§ Mr. ROSEasked the Secretary of State for Air if any of the inventions in connection with airship construction and equipment patented by the Airship Guarantee Company or its officials are proposed to be embodied in airship R.100; and, if so, upon what terms?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe Airship Guarantee Company, being the builders of R.100, and therefore at liberty to embody in that airship any patents controlled by the company, I assume that the question refers to R.101. On that assumption, the answer to the first part is in the negative, and the second does not arise.
§ Mr. ROSEasked the Secretary of State for Air if Messrs. Boulton and Paul, of Norwich, have now delivered the whole of the metal elements for the construction of the framework of R.100; and what progress is being or has been made in assembling the framework at Cardington?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs regards the first part of the question, practically all the elements for the main hull structure of RAW, to which I assume the hon. Member is referring, have been delivered; those for the bow, stern, rudders, fins and elevators have still to be delivered. As regards the second part, three transverse frames have been lifted after assembly on the ground, and two of them have been joined up to form a complete bay, whilst the assembly of five other frames is well advanced. I would point out that in the special method of construction which has been adopted for this airship, a very large proportion of the work on the frames is done before they are lifted, thus minimising the work to be done aloft.