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Show IP0ST-W4R FLYEVG L YOUR IIO-ME TOWN I iy DtLL, Association, II n.iiin; on. It. C Post-War Fljing Previewed More than five million people, including in-cluding folks from practically every town and community in the country, have become " inoculated" with the I I I Wm. A. Burden idea of flying. These in turn will probably influence tnousands of others within a few years. "There is little time to lose. Amer- ' icon communities must get ready and plan now for this coming nation-wide interest in personal living." Thus warns Wil liam A. M. Burden. Assistant Secretary Sec-retary of Commerce for Air. To indicate in-dicate that the five million estimate of flying enthusiasts may be conservative, con-servative, Mr. Burden offers the following figures: More than 300,000 pilots in uniform and 150,000 others in civilian life will want to continue to liy. Then there are two and a half million men trained by the armed forces in other oth-er aviation skills; two million more men and women who are working work-ing in the ayiation industry; 250.000 youngsters who are taking aerial courses in high schools each year. While there are only approximately approxi-mately 25,000 civilian aircraft in the United States today, he predicts that there will be 400.000 civil airplanes in tills country within ten years after the end of the war. The national significance of this cannot be overlooked, but the real success of personal flying in the active ac-tive peacetime world of tomorrow v. ill depend directly upon each of our 16,752 communities, aviation authorities au-thorities point out. Just as the automobile could not become generally useful to every American who wranted to own or drive -jne until good roads were built, so personal flying will be grounded until suitable landing facilities fa-cilities are available everywhere. Planes in the air can land in safety only on level, prepared surfaces. Planes on the ground need smooth runways and space to "take-oil." However, these facilities need not be extensive or costly, many communities commu-nities are now finding out. With the advice of both Federal and State aviation groups, as well as nongovernment non-government aviation organizations such as the Personal Aircraft Council Coun-cil of the Aircraft Industries Association Asso-ciation of America, Inc., Washington, Washing-ton, D. C, plans are under way in many sections of the country for the construction of inexpensive airparks, llight-stops and air harbors. These are fitted to the size and needs of the individual community and usually can be expanded later if conditions warrant. What seems to be more to the point, many town officials expect that their proposed landing facilities will become income producers and perhaps pay off the costs of construction con-struction and operation in time. They feel that the development of community personal flying may prove to be good business in more ways than one. This Is the first of a sr-rles of articles on post-war flyine and its effect on community life. Tlu- next article. "Freedom of Personal Flight," wili appear In an early issue. |
