ON SECRET LIST

Evening Star, Issue 25700, 25 January 1946, Page 6

ON SECRET LIST

NEW BRITISH COMMERCIAL PLANES THROUGH UPPER AIR AT HIGH SPEEDS (Rec. 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 24." Revolutionary but at present secret, types of aircraft would take British civil aviation far beyond any fear of competition, said Mr Ivor Thomas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in the House of Commons. He was describing the types Britain was developing to replace the present makeshifts necessarily being used because of the war-time lag in the development of civil aviation. Mr Thomas said the types recommended by the Brabazon Committee were beyond the range of those already announced. They would! be powered by jet engines or gas turbines driving the propellers. They would carry passengers comfortably through the thin upper air at very high speeds. At this stage it was necessary to draw a veil of secrecy. There was likely to be a delay of approximately a year before suitable British planes were ready for the Atlantic service. The decision to purchase American aircraft was made so that the services could be continued and developed during the period of delay, after which Tudors and Constellations woulcr make a good working combination. Avro York's would be used for the Indian and South African routes.