HC Deb 17 July 1963 vol 681 cc519-20
38. Mr. John Hall

asked the Secretary of State for Air if it is intended to adapt the Zell take-off system for the V-bomber force.

Mr. H. Fraser

No, Sir. There is no requirement for a take-off system of this type, which is inappropriate for so large and heavy an aircraft as a V-bomber.

Mr. Mulley

Can the Secretary of State enlighten us as to what a Zell take-off system is and tell us why it is not suitable for this class of 'plane?

Mr. Fraser

My hon. Friend the Member fox Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) will correct me if I am wrong, but I understand that Zell is the technical word used by the American forces to spell out "zero launch". It is a rocket propulsion job to get an aircraft up in a very short distance, but it cannot be applied to a very heavy aircraft. As far as the next stage goes, I would prefer to rely on vertical take-off rather than this proposed system, or the T.S.R.2, which is able to use dispersed airfields.