Show GOVERNMENT BALKS PROGRESS OF V AVIATION V V Manufacture Halts Because r I Definite Policy Is Lacking Caching By Harry B. B Hunt Hun t N. N E. E A A. A Staff Correspondent April The lack W WASHINGTON 2 24 The of any definite comprehensive program program program pro pro- gram for the development of aviation as a really Important arm of our national national na na- na- na defense Is more than matched by bY bYthe the absence of any organized ef effort effort effort ef ef- fort fort among airplane m manufacturers nuta tur rs to toI I promote commercial aviation With the exception of a few Individuals individuals Indi indi- and companies giving exhibitions exhibitions I making aerial photographs and andI maps and providing small express ss and I passenger services there Is little use being made of aviation by private concerns And yet the groundwork is Vail aJl completed by the government for a system of commercial aviation that could cover the entire country FLYING MAPS OF U U. U S. S PREPARED An aerial survey of the whole United United United Unit Unit- ed States has has' been made by the air service of the army and some 1600 1500 landing fields charted An aerial aeria map maphas maphas has been prepared locating municipal and emergency fields and giving Important important important Im im- im- im I topographical and aeronautical cal Information This survey required more more than miles of flying f The best aid to commercial aviation has been provided by the governments government's governments government's govern govern- ments ment's air malt mall Between Cleveland anc and Chicago th thair the theair theair air mall mail accomplished a worlds world's reo- reo r. r rec record ord urd of consecutive mile mlle nonstop nonstop non- non stop slop trips without a forced landing of any kind The big mistake that has been made made- In attempts at commercial aviation to date in the United States Maj Gen Charles T. T of the air service service service ser ser- vice says Is that we h have tried to fit commercial uses to army planes In Instead instead instead in- in stead of Of building new planes to fit definite commercial uses Encouragement to private commercial commercial commercial commer commer- cial aviation Is given In the legislation legislation legislation legisla legisla- tion now before congress providing for fora a government department of the air Among the other functions of that department would be the establishing of aerial routes throughout the United United United Unit Unit- ed States and and its possessions and cooperation n with municipalities in providing providing providing pro pro- viding airdromes and landing fields to tobe tobe tobe be used in common by federal state stat municipal commercial l and private aircraft Commercial planes not only could use these sites for J landing but could procure at them gas oil and nd supplies at cost to the government HIGH COST BAR TO PURCHASERS The present handicap to a widespread widespread widespread wide wide- spread use of the airplane as a a apri private private private vate conveyance Is Its cost Manufacturers Manufacturers Manufacturers Manu Manu- estimate on the basis' basis of Inquiries received that there are in inthe inthe inthe I the United States today customers customers customers cus cus- who would buy planes for private private private vate uses if they could be procured In the neighborhood of 2500 However However However How How- ever under present cost conditions conditions' It ItIs ItIs itis Is impossible to build a reasonably constructed construct d and sufficiently powered machine at a lower price than and this price the use of the lowest cost engine known and no po special special special cial finish If the he government holds to a moderate moderate moderate mod mod- erate erate aerial program program program-as as it probably will this year year then then there will be no immediate stimulus to commercial aviation Construction of airplanes on government government government gov gov- account virtually has ceased pending action by congress congress' The postoffice department is the only government agency now now buying airplanes and Its orders are comparatively small orders for the past six months covering only eleven planes The stock c of planes planes' accumulated U I fra ln fl Uri under war contracts o consists s t of training planes De Haviland and miscellaneous and experimental tal planes Private manufacturers after spending spending spending spend spend- ing vast amounts In experimentation suddenly found that their ventures were bringing them heavy winnings in war contracts Since they have cashed In few are willing to resume plunging in the aviation game The situation can be compared with what would have happ happened ned In the infancy of the automobile industry If all the struggling pioneers pioneers' h had d suddenly found themselves compensated many fold for their outlays and had decided to let well enough alone |