Evening star., 1953-09-17
Air Force Will Cut
Engine Production
Saving $500 Million
By John A. Giles


duction of several thousand
spare aircraft engines-both jets
and conventional types-with an
estimated saving of up to $500
million.
Secretary of the Air Force
Harold E. Talbot, announcing
this yesterday. said that the can
collation. would not affect the
production Of a single plane.
The engines are not needed.
he said, for two reasons:
/. A much greater time be-
tween overhauls is now being
realized from jet engines. Mr..
Talbot said whereas it had been
originally calculated the jets
would operate only 100 hours
between overhauls, they were
now running over $50 hours and
some had gone as long as 1000
hours.
2. Attrition rates have de-
creased.
Accident Rate Lower.
Our accident rate has grad
ually decreased and we have
fewer requirements for new en-
gines," he stated.
Mr.. Talbot told a news con-
ference attended by Secretary Of
Defense Charles E. Wilson that
the engine cutback and plane
production cuts announced ear
lier would not in any way affect
the Air Forces ability to equip
143 wings. A wing has from 35
to IS planes, depending upon
type.
I'VE are still shooting for 143
wings" Mr.. Talbot said. I've
got them on order and we will
continue until we're told to stop.
think the Secretary (Mr. Will
SOM is in complete agreement
on that"
This came somewhat as sur
prise to some newsmen.
Short Term Target.
Mr.. Wilson, who cut the Air
Forces goal to an interim"
target of 12O wings during a
heated controversy last spring.
smiled and repeated his earlier
statements that the 120 figure
was only a Short-term target.
That figure was set pending a
study of the military Sebup by
the Joint Chiefs of Staff. That
study is now under way and nei-
ther Mr.. Wilson nor Mr.. Talbot
could say when it would be COM
pleted.
The engine cancellations and
reduced monthly production
rates would affect only jet en-
gines and piston engines now
being built for the Air Force, 1t.
Gen. Orval r. Cook, deputy chief
of staff for material, told the
conference.
He and Mr.. Talbot said the
company most affected will be
General Electric which will take
a Sizable cut in its contract for
J-47 engines which power the
BAT Stratojet. Mr.. Talbot said
both the Lockland, Ohio, and
West Lynn, Mass, plants would
be affected.
Originated With staff.
The cutbacks were mot in
stigated by me or by the Defense
Department" Mr.. Talbot said,
"but originated with the uni
formed air staff" He made the
same statement when he an
nounced the reduction in plane
production.
Some of the money saved by
the engine cut will be used for
more advanced models, Mr.. Tai
bott said. These include engines
for the new fighters-the F-10O,
F-101 and F-105.
Increased emphasis will be
placed also on the development
and production of turbo-prop
engines" he said, adding the Air
Force was particularly interested
in that type of engine for its
transports and tankers.
There was no mistake in the
original jet-engine orders" he
explained. I'VE had no expert
ence factors on which to base
either time between overhaul
and life expectancy of oul en-
gines. Actual use. especially the
accelerating factor resulting
from the Korean hoStilities. has
now given us valid figures on
which to base requirements.
On several occasions, reporters
called attention to the political
effects of the Air Force cuts and
asked what explanations would
be given to Democratic charges
NAA