AVIATION IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28448, 30 November 1957, Page 15

AVIATION IN BRITAIN

Cut In Spending Reported

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 29. The British Government planned to cut aircraft and guided missiles research and development expenditure by half within a year, the “News Chronicle” reported today. This warning was given by the Society of British Aircraft Jonstructors in a private memorandum now circulating among industrial leaders.

The actual figures are under a security ban. But the cut which

is believed to be planned would reduce the present expenditure of about £350 million to well under £2OO million. The society’s memorandum said the aircraft industry’s days

would be numbered without a Government subsidy. The cut would come when the yield from aircraft exports was soaring—1956 exports of aircraft, engines, and equipment reached £lO4 million. The “News Chronicle” added that the Government’s abandonment of the supersonic bomber project had already led to the cancellation of work on a new engine which would have had important airline use. By deciding not to continue the

development of the Hawker Super Hunter jet fighter, the Government interrupted work on the essential problems of the heat barrier. The continuation of such a policy as envisaged by the proposed cut would hinder research on radio and radar, titanium, plastics, glass fabrics, fuel and oil improvements, light alloys—all techniques with applications in other industries.