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manufacturers well in advance of the date scheduled for the completion of the first airplane of each new type.

The Committee now has many such projects in hand, work on which at the present rate will extend into the calendar year 1943. It is of paramount importance to the country that work on these projects be accelerated. The Committee is, therefore, proposing by these estimates measures to enable it to meet the exigencies of the situation.

Unless the Committee is enabled to meet the requirements of the military serv ices more quickly and more fully than at present, America's aircraft, on which the Nation's security may largely depend, simply will not have as good performance as they otherwise would have.

We must assume that the present war will continue for several years and that the respective warring nations will make every effort to achieve supremacy in the air. Up to the present time the war has proven the tremendous value of aircraft of superior performance. At this time it appears that the British and German aircraft are type for type about equal in performance.

Our great opportunity lies in taking adequate measures now for the development of aircraft of superior performance. This country is spending billions of dollars on the production of aircraft, whose performance and efficiency are to a large degree dependent on the extent to which research is supported. In the prosecution of this vast construction program the United States cannot afford indefinitely to freeze designs in order to achieve volume production, for progress in aeronautical science is extremely rapid and, under present conditions, types are becoming outmoded before production orders are completed. Actually to freeze types would ultimately result in equipping our air forces with inferior aircraft.

The Committee firmly believes that its program offers the country the best assurance of getting value received from its tremendous expenditures on aircraft construction and at the same time gives the country the best prospect of gaining a definite advantage in the development of aircraft of superior performance.

The Committee, therefore, urges the wisdom and ultimate economy in the national interests of strengthening, as recommended. its ability to meet its growing responsibilities in the present national emergency.

INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY OF NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AERONAUTICS UNDER ACCELERATED AIRCRAFT PROGRAM

I would like to say, Mr. Chairman, that I am here as the chairman of my Committee, on behalf of the 15 members, to state that at our meeting held September 11, we reviewed the position of the Committee's responsibility, in view of the greatly accelerated pace of the aircraft program in this country, which makes our responsibility increase in like ratio. We find that we are not living up to our responsibility, and that we will fall further behind unless something is done, and that is the reason we are appearing before you with this request.

It appears now that we need to increase our output in view of the increased load, which Dr. Lewis will explain. The quickest way to increase our output of information and advice to the Army and the Navy with regard to new types of airplanes and new developments is to have additional working shifts in the existing laboratories and to use to better advantage our existing facilities. That requires an increase in personnel to give us an increase in the number of hours of work per week or per month, using the existing wind tunnel equipment. That we are unable to do with our restricted power supply unless we increase our work shifts and the number of working hours. In that connection, it is most fortunate that the Committee has nearing completion its own 10,000-kilowatt Diesel engine electric generating plant at Langley Field, which will supplement what the local power company can furnish, enabling the laboratory to oper

ate at all hours of the day. The first part of the increase will be in the number of our work shifts.

Incidentally, to take on more work and design more things, we find ourselves in a congested situation with regard to the odd space in the laboratory, and we need to provide a storehouse, which item is mentioned on page 3 of the statement. At the same time we should provide fencing for the existing area to guard against possible sabotage. Mr. WOODRUM. That is on account of the confidential nature of the experimental work you are doing for the Air Service?

Dr. HUNSAKER. Yes, sir.

NEED FOR INCREASED LIMIT OF COST OF AMES AERONAUTICAL LABORATORY

In connection with the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, which is located at Sunnyvale, Calif., we need to have the limit of cost raised for two reasons: First, the original authorized limit of $10,000,000 was made on the basis of a rought estimate before the equipment was designed and the price level increased. It was on the basis of the price level of some years ago, and the cost of doing such things is now much more than the estimated cost at that time. Also, our ideas about it, evolved from experience, have changed, and we have designed changes in the laboratory. It is the old story that we are faced with, because these designs are becoming more complex. In view of that, we will need an addition of $3,800,000 in the limit of cost. We are asking for that increase in the limit of cost authorized for the original construction program, and in addition

Mr. LUDLOW. Do you think that will complete it?

Dr. HUNSAKER. It will complete all that was intended to be completed originally under that authorized limit of cost of $10,000,000. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. I understood you to say that it will be necessary to increase the cost by $3,000,000.

Dr. HUNSAKER. $3,800,000.

Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. This justification indicates an increase from $10,000,000 to $16,207,500.

Dr. HUNSAKER. The increase of $3,800,000 is the first step. That increase in the authorization, is necessary to complete what was originally contemplated under the authorization.

Mr. TABER. In other words, it is costing that much more to do the same things that you based the first figure on?

Dr. HUNSAKER. Yes, sir.

Mr. TABER. Will it be as much more as 34 or 38 percent?

Dr. HUNSAKER. It is not all chargeable to the increased cost of doing those things, but some of it is due to the evolution of designs. Ten million dollars was the estimated cost at the time the original estimate was made, and this estimate is now made after the designs are improved and bids are asked. It is a combination of two factors.

Mr. WOODRUM. In connection with this construction work, do you do that work yourselves, or do you let it to contract?

