§ 15. Lord APSLEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the Royal Air Force are considering the adoption of effective silencers for the engines of heavy bombing aircraft both for the sake of military utility and in order to eliminate the drone emitted by large twin-engined bombing aircraft, in view of the annoyance caused to civilians resident in the neighbourhood of the Royal Air Force bombing squadron aerodromes?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)This question has been the subject of intensive investigation and practical trials, but so far no effective remedy has been found which would not at the same time put undue strain on the engine and otherwise seriously handicap the performance of the aircraft. The investigation is being pursued. I may add that the sound of the airscrew, which contributes to the noise of the aircraft, has now been much reduced by the adoption of gearing.