§ 53. Sir W. BRASSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the new British Russell-Lobe parachute which was demonstrated recently at Brooklands; and whether his experts have yet had an opportunity of testing its efficiency under service conditions?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Mr. Montague)I am advised that the Russell-Lobe parachute is, like the Irvin parachute at present standard in the Royal Air Force, an American parachute manufactured under licence in this country. It was tested less than 18 months ago under the same conditions as all other parachutes submitted to the Air Ministry. If any new features have been embodied in its design since then, the makers have not brought the fact to the notice of the Air Ministry or asked that a further test should be conducted in the light of them. The Air Ministry is, of course, at all times ready to investigate the merits of any new design which affords promise of being an advance on the type at present in use. All the alternative types so far tested have been found to suffer from drawbacks of one kind or another which render them definitely inferior to the existing pattern.
§ Commander SOUTHBYWill the Under-Secretary get into communication with the makers of this parachute and find out if there is anything in it?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI have already stated that it is quite within the province of the makers to submit whether there are new features. This particular parachute has been tested by the Air Ministry in the last 18 months.