§ Mr. Lyonsasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will give the numbers and description of aircraft ordered and received by Imperial Airways, Limited, 971W respectively, in 1937 and 1938; and the number withdrawn or discontinued in those years?
Captain BalfourFollowing is the information:
Aircraft ordered by Imperial Airways during the years 1937 and 1938.
- 3 Standard Empire boats.
- 3 "Frobishers" class aeroplanes.
- 3 Empire boat replacements (the standard Empire boat except for minor modification).
- 9 Strengthened Empire boats (S. 30). (These include three intended for the Tasman service which will be operated by a joint company formed by Imperial Airways, Limited, Qantas and Union Airways of New Zealand.)
- 3 "G" class flying boats (these are large seaplanes weighing about 71,000 lb.).
- 2 "Ensigns."
Aircraft received by Imperial Airways during the years 1937 and 1938.
- 2 "Frobisher" class landplanes.
- 27 Standard Empire boats (these include six intended for operation by Qantas Airways between Singapore and Australia).
- 1 Strengthened Empire boat (S. 30).
- 1 Mayo Composite aeroplane (top and bottom components).
- 5 "Ensigns."
Aircraft withdrawn or discontinued during the years 1937 and 1938.
- 2 "Calcutta" flying boats.
- 1 "Kent" flying boat.
The five "Ensigns" mentioned above were put into service temporarily and then returned to the makers for modification.
§ Mr. Lyonsasked the Secretary of State for Air what replacements have taken place, or are in immediate contemplation, in the aircraft of Imperial Airways, Limited, to take the place of the machines recently withdrawn from their services?
Captain BalfourThe "Ensign" aircraft which were recently withdrawn from European services operated by Imperial Airways have been replaced on those services by "Frobisher" aircraft supplemented, as necessary, by older types. The company has since ordered two more "Frobisher" type aircraft.