Evening star., 1952-10-22
Britain Wins a Jet Prize

The British aircraft industry won a coveted
prize when it received signed contract from Pan
American World Airways for purchase of three
deHavilland Comets, Mark III series, for delivery
In 1856.
The deal marks the first time since the
1930s that an American airline has gone into
the foreign market for its aircraft-the occasion
then being PanAm's purchase of German Fokkers
for transatlantic fights. 1t marks also, the first
time that an American airline has ventured into
the field of propellerleSS aircraft.
The British began giving serious attention to
the development of jet aircraft during World
War II. Since 1s43 the British government has
invested an estimated $40O million in the pro-
gram, with the deEavilland company the key
manufacturer. In 1916, Minister Of Supply John
Wilmot declared that piston engine aircraft were
being considered by his government as outmoded
and that British commercial aviation would be
converted gradually to jet-propelled planes. The
Comet I, test-1oWn in 1850, is now in intercon-
tinental service for British Overseas Anyways and
has been marketed to airlines in Japan France
and Venezuela. The Comet II is in production
while the Comet III, figuring in the present trans
action, is scheduled for take-of in 1856.
BY specifications requested by Pan American
before the contract was signed, the new airliner
Is to have a cruising speed of nearly 500 miles
per hour at $4,000 feet, a range of about 2,700
miles and passenger capacity of IS in tourist
class service or So in luxury travel The Ameri-
can line has not yet announced where the new
ships will first be used, but Pan American is in
competition with British jets from Europe to
South Asia and to South Africa. British Over
seas Airways also has announced plans for
employing Comets on its transatlantic run and
the range of the Comet Ills would permit their
use on the New York-Puerto Rico schedule, =
heavily travelled Pan American service.
Most of the major American airlines have
examined the British Comets and considered
adviSability of purchases. The Pan American
commitment was made after consultation with
American manufacturers and with our own
Government. The development of new aircraft
is long and costly undertaking. Douglas Air
craft Company has budgeted its first jet trans
port at $50 million as against sales price Of
about 50 million. Market day is tentatively
scheduled for 1857 but might be later. The
United States Government has provided no
subsidy, as has the British government, and the
airline industry has not felt in position to guar
antee purchases or aid on development costs
sufficient to speed up the manufacturing
program.
There are valid questions surrounding jet
transport operation. The economy factor
involving initial cost, fuel consumption and
maintenance as against revenue from faster
service and quicker turnarounds for aircraft
can be resolved only after the test Of time. Air
we S and traffic-control procedures now in use
domestically are not considered suited to high
speed and high-altitude jet aircraft.
Whatever the eventual answers may be, the
Pan American purchase is breakthrough in
the American field that will be watched very
efully by our own aircraft industry and by
competing airlines It's stimulating effect should
be good for both.