Such speeds as 700 to 800 miles per hour in aircraft may soon be outmoded. The rocket-propelled XS-1 built by Bell, is expected to reach the fantastic speed of 1,700 miles per hour. I've seen this little winged bullet and it looks like it might do it!

Our one B-26 experimental bomber, sports six engines. Air force says it can fly 10,000 pounds, 10,000 miles. Here's the shocker! With this airplane it is possible to fly an atomic bomb to any point in the world, drop it and return home safely.

Now if we have one or two experimental ships of this nature, it is only reasonable and surely prudent to assume that other nations are keeping pace with us.

In fact, since we have decimated our air force, to fourth or fifth class proportions, I believe we are in a highly vulnerable position.

In future atomic warfare, land armies and navies will be necessary to occupy and seize territory. But the initial punch will come, as it did at Pearl Harbor, from the air. The difference, as I see it, is that the punch will be directed at the heart of the nation to be attacked--not the Pearl Harbors thousands of miles away.

In possible enemy nations, it is only necessary for one man to say: "Keep our air force up. Don't let anyone know how many or what kinds of airplanes we have." In the United States, with an economy-minded Congress, we have virtually destroyed the fine fighting machine, which was once the strongest air force in the world.

Today, we couldn't whip our weight in mosquitoes, in the air. It's a long way and a long time from one experimental ship to a fighting air force.

Along this same line, at the time Congress was whooping and hollering for a complete "investigation" of air crashes, they slashed millions of dollars off the budget for CAA. This is the agency which polices flying safety, operates the beacon lights, radio beams, inspects airplanes, etc.

I don't believe these august gentlemen who so gleefully play with appropriations, realize in all cases, what they are playing with.

We should have learned our preparedness lesson. It doesn't make good sense to take guns away from policemen, nor planes, tanks and ships away from our army, navy and air force.

Fairgrounds Fun
Joe Carlin's all-metal Cessna seems to be on display at the fair. Paul Lowman's pontoon-equipped Cub will carry passengers.

From Everywhere
Gene Beigh putting a fancy new radio in his Stinson. Has bright red loop antenna cover on it. Wouldn't be surprised to see a squirrel tail flying for his aerial next.

Deloss (Moose-Flip) Phillips, another G.I. with a private flying license-likes it fine.

Fun for the public Sunday, September 7th, when the Aero club puts on a spot-landing contest. More about this later.

Jack Chrisman, that handsome new boss-man down at Playtime, is also a pilot. Came to Warsaw from South Bend, has been living with family at Tippecanoe lake.

Help! Help!
Whenever a columnist is reduced to the popular indoor sport of cussing Congress, he is desperate. Pilots, operators, anybody-let's hear your yarns.

Warsaw Daily Times Wed. August 27, 1947