HL Deb 08 July 1969 vol 303 cc900-2
THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

(The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the completion of the first 50 hours of test flight of the Concorde prototypes, a statement can now be made on progress up to date.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the results of flight testing so far are most encouraging. Both prototypes have behaved well in flight, and on take off and landing. The engines and systems have performed well, and for such an early stage in testing, reliability has been excellent.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that encouraging reply, may I ask if he could advise us whether it is the intention to carry out further demonstration flights over cities up and down the country, and also whether any agreement has yet been reached on the flight path for supersonic trials and will this be published?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the possibility of further demonstration flights is being considered. No decision has been taken. Of course, it is not desired to interfere in any way with the programme of research and development, but it is something which is being borne in mind. No decision has yet been taken on the flight path for the testing at supersonic speeds.

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord one further supplementary question? Could he tell us when it will be possible for the two Governments concerned to announce whether or not this aircraft comes up to the desired specification?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, as the noble Earl will realise, there is a programme here, and so far the results, as I said, have been encouraging. But the real test will come when the aircraft flies at twice the speed of sound. It is anticipated that 001 will fly supersonically in the Autumn and Mach 2 in the second quarter of next year. On the basis of these flights it will be possible to say whether estimates are matched by performance.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, could the noble Lord advise us whether any firm agreement has yet been reached with our French partners on the preproduction stage of the aircraft?

LORD BESWICK

Yes, my Lords. There will be two pre-production aircraft, 01 and 02. which follow 001 and 002, one to be built in Filton and one to be assembled in Toulouse. Agreement has been reached on those two; also on three production aircraft. But the programme from thence on, from the fourth production aircraft onwards, is now under consideration.

LORD WEDGWOOD

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether there has been any evaluation by the Government of the impact of the sound of Concorde on the public over whom it passes?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, there is a constant evaluation of this. Whether it is conclusive in one direction or another is a matter of opinion. But again, it will be something on which opinions can be more firmly reached when the aircraft has flown supersonically.