JET AIRCRAFT AND GAS TURBINES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25447, 19 March 1948, Page 8

JET AIRCRAFT AND GAS TURBINES

COMMENTS BY SIR BEN LOCKSPEISER

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 18. By co-operating the British Commonwealth of Nations could tackle research problems much more effectively; each country’s conditions and resources had to be fitted into a general plan, said Sir Ben Lockspeiser, chiefs scientist for air to the British Ministry cf Supply, who arrived by air from Sydney yesterday. He was invited by the New Zealand Government to discuss aeronautical matters and a policy which could be adapted to Commonwealth plans. “Jet propulsion has come to stay,” Sir Ben Lockspeiser said. Ultimately all fighters of the Royal Air Force would have jet engines, and bombers would, too, when fuel consumption was improved. It wa£ impossible to predict when jet propelled civil aircraft would be generally used. Sir Ben Lockspeiser forecast that gas turbines would replace steam in marine propulsion, in locomotjves and in power stations, especially where there was little or no coal. Asked about the use of atomic energy. Sir Ben Lockspeiser said: “It’s still a long way off. Forget it Before it takes over the fuel problem there is a lot of work to be done.” Questioned on guided missiles and rockets he said: “All I can say is that we are working like niggers on them, but you had better keep off the subject: it is all top secret”