Dr. HUNSAKER. We let it to contract.

Mr. WOODRUM. You get up the plans and specifications?

Dr. HUNSAKER. Yes, sir; and take bids.

Mr. WOODRUM. You let it to the lowest bidder?

Dr. HUNSAKER. Yes, sir.

Mr. WOODRUM. Does your experience indicate whether or not you can get satisfactory bids? Have you been getting satisfactory bids?

Dr. HUNSAKER. We have had both kinds of experience. In the case of Cleveland, we could not get any bids at all for a while, and we had to get the help of the local chamber of commerce in interesting local contracting companies.

Mr. WOODRUM. Do you negotiate contracts, or take bids? Do you prefer to take bids?

Dr. LEWIS. Yes, sir.

Mr. WOODRUM. That is what you wish to do?

Dr. LEWIS. Yes, sir. The difficulty is that most of the Government's construction work is now on the cost-plus basis, but we would rather work on the competitive-bid basis.

Mr. WOODRUM. If there is a bidding market, you do it that way? Dr. LEWIS. Yes, sir.

Mr. WOODRUM. That is the best way to do it, of course.

Dr. HUNSAKER. I was speaking of the requested increase in the limit of cost of the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. The first increase requested is $3,800,000 to complete the authorized construction program. and the second item of increase is $2,407,500, because we found it desirable to build an additional and different type of wind tunnel which has been conceived and found necessary since the original project was started. Since that time there has been a change in the art of windtunnel technique of a somewhat revolutionary nature, and these new types of designs and facilities promise to give information of a very important character to aircraft designers. A new type of wing curve recently discovered requires special facilities for design and study. We need a completely new type of wind tunnel not contemplated to be built within the original limit of cost.

The CHAIRMAN. You are asking an authorization here for that! Dr. HUNSAKER. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Does that mean that the wind tunnel you are proposing to build under the original estimate will be abandoned, and that in place of it you will put out a different type of wind tunnel? Dr. HUNSAKER. No, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. You mean this is an additional tunnel?

Dr. HUNSAKER. Yes, sir; one not contemplated in the original $10.000,000 limit of cost.

The CHAIRMAN. Has there been a change in the estimated cost of the original tunnel?

Dr. HUNSAKER. Yes, sir; there has been a change in the original limit of cost of $10,000,000.

Mr. TABER. There is a lot there besides the original wind tunnel. Dr. HUNSAKER. Yes, sir. There are more things besides the orig inal wind tunnel at the Ames Laboratory. There are now three wind tunnels there.

Mr. WOODRUM. It could be more properly spoken of as a project than as a wind tunnel?

Dr. HUNSAKER. Yes, sir.

BREAK-DOWN OF ESTIMATES UNDER CONSIDERATION

The CHAIRMAN. Your estimate is broken down into two items, one of $1,162,575, for scientific research, technical investigation, and so forth, including the purchase of cafeteria equipment.

Dr. HUNSAKER. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. And $261,425 for continuing the construction and equipment of additional laboratory buildings and research facilities at Langley Field, making a total of $1,424,000.

Dr. HUNSAKER. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Tell us a little more about how you propose to spend the $1,424,000.

Dr. HUNSAKER. I would like to have Dr. Lewis, our Director of Research, go through the estimates, because he has been through them with the Bureau of the Budget.

The CHAIRMAN. Dr. Lewis, can you give us a break-down of this? Dr. LEWIS. On page 2 of the document we handed you, you will see a summary of the estimates presented. The first item is an estimate of $1,162,575. Of that amount, we ask for the headquarters in Washington $29,940 for personal services; for the coordination office $2,300; for research contracts, $150,000; for Langley Field laboratory, $945,700, made up of $615,350 for personal services and $330,350 for other expenses. For the Ames laboratory, we have $26,580 for personal services and for the engine laboratory $8,055, for personal services, making up the total of $1,162,575.

The CHAIRMAN. We will include those two tables in the record. (The tables referred to are as follows:)

Analysis of Natinal Advisory Committee for Aeronautics appropriations and estimates, fiscal year 1942, appropriations and second supplemental estimates, fiscal year 1942

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National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, fiscal year 1942, second supplemental estimates—Summary

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NEED FOR ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES

The CHAIRMAN. What is the nature of the other expenses at Langley laboratory amounting to $330.350?

Dr. LEWIS. That is shown on page 10 of the appendix. There we have the estimate broken down into the different items. It includes supplies and materials, $119,500; communication service, $1,250; travel expenses, $2,500; transportation of things, $1,750; and equipment, $205,350.

The CHAIRMAN. Equipment is your largest item there?

Dr. LEWIS. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. There is no equipment item for the Ames laboratory. Is that complete?

Dr. LEWIS. We are not asking for any emergency equipment for that laboratory.

Mr. TABER. How nearly complete is the Ames laboratory?

Mr. VICTORY. I would say that it is a little more than 50 percent complete.

Mr. TABER. When will it be completed and ready?

Mr. VICTORY. It is already in operation, but all construction is not completed. We have seven units completed and functioning, some of them on a two-shift basis.

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