NEW LONG-RANGE AIRLINER

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27858, 5 January 1956, Page 11

NEW LONG-RANGE AIRLINER

BRITAIN, CANADA AND U.S. CO OPERATING LONDON. Three aircraft firms—one British, one American, and the third Canadian—are working on a joint specification for a new, exceptionally longrange airliner, which will be powered by four of the United Kingdom firm’s turbo-prop engines. This work is the first step in a longterm collaboration recently agreed upon by the three companies—the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Ltd.. Convair, and Canadair. The new aeroplane, which will be in the 500 miles an hour .class, is designed round four Bristol EE2S turbo-prop engines. Like the Britannia 300 LR aircraft, it will have a genuine non-stop trans-Atlantic range, enabling it to operate economically in both directions at all times of the year, while at the same time possessing excellent characteristics over shorter distances.

A combined engineering gtfoup working at San Diego, with the background ot the experience of the Bristol on the long-range Britannia, will complete the technical specification in January. The intention of the three companies is that the aircraft and the engines shall be produced concurrently on noth sides of the Atlantic. Coming as it does immediately after the official decision to order turboprop Britannia 250 LRs for Royal Air Force Transport Command in place of the jet transport previously selected, the proposed collaboration between Bristol. Convair. and Canadair emphasises that American opinion, like British, is turning towards the turboprop for long-rangt aircraft that will yet be, in the same speed category as the United States turbo-jets.