§ 26. Mr. WHITESIDEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has any information with regard to the fatal flying accident which occurred at Northolt Royal Air Force aerodrome, Middlesex, and the cause which led to the failure of the pilots' parachutes to open?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThis accident was the result of a collision which occurred at a height of about 2,000 feet. One of the pilots did not succeed in getting out of his aircraft until the last moment and did not pull his parachute rip-cord; the parachute of the other pilot, who was able to jump clear earlier, apparently became entangled in one of the aerial wires of the aircraft and failed in consequence to open properly.
§ Mr. WHITESIDEIn the event of the automatically opening parachute which has just been invented proving satisfactory, will my right hon. Friend consider making that type the standard in the Air Force?
§ Sir P. SASSOONWe have got every satisfaction from the present parachute.