Show REPORT FROM WASHINGTON Construction of f SST Aircraft Would Help Economy and US U.S. U. U S. S Trade Abroad By Rep Rp Laurence J. J Burton President Nixon recently asked the Congress to appropriate million spread over the next five years year to underwrite the development of the supersonic super super- sonic transport aircraft or the SST He lIe deliberated long In reaching this decision and I I feel he made a sound one THE SST win will take years to develop and will cost a great deal An argument areu- areu ment heard beard often against tt t funds for protects protect of this kind Is that the money should be spent scent on human needs and social programs rather than on a commercial enterprise However In my view this argument Is not a valid one one In the case eMe of the SST because be cause the money which willbe be Invested Invest invest- ed In Its Us development will provide jobs lobs for thousands of workmen and will help the overall economy And certainly the poor and our cities are beneficiaries of a strong national economy A prime reason for adopting tie the clan elan clanto to build bund the SST Is the great effect which the aircraft Industry industry- as a whole has bas on our national economy Implementation Implementation Implementation of this contract will bolster the nations nation's economic health for many years to come Today the sale of Amer American ican lean aircraft to foreign countries Is our primary export and the largest single le leItem item favorable to our gold flow balance FRANCE AND England jointly already at al al already ready are developing a supersonic trans trans- port The The USSR actually expects to have one one In operation r next next year These transports will wUl be on the market long before our American Amerlean model But If we appropriate the necessary funds now to develop the supersonic transport transport trans trans- port we can continue to be the leading lead ing log supplier of f air transport equipment to the airlines of the world The reason for this Is that the proposed proposed proposed pro pro- posed Boeing SST although scheduled to arrive on the market after the Anglo Anglo- French and Russian planes will be a amore amore more advanced aircraft than the others So even though It will reach the market market market mar mar- ket later it should be an effective com com- The American SST Is to be I a big shaped delta craft that can and end Is to be capable of flying more than twice the speed sneed of sound It would be flown at full fuU sneed speed only over the ocean however until the bothersome bothersome bothersome bother bother- some sonic boom problem Is resolved Its tremendous sneed would cut considerably considerably consid consid- present flying time e eg e.g. g. g flight time between New York City and London London Lon Lon- don would be reduced from the present hours to less than 3 hours PASSENGERS HAVE Indicated In surveys surveys sur sur- veys that they would be willing to pay the small extra initial charge necessary necessary sary for supersonic flights But Congress must appropriate appropriate- the money to underwrite underwrite under under- write development of the SST In order for United States airlines to compete with the other airlines of the world If we do not develop a supersonic supersonic- aircraft air craft soon Boon our airlines will be forced eventually to contract for the British British- French plane or possibly even the Russian Russian Rus Rus- sian model mode It IUs ItIs is estimated should this thisbe thisbe thisbe be allowed to occur that the eff effect ct on the balance of trade would be an unfavorable unfavorable un un- favorable 16 billion bUllon Again the money must be appropriated ed now if It we expect to gain a of the market There is another and I feel far more compelling reason for our not delaying this project and that thatis is this We must meet the challenge of forward moving forward moving technology and remains remains re reo mains a world leader technologically and economically We must maintain our position as a I preeminent world power Some of you may wonder why It Is necessary for the United Stated government govern ment meat to subsidize this project when the aircraft Is in fact to be developed by private Industry Government sponsor ship Is II necessary because no po single company can reasonably be expected to ta tomake tomake make the huge hugs financial outlay that would be required over the seven eight year period that It will willi i take before be be- fore production costs costs' can be repaid Antitrust laws prevent a a. a combination of companies developing the aircraft sq government sponsorship similar to that which h built Boulder Dam is necessary THE million appropriated for the development of the SST would not be lost It would be a sound investment investment invest invest- ment in the future In a program designed designed de de- signed to be be self Royalties on the production sales would repay pay the government the full cost of development plus plus' interest Indeed an investment that would provide provide provide pro pro- vide jobs for throughout the nation nation na na- na tion and might earn earn- Utahans over thousand that would help provide provide provide pro pro- vide a favorable balance of payments and enable the the USA to remain a world leader in the aircraft industry that would enc encourage advances in our technology tech technology and strengthen our economy wJ which In turn would enable eon con continue tine with vital social program indeed such an would seem to be a wise one In my my judgment t development of the SST Is worth the proposed investment of national talent and treasure that will willbe willbe willbe be required I 1 intend to do everything within my power power- to see that the funds which the President has requested are area a appropriated |