§ 102. Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Supply what are the plans of the Government for disposing of surplus aircraft; and whether ex-Servicemen have any priority in acquiring them.
207W
§ Mr. LeonardArrangements for the sale of surplus aircraft suitable for commercial or private flying are as follow:
- (a) aircraft allotted for export are sold to the design companies for export by them after reconditioning and conversion to civil standard; and
- (b) other aircraft are sold as they lie by competitive tender.
As regards (b) two sales of the limited quantities of aircraft available have so far been held. Both were advertised and all applicants, including ex-Servicemen, tendered on equal terms. Other arrangements are made only in special circumstances, as for instance, when one hundred light aircraft were made available on special terms to light aeroplane clubs. The majority of surplus Service aircraft are, of Course, unsuitable for civil use and if not wanted for other military requirements are normally broken down for the recovery of materials.