§ Mr. Jacksonasked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement on the present stage of development of the Concord project.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsGood progress is being made with the design, tooling and manufacture of the first two prototype Concord aircraft and their Olympus 593 engines. The first engines to the standard required for first flight should be running later this year. Meanwhile two experimental engines have already been running since July, 1964, and have demonstrated the technical soundness of the engine concept. Numerous wind tunnel, materials and other tests are being carried out by the manufacturers and in Government Establishments. Most of the equipment and systems sub-contractors have been selected. Research work is continuing in the fields of operating economics, air traffic control, airport noise, sonic bang and radiation. Discussions are at present proceeding between the firms and the officials of both countries regarding the planning of the pre-production stage of the project.
§ Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Aviation for what communication and navigational aids intended for the Concord prototypes orders have now been placed; in which countries these equipments will be manufactured; and what approximate percentage, by value, of such work will be carried out in the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America and other countries, respectively.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsSubject to the negotiation of satisfactory contract terms we have agreed with our French partners to approve the placing of the following orders for the development and manufacture of communication and navigation equipment for the Concord prototypes:
Orders Placed
In the United Kingdom:
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- Radar Doppler.
- Weather Radar.
- Standby Altimeter.
In France:
- V.H.F. Navigation and Glide Slope System.
- ATC/DME Aerials.
- Speed Indicator and Machmeter.
- Marker Aerials.
- ATC Transponder (of U.S. origin).
In the United States of America (manufacture only):
- Radio Compass.
- Marker Beacon Receiver.
Partly in the United Kingdom and partly in France:
Inertial Navigation System.
Partly in France and partly in the United States of America:
- Air Data Computer.
- Radio Altimeter.
The overall division of work on the above equipments is expected to be approximately as follows:—
Per cent. United Kingdom … 39 France … 48 United States of America … 13 It should be noted that these communication and navigation equipment orders so far placed represent only a part of the total electronic and other equipment which is required for Concord, and that British firms have already obtained, or are likely to obtain, many other substantial orders for Concord equipments.
§ Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Aviation what orders for electronic equipment for the Concord have been placed, or will be placed, direct with United States firms and what orders have been placed, or will be placed, with British or French agents of United States firms.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsSubject to the negotiation of satisfactory contract terms we have agreed with our French partners to approve the placing of orders for the radio compass and the marker beacon receiver with firms in the United States and for the A.T.C. transponder with a French firm which is associated with an American firm. These orders are for the prototype aircraft only. I am not able to anticipate further orders which will be placed for Concord equipment. Decisions will be taken under the procedures agreed between us and the French.