FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1946
1946 - 2269.PDF
NOVEMBER 14TH, 1946 FLIGHT BRITAIN AT THE PARIS SHOW Message from W. R. Verdon Smith, President of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors W. R. Verdon Smith. HTEE space taken by the British aircraft industry at the Paris Exhibition is an earnest •*• of its resolve to secure a bigger share of the world's aircraft markets than it has ever obtained before. The Salon is an occasion when the competing industries of the nations exhibit their goods in a single window. The fact that Great Britain's share in the window is larger than that of any other foreign country indicates that the wish to gain nerv markets is backed by an ability to deliver the goods, and that the range of goods is zvide and comparable with the likely demand. Some fifty companies, representing almost every branch of the British aircraft industry, are displaying their products. The Admiralty, the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Supply are co-operating. In all, the declared value of the British exhibits in the Grand Palais is nearly £400,000—a notable gesture so soon after the industry's own massive display and exhibition at Radlett in September. The British aircraft industry has made a, swift change-over from war production. Between 1937 and 194,"> its energies were bent to the building of combat aircraft. While the . war was still in progress there were many who feared that this concentration carried with it the threat of a crippling penalty to the future development and manufacture of British civil aircraft. Their pessimism has not been justified. As in 1939, so to-day the industry is facing and solving its problems with that blend of original genius, compromise, improvisation and doggedness which is characteristic of the British people in difficult moments. New types of British civil aircraft have advanced from the drawing board to flying trials and production- with a speed, notable at any time, but really praiseworthy when viewed against the prevailing circumstances of change and reorganization. We are confident, therefore, that the industry's friends will be gratified, and its competitors astonished, at the scope and quality of the aircraft, engines and aircraft equipment on view in the Grand Palais. They can test and examine our products how they wish, but I think they will find little which does not stand up to their most exacting demands, whether they want to buy large airliners or the smallest nuts and bolts. We are fully aware of the need to press on incessantly with technical development. We know that complacency is the sure way to technical stagnation and eventual loss of prestige and business. But we may reasonably ask our friends to share our pride in many notable achievements, and to regard them as the sure promise of good things to come. The world's speed record of 991 km.jh., achieved in the course of flights, some of which exceeded* the coveted speed of 1000 km./h., endorses our sense of achievement in airframc design and power plant invention and development. Among the numerous British items of equipment and major components the discerning visitor will find ample evidence that the ingenuity and technical mastery which produced the marvel of radar and many other valuable war-time devices are being turned successfully to the needs of air transport. No fewer than twenty-two types of civil aircraft were on view at the S.B.A.C. display and exhibition in September—a striking figure so soon after the war. Since, then, British transport aircraft on delivery and demonstration flights have begun what promises to be an impressive invasion of world markets. Paris, 1946, marks # new stage in our export drive.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
