§ Sir F. SYKESasked the Secretary of State for Air how many machines of the type fitted with American Curtiss engines have been purchased and tested by the research department of the Air Ministry; how many are now on order; what is the customary and what the maximum post-War practice as to the number of machines purchased for experimental test by the research department; and what is the largest number of machines previously ordered for service squadrons under a post-War contract placed prior to completion of standard tests by the engine to be fitted?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe answer to the first part of the question is none; the experimental machine which was built by the British contractor at his own expense and remained his property during the tests has not been purchased by the Department. As regards the second part, 18 machines are about to be ordered. As regards the third part, whilst there is no hard-and-fast procedure, the general practice is that if the research department requires a machine to a certain specification, an order for three is normally given to each firm selected; but as many as 11 have on occasion been ordered to one specification. This procedure is, however, not applicable to the ease now in question in which an experimental machine was produced displaying certain satisfactory results which made it desirable to try it out for operational purposes on2250W a squadron basis. As regards the last part of the question, an order for 30 machines was recently placed with a British manufacture two months before the British engine for which they were designed had actually passed the type test. In this case, as in that of the Curtiss, the contract was proceeded with as soon as it became evident that the completion of the engine test after certain modifications was no longer in doubt.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Air how many firms in Great Britain are supplying water-cooled aeroplane engines of 450 to 500 horse-power for the use of His Majesty's Air Force?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe answer is one company at present, but another company is building an experimental engine within the horse-power limits mentioned, and it depends upon the results of the tests whether this second type of engine is adopted for supply to the Royal Air Force.