Concorde row in Tokyo

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32941, 13 June 1972, Page 17

Concorde row in Tokyo

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) TOKYO, June 12. The British-French supersonic airliner, Concorde, landed in the middle of a conflict today that could prevent sales demonstration flights to prospective Japanese customers later this week.

The Japanese Government is insisting that the airliner on take-off not use its engine after-burners —used to boost the power—because of the extra noise involved. But the British Aircraft Corporation (8.A.C.) denied any such restrictions were being implied, adding that without after-burners the Concorde could not take off. The .sleek airliner landed at Tokyo Airport this morning after a two-hour flight from Manila. It was almost 24 hours late because of engine and radar problems in Singapore. Its first two-hour demonstration flight is scheduled for tomorrow. Earlier this year the Japanese Government refused Concorde landing permission because of adverse publicity about excessive noise and potential pollution problems. It relented later, and a spokesman said this was on

condition after-burners were not used on take-off, which would be over crowded Tokyo residential areas, and supersonic flight only take place at high altitude well out to sea. A spokesman of the Transport Ministry’s flight service bureau told N.Z.P.A.-Reuter today that it had been an original British promise that after-burners not be used on take-off. This however, was denied by Mr lan Lawson, marketing manager of 8.A.C., who said he knew nothing of any such arrangement.

“This airplane is designed with engines for which burners are essential. We would not have the ability to lift off without them.” Concorde arrived in Manila yesterday from Singapore after scorching across the South China Sea in just over half the flying time taken by regular commercial jetliners. Concorde took one hour and 42 minutes for the crossing, compared with just over three hours for regular airliners.

The 8.8. C. is facing a headon clash with Parliament over its criticism of Concorde, the “Sunday Express? reported. The newspaper said that the cause of the Concorde row was a 8.8. C. “24 Hours” programme, which was broadcast on the day that the jet set out on its Far East and Australia sales tour. The programme branded Concorde as an economic failure, and now 10,000 highly skilled workers at the British Aircraft Corporation are demanding a retraction. The Concorde may be threatened by a revival of the United States supersonic airliner programme, the “Observer” reported. Its correspondent in Los Angeles, William Scobie, said that although the Americans could not now produce their own supersonic transport (S.S.T.) for some years, there were growing rumours that

the S.S.T. programme was to i be revived. “These stories are bound to .influence already dubious prospective purchasers of the Anglo-French plane,” Scobie said. “If that ardent S.S.T. supporter, Richard M. Nixon, is

returned to the White House on November 7, Administration spokesmen hint, the aerospace industry can expect to see Federal funding for an advanced model S.S.T. pressed upon Congress in 1973. So why rush to pick up Concorde options?”

Scobie said that for months the American west coast, stronghold of the aircraft industry, had been buzzing with the word of plans for a quieter “second generation” S.S.T., based on the Boeing programme terminated by Congress in March; 1971. He said that even the National Aeronautics and Space Administration had got into the S.S.T. act “Ten days ago it unveiled a radical new S.S.T. design incorporating pivoting wing and tailplane which, it is claimed, could eliminate sonic boom, allow S.S.T. landings at small conventional airports and lead to a plane far more economical tha.i Concorde. Wind tunnel tests and computer studies are progressing at California’s Ames Research centres under Dr R. T. Jones, the scientist who developed the first delta-wing planes.”