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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 2118.PDF
FLIGHT International, 5 December 1963 919 (?) Straight an d LeveI © "V1 I he Opposition watches