§ 22. Mr. Geoffrey Cooperasked the Minister of Supply when he anticipates being able to give a further report on the development of the Tudor I, II and IV aircraft; and when it is anticipated that any of these designs will be ready for delivery to the airways corporations, with a view to them being put into service.
§ The Minister of Supply (Mr. John Wilmot)A fully modified Tudor I is expected to be ready for official flight trials about the end of September. If the trials are satisfactory, some Tudor I and Tudor IV aircraft should be ready for final delivery to the operators by the end of the year and Tudor II early in 1948. A Tudor IV aircraft, flown by British South American Airways, has recently returned to this country from a successful proving flight to Jamaica.
§ Mr. CooperDoes my right hon. Friend realise the tremendous amount of public interest in the development and design of our new civil aircraft, and could he give more publicity to the development that takes place, as his Department seems to be very impressed at present with the need to keep these things secret?
§ Mr. WilmotNo, Sir. On the contrary, only last week I had a very representative Press conference to give the fullest information about the very excellent progress being made in civil aviation.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyIn view of the recent successful proving flight to which the Minister referred, would he now say if British Overseas Airways Corporation are going to have these aeroplanes which they would not take before?
§ Mr. WilmotThe aeroplane which went to Jamaica is specially designed for the South Atlantic. The Tudor I is a North Atlantic plane.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanWould either of these planes come to Perth in any circumstances?
§ Mr. WilmotI should think so—and back.