THEMICHIGANDAILY University Uses Airport For Research Projects By MICHAEL KRAFT Although any large University's physical plant contains a variety of facilities, it seldom owns an air- port. Nor is the airport usually one of the nation's major terminals, serving a large metropolitan area and more than 400 planes aday. The University's ownership of Willow,Run Airport began in 1947 when it was "purchased for one dollar from the War Assets Ad- ministration. y In buying the 1,916-acre airport, the University gained numerous facilities for research in aeronaut- ics and other fields. The airport itself has been leased to the Air- lines National Terminal Service Company. Groups 1aintains The group formed by seven ma-, jor airlines using Willow Run, lo- cated 32 miles from downtown De- troit, pays the cost of maintain- ing the air terminal and landing field. In this way, the field is kept falling into disrepair and would be ready for use in a national emergency. Floyd Wakefield, Uni- versity supervisor of Willow Run, explained.' As part of the purchase agree- ment, the University is required to maintain the airfield and return it to the government if the land- inyg field become necessary for na- tional defense. Entirely self-supporting, the air- port receives tno funds from the government. Additionally, revenue from the airlines group and con- tract research pays maintenance and operational costs of Univer- sity facilities at Willow Run. The research projects are pi- marily those that, because of space limitations, could not be handled on campus. Facilities have ranged from a supersonic wind tunnel, which has since been moved to North Cam- pus, to the Lake Hydraulics Lab- oratory where waves are sent crashing against models of har- bors and breakwalls set up in two large tanks. Even the airport itself forms a vast laboratory as the landing and taxi strips undergo a daily pound- ing from heavy aircraft. The his- tory of every slab of pavement has been recorded by members of the civil engineering department, pro- viding a detailed account of how pavement will stand up under known conditions. Several military research pro- grams are also being conducted at the airport, including "Project Michigan," a five-million-dollar project on battle area surveillance. Computers Kept Also at Willow Run are the Uni- versity's electric computers and research programs on deicing of aircraft "vings, flight of missiles and chemical processes. Besides the variety of research proejcts there is a radar station used for tornado tracking. The airport was built primarily as a test field for B-24 Liberator bombers assembled at a nearby Willow Run bomber plant. The construction of the airfield was considered a marvel of speed, and engineering skill for graders first began work on July 23, 19'41 and the last paving was laid Dec. 4.. The 280 acres of concrete pav- ing in its aprons and runways covers seven times the area of the original University campus. HEART OF THE CAMPUS-With the General Library In the background, the Diag pr tral meeting place for students and Is usually a much busier scene than shown above. -i - By Breakfast on Weekdays and in the Afternoons on Sundays. VARIOUS SERIES PRESENTED: Lectures Major Part of School Year 4', T discussing philosophy, and Prof. Andre Cailleux, of the University of Paris, a geologist. In addition to celebrating the 200th anniversary of Alexander Hamilton's birth, two others have been invited, Prof. Broadus Mit- chell of Rutgers University and Harold C. Syrett, who will speak on "The papers of Alexander Hamilton." In a set-'up like this, that brings in renown speakers from the far comners of the world, a large fi- nancial program must be main- tained and well regulated. The chief problem is to see that no one department is slighted or shown favoritism. 'This is accom- plished by a careful budgeting of funds and a close evaluation of the lecturer offered. The money for all of the lec- tures comes from a central fund set up In the regular; University budget. A request is made by the Eng- lish department, as an example, through their particular repre- sentative, who could be either the departmental chairman, or just an appointee to handle their end of the program. He directs his requests to Uni- versity President Harlan Hatch- er's assistant, Erich A. Walter, suggesting that the, English de- partment sponsor this man as a participant in the non-resident lectures. Operating independently, the Journalism department sponsors about 10 lectures each year. This. is another realm worthy of in- vestigation for students interested in hearing top quality speakers. This program, instituted in 1848,has featured many greats, including Walt Kelly, inventor of Pogo. Others of equal merit have spoken in these University Lec- tures in Journalism." ' In addition totheir attendance, the lectures are open to the pub- lic without charge. The money comes from funds set up by the literary college. CUT OUT AND MAILTODAY, t . DIETRICH BERGMANN Box 2194, Univerity Sfation Ann Arbor, Michigan f Q: Enclosed find check or money order. I Please bill me. Please.deliver the New York Times to me starting September 25 I (Sunday delivery starts September 29). I have encircled the rate of my subsariptioh. Semester Edition School Year I $ 4.90 Sunday $ 9.70 $ 5.60 Daily $11.10 $10.50 Daily& $20.50 Sunday SName School Address 1 l1 There will be no deliveries during official University recesses and exami- I nations periods. 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