HC Deb 11 February 1959 vol 599 c1153
1. Mr. Wall

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will make a further statement about the use of the N.A. 39 aircraft by the Royal Air Force.

The Minister of Defence (Mr. Duncan Sandys)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the full answers given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air on 28th January.

Mr. Wall

Can my right hon. Friend say when this new R.A.F. aircraft will be in the air? Will it be available by the mid-'sixties? As the N.A. 39 is based on a new concept of air warfare, does not my right hon. Friend think it would be wise to have a small order for these aircraft so that the R.A.F. can gain experience of this type?

Mr. Sandys

As my hen. Friend says, this aeroplane is planned to go into service in the mid-'sixties. It would hopelessly delay things if we were to wait for production of a certain number of the N.A. 39 before going ahead to make this other new aircraft, the T.S.R. 2.