§ 1. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Supply the progress made to date on methods for reducing aircraft engine noise at source; what devices have been developed, respectively, by private aircraft firms and by institutions financed by his Department; and to what extent the muffling rings so far developed are being applied to current production.
§ The Minister of Supply (Mr. Reginald Maudling)The most promising method of reducing jet aircraft engine noise at source is the corrugated jet nozzle which is being developed by Messrs. Rolls Royce, under contract with my Department. Full-scale flight tests are in progress, but the development has not yet reached the stage when these nozzles can be applied to current production. The same company is also developing a type of suppressor which is basically an annular jet.
The efforts of private aircraft firms have been largely directed towards reducing the noise from ground running of engines by means of pens and mufflers. My Departments also assists fundamental research into noise at some of our universities and has contracts with one leading aircraft company for research into high speed propeller noise and with another for investigations into helicopter noise.
§ Mr. BeswickWhile thanking the Minister for that full information, may I 3 ask him three questions? First, can he give an assurance that research is not being hampered by lack of funds; secondly, can he give the House any idea when some of these developments are going to be in operation, and, thirdly, is he satisfied that there is liaison with other nations of the world, especially the United States, which are faced with the same problem?
§ Mr. MaudlingI think that a very adequate amount of finance is being put behind this development, but the hon. Gentleman knows full well how uncertain development is in this field. I should not like to make any predictions in point of time. I think that there is a very good exchange of information on these matters, particularly with the United States, but I will certainly follow up the hon. Gentleman's suggestion to see if we cannot do more on that line.