Aircraft Engines

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30629, 21 December 1964, Page 12

Aircraft Engines

Sir, —“Pratt” would be wiser to obtain his facts from more reliable sources than seems evident from his illinformed reply to Pierre Clostermann. Having been an employee of Rolls-Royce until recently, I can state with some authority that the American entry into the jet era of aircraft propulsion was facilitated by the purchase outright of British designs and production rights. “Pratt” would be amazed to learn how many Rolls-Royce patents are incorporated in his muchvaunted American engines. The only American aero engine to be produced under licence by Rolls-Royce is of the type used for the smaller personal aircraft carrying from one to four passengers, this being a field in which the Americans had a large lead. There was until recently a very limited market for such an aircraft in Britain.— Yours, etc, ROYCE. December 20, 1964.

Sir,—l feel compelled to correct the ill-onformed statements made by your correspondent “Pratt,” under the heading “Aircraft Engines.” Pierre Clostermann's statements are not a matter of opinion, but a matter of fact, as any other person of Kimi-

lar aeronautical experience and authority would testify. The British aircraft industry has developed and is developing aircraft engines for both military and civil use of unequalled ingenuity and technical brillance. Unfortunately no product sells itself on technical merit alone. One only has to look at the present aviation sales situation to see the number of examples in which political and financial considerations proved far more decisive than technical attributes. It is in these aspects of aviation sales that American engines have a distinct advantage. No doubt these advantages were taken into full account by the T.E.A.L. engineers and officials. Despite this, the fact remains that more than half the jets flying today, are fitted with British jet engines. —Yours, etc., FACTS ONLY. December 20, 1964.