§ 36. Squadron Leader Burdenasked the Minister of Supply how far the Royal Air Force has solved the problems of control while flying through the sonic barrier and above the speed of sound; and to what extent exchange of information takes place between the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force on this subject.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussIt would not be in the public interest to dislose the state of our knowledge on transonic and supersonic flight. We have satisfactory arrangements for the exchange of information with the U.S.A.
§ Squadron Leader BurdenIs the Minister not aware that the Americans have for some considerable time been flying far in excess of the speed of sound, and that there is considerable apprehension in this country about our own position? Why should we be lagging behind America in this matter?
Air Commodore HarveyDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that it would be in the public interest for them to know that we have aircraft faster than Russian jet aircraft? What does the Minister propose to do about it, because unless he does something, the situation in the future will be a very ugly one?