Evening star., 1952-08-19
Millions Spent,
But J-65 Engine
ProductionLags
Problems in Copying
British Jet Slow Up
Work, Air Force Says
By Francis P. DouoIos

VOINI Nii OtSS SuyS
By Francis P. Douglas
The Air Force has spent mil
lions of dollars and more than Is
months on the production of
jet engine. the J-65, but the num-
Der of engines deliverd is described
as only handful"
Just how much has been spent
the Air Force insists is a military
secret. Government production
experts, however, estimate the
amount at about $400 million.
How many engines have been
forthcoming also is a military
secret. In reply to questions, the
Air Force on August 8 said only
that the Curtiss-W Wright Corp,
which has the main contract, has
delivered" An Air Force officer
had said earlier that the Curtiss-
Wright production had amounted
to "handful"-which may be no
more than two or three.
General Motors Buick division
has subcontract to build the en-
gine. The Air Force said Buick
has mot delivered"
Contract Signed in 80.
The first production contract
was signed with Curtiss- Wright in
December, 1850. The Buick con-
tract dates from March, 1851.
The service conceded that initial
deliveries of the engine had been
delayed eight months.
The engine is the Rolls-Royce
Sapphire" engine for which the
Air Force obtained production
rights and it is known as the J-65
in this country. It is intended to-
be used in the B-57 light bomber, =,
which is the counterpart of the
British Canberra. The B-57 is
under production by the Glenn L.
Martin Co. of Baltimore.
Admittedly, different production
methods of British manufacturers
and differences in design geared
to those production methods have
been a stumbling block in the. way
Of the engines production.
Difficulties Cited.
Explaining the eight-month de-
lay, the Air Force said there had
been engineering and production
difficulties associated with "Ameri-
canizing" the production of the
engine in this country. 1t also
cited lack Of certain machine
tools.
It had been reported that Cur
tiss-Wright had not provided Buick
with all necessary blueprints for
J-65 production. The Air Force,
however, said earlier this month
that Buick had informed it that
CurtisS- Wright has furnished all
necessary drawings and technical
information for production.
It was learned that Buick was
hampered in production by lack
of machine tools. Last April, more
than year after the Buick con-
tract was signed, it was reported
that Buick still lacked machine
tools for it's pilot line and had
been unable to obtain firm delivery
dates for some of them.
Speculate on Tool Routing.
Government production officials
Speculated whether the Air Force
had routed tools to other plants
where they were more desirous of
obtaining production.
Buick, however, was reported in
April to have one engine prac-
tically completed. The Air Force
statement would indicate it had
not been delivered by August 8.
In insisting that the sum spent
on the engine must be kept Sc
cret. the Air Force gave this ex-
PLANTATION: The amount expended
would reveal the amount of pro-
duction expected and the extent
of the research and development
involved.
The service said, however, that
Buick has built two plants for
the production of the J65. 1t said
one is near Flint, Mich, and the
other near Chicago. 1t added
that both were financed privately
and not by the Government.
Buick Position Explained.
A General Motors representa-
tive here said it is true that Buick
has not yet delivered an engine,
but that the contract does not
call for deliveries at this time. He
said Buick is not behind schedule
on production, which is expected
to get under way in the fall, and
there is full expectation of meet
ing contract requirements.
He said the company had en-
countered "all kinds of obstacles. Z"
One was the difficulty of getting
steel for building. Another was
the scarcity of machine tools. But
he said that ingenuity was used
to change over available machine
tools for engine production.
While the Air Force listed one
new plant in Michigan, the Cen
eral Motors spokesman said there
are two, each Of them huge. The
plant near Chicago, he said, will
be used for final assembly and
testing and all of the space will
be under roof after the first of
the. year.