§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions an overheated or failed cross-drive clutch has caused a fire in the rear fuselage of a Tornado aircraft. [2828]
§ Mr. SoamesIn 16 years of Tornado operations there have been five confirmed cases of overheated or failed cross-drive clutches causing fires in the rear fuselages of RAF Tornado aircraft. These incidents all took place on the ground during routine engine running tests. The procedures for running Tornado engines on the ground have been reviewed and suitably amended.
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Tornado GR1 and F3 aircraft will be allowed to fly before modification 1670 has been made in respect of the recirculating cross-over valve. [2829]
§ Mr. SoamesYes. When modification 1670 was designed, a safety analysis confirmed that the operation of both F3 and GR1 Tornado at pre-modification 1670 standard was safe.
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the difference in cost between performing modification 1670 to Tornado GR1 and F3 aircraft by means of a contractors' working party as set out in his Department's contracts bulletin, volume 11, No. 2; and assuming sufficient manpower was available, undertaking such work with RAF personnel. [2831]
§ Mr. SoamesRAF manpower is used to embody aircraft modifications whenever appropriate. On this occasion, the circumstances were such that the use of a contractor's working party allowed the RAF to maximise aircraft availability to the front line. The final contract price is still under negotiation.