Poor Man's Plane

Mass production of a small, safe, cheap (about $700) plane has long been an obsession with Director Eugene Luther Vidal of the Bureau of Air Commerce of the Department of Commerce. Year ago he urged the idea upon manufacturers, found them cold. Last May he took matters into his own hands, asked for bids on 25 small, cheap, safe airplanes for use by the Government's aeronautical inspectors. Last week when the bids were opened in Washington, only one of the 16 submitted approached $700. Safety Air Transportation of Indianapolis offered to build a metal stub-winged plane for $750.

Astonishment at the low bid was dissipated by reports that it did not meet requirements, was not accompanied by a bond. From Indianapolis went word that Safety Air Transportation Co. was located in the Linden Hotel, that it was organized by Arthur Williams, a professional promoter who reputedly made half a million dollars in beer-taverns and night clubs.

The other bids, ranging from $1,650 to $6,670, made poor reading for Director Vidal. Only major manufacturer to bid was Curtiss-Wright Airplane Co.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.