93. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on what dates the orders for the Hermes and Argonaut types of aircraft for British Overseas Airways Corporation were placed; and for what services they were originally intended.
§ Mr. BeswickThe Hermes and Argonaut aircraft were ordered respectively on 17th March, 1947, and 30th September, 1948. The Hermes were originally intended for the main Empire routes, namely, to Australia, South Africa, and East Africa, the precise allocation depending on its performance after trials and on its date of delivery. The Argonauts were originally intended for routes to the Middle East, India, and Canada.