§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Defence why the 3 ft. by 4 ft. wind tunnel at Thursleigh, Bedfordshire, for testing at high supersonic speeds, is being closed—(paragraph 87, Command Paper No. 6432)—and what is the number of personnel likely to be affected.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe wind tunnel is to be closed as a contribution towards the economies required in Defence expenditure. The number of staff affected at Bedford will be about 25 and they will be redeployed within the establishment.
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§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the sizes of the three other major wind tunnels at the RAE, Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, currently in use, and the comparatively recently established facilities at Farnborough.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe three other major wind tunnels at RAE Bedford are: 8 ft. × 8 ft. subsonic and supersonic; 3 ft. × 3 ft. transonic and supersonic; 13 ft. × 9 ft. low speed. The only recently established facility at RAE Farnborough is the new 5m × 4.2m low speed pressurised wind tunnel.