§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Aviation on what date reports were first received from the manufacturers indicating that the T188 aircraft would not achieve its designed speed.
§ Mr. MartenThere has never been any reason to think that the Bristol T188 would not in the course of development have achieved its full designed speed. As the hon. Member was informed on 27th February the aircraft has yielded a good deal of valuable information. A review of the programme in the light of changing requirements showed that the time and cost involved in carrying it through as originally planned would be excessive in relation to the value of the additional information it would yield, and it was therefore terminated. Proposals for further tests with the T188 are now under consideration.