BRITISH AIRCRAFT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 7, 8 July 1938, Page 3

BRITISH AIRCRAFT

NO TRADE DISPLAY THIS YEAR Greater secrecy in relation to new military aircraft in Great Britain has influenced the council of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors in its decision not to hold an air display this years, says the aviation correspondent of "The Times." This annual display, which has usually followed immediately after the R.A.F. display, has been attended by many of the foreign cus» tomers of the industry and by representatives of other nations. .At the display the latest military and civil aircraft have been shown in" flight and on the ground. In-consequence of new restrictions imposed by the Air Minis* try it was found that, if the display were held at the usual time this year, only one aircraft which was not shown last year would be free for exhibition, and that is the military version of the Short Empire flying-boat known as the iSunderland. v The decision was announced in th» ! following statement:— . ■ . The Society of British Aircraft Con* - stnictors regrets that the society's fly-^ ing display and exhibition, which was organised for the first time in 1932 and has since taken place annually, will not be held thjs year. The reasons for this, decision, reached by the council of the society after careful consideration of all of the factors involved? are that it is; not in the public interest to show the latest types of military aircraft and engines, " and that the immense amount of work devolving upon the British aircraft industry at the present time makes undesirable the diversion, of time arid .energy f organisation of a display. THE NEW REGULATIONS. The dearth of new military types available for public exhibition is explained not by lack of development in the industry but by a lengthening on the part of s the Air Ministry of the period during which new types must remain secret. Previously a new military aeroplane ceased to be "secret" as soon as it was flying;" under new regulations the period of secrecy is extended and may be followed by an nvm usually long period of semi-secrecy^ The society's decision affects only this year'sshow. -.',•'. How the cancellation will affect th% oversea trade remains to be seen. At last year's display there were about 50.00 guests from nearly 50 countries. It is presumably still the Government's policy to sanction the export of new military aircraft to certain selected Powers, and no doubt some facilities will be provided for informing such Powers of the aircraft which may become available to them. The members of the society are being consulted as*'to whether or not they would be disposed to support a static exhibition this year of such aircraft engines, accessories, and materials 8M are free to be shown.