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BRITAIN URGED TO MAKE MORE USE OF HELICOPTERS

LONDON, October 28. The British Government intends to make the best possible progress in helicopter development consistent with economic considerations. This was emphasised in both Houses of Parliament in a discussion which, particularly in the House of Lords, was punctuated with strong criticism of the apparent lack of initiative on the part of both the Government and the British aircraft industry.

“The delay is not going to be as I long as some have suggested,” said Lord Mancroft, replying to the debate in the House of" Lords. “Criticisms about the delay are not wholly justified. We are just as keenly aware of the opportunities as of the difficulties.” In the House of Commons, the newlyappointed Minister of Transport, Mr Boyd-Carpenter, said the Government was anxious to see the best possible progress.

Lord Mancroft who, as Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Home Office, was replying on behalf of the Air Minister, Lord de L’isle and Dudley, outlined a research programme on which it was estimated that more than £2,500,000 would be spent this year. “Next year it may be higher still.” he said, in answer to a debate initiated by Lord Brabazon, in which a number of Peers complained that the Government lacked enthusiasm for helicopters.

However, said Lord Mancroft, other developments, such as the “flying bedstead,” must also have a share of the financial aid available.

Lord Brabazon, urging greater interest in helicopters for both civil and military use, said that some army circles thought the helicopter would replace the three-ton lorry. Helicopters were admirable for moving commanding officers, for evacuating wounded, for artillery spotting, and for bringing up am r nition. “The suitability ol vhe helicopter is

more apt. for us than for America,” sai:l Lord Brabazon, “yet America is a. iead of us. I am a great admirer of the British aeroplane industry, but a little more drive and activity is long overdue. I have a feeling that the great aeronautical firms should not just exist and prosper on Government orders, but be prepared on their own to pioneer an occasional private venture.

“It might be that we are already at the beginning of an entirely new flying technique. It might very well be that very long hauls at high speed will be taken by flying-boats-carrying up to 500 passengers and the short hauls by the helicopters. How are we to galvanise the industry and Government to appreciate what is going on in other countries and to outstrip them? It is no good just imitating people. We have to produce not only something equal to other countries but better if we are going to export. We have the talent. Somehow we do not seem to have the will do to it.” “Disturbing Features” Lord Ogmore said that over the field of British aircraft design and production there were disturbing features. “It looks as if once more the British manufacturers, starting through the genius of our inventors with a fine lead, are falling badly behind.” Lord Balfour of Inchrye said that whereas in America there were hundreds of helicopters for military and civil purposes, there were probably 15

civil helicopters and 50 service helicopters in Britain. He suggested that each service should put some of ifa money into a common pool for the development and purchase of helicopLord Thurlow, home on leave from commanding an infantry brigade in Kenya, said that in Korea the Cominonwealth Division had been on occasions entirely supplied by helicopters, but all the machines and pilots had been American.

“If we had helicopters in Kenya in recent months, I am quite certain that we could have done a great deal more damage to the Mau Mau by using them offensively, and helping in that way to end the present emergency. There is undoubtedly an urgent need for much greater effort in the development and production in this important field of aviation.”

Lord Mancroft said the Government believed there was-a great future for helicopters the Commonwealth. However, at the moment they could not be regarded as’ economic.

As an illustration of costs, he said that a helicopter to lift five tons might cost up to £150.000, compared with roughlv £4OOO for a five-tori lorry. “The Government is pursuing a logical programme of helicopter development aimed at both bivil and military needs.’* he said. The fact that, during the war. no helicopter develooment was possible had inevitably left Britain with a lot of leeway to make up, compared with the United States.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19541105.2.127

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27499, 5 November 1954, Page 13

Word Count
752

BRITAIN URGED TO MAKE MORE USE OF HELICOPTERS Press, Volume XC, Issue 27499, 5 November 1954, Page 13

BRITAIN URGED TO MAKE MORE USE OF HELICOPTERS Press, Volume XC, Issue 27499, 5 November 1954, Page 13