down the B-36 at
attitudes in excess of 10000 feet.
The Navy will spend $36, 6,700,942
with Lockheed to provide addi-
tional P2V Neptune" jet bombers.
A Neptune holds the worlds long
distance record.
Other Air Force contracts:
C-97 transports, 1923 million,
Boeing; T-29 transport naviga-
tional trainers, S9.S million. Con-
solidated Vultee; CHA troop car
riers. $84.5 million, Douglas Air
craft Co., SA-16 amphibious air.
sea rescue planes. s7.8 million,
Grumman; I-33 trainers, 1868
million, Lockheed: F-86 Sabre"
fighters. $344 million. North
American; T-26 jet trainers.
$15.6 million. North American:
F-89 "Scorpian" all weather
fighters. $81.8 million, Northrup
Aircraft, Inc: F-84 "Thunderjet"
fighters, 1914 million. Republic
Aviation Corp. s~a
More Navy Jets.
Other Navy contracts:
F3D twin-jet fighters, S61 $685.
933. Douglas; AID single engine at
tack planes. $12,121 800, Douglas;
TO single-jet trainers, $1.265 900,
Lockheed; P5M two-engine bomb
ers. $31,700942, Glenn l.. Martin
Co.; Al twin-engine, single jet
attack bombers, 16.583,9S2, North
American; F4U single-engine
fighters. s9.112,0O0, United Air
craft Corp, Chance Vought Divi-
sion,
The Air Force said additional
aircraft procurement of about
S943 million is being obligated for
related items of service. such as
transportation. ground handling
equipment and modification of
existing types. 1t added that
minor adjustments in costs and
total number of aircraft might
take place before June 80.
The Navy said that in addition
to contracts already awarded for
aircraft and aircraft equipment.
Stat million of procurement.
primarily for Government fur
nished equipment, is being ne
gotiated.