British Opinion Swings To Lighter Warplanes

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27632, 13 April 1955, Page 14

British Opinion Swings To Lighter Warplanes

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, April 11. A swing of service opinion in Britain has occurred in favour of simplified light-weight aircraft, particularly fighters, as against the more complicated conventional type, states the aviation correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian.” He says that since the development order was given for a batch of Gnat light-weight fighters discussions among Air Staff officers have taken place. Before the Gnat was ordered the official view of the Royal Air Force was that the complication and weight of conventional fighters were unavoidable if tactical performance was to be adequate. The belief was held that the kind of fighter represented by the heavy, complicated, but fast twin-engined English Electric PI was the only effective kind. “The change in view may come about partly as a result of information received in England about the effects of certain kinds of atomic weapons. These could quickly cripple industrial production and slow down the output of aircraft. “It is now thought that the damaging effect on rates of production would be six or seven times more serious if the product concerned were conventional aircraft than if it were a light-

weight sinjplified machine, of the kind represented by the Gnat in the fighter class and by the Short Seamew in the anti-submarine class. > “Under atomic attack factories producing simple articles will have a great advantage over those producing complicated articles. “It seems an obvious point, but when the Royal Air Force officially decided against ordering the Gnat, little weight was given to it. “As the vulnerability of factories under atomic attack is studied, so the likelihood is seen of fresh orientation in service thinking about aircraft that are needed. “Some senior officers are already of the opinion that Britain since the war has followed too closely the American lead. “This is always towards greater weights and greater complication. “There is a case for some British military aircraft to be of a completely different type; a type designed not only for more adequate performance, but also for adequate production under war conditions. “In other words, the geography of the British .Isles may in future play a larger part in determining the kinds of aircraft with which the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force will be equipped than it has in the past.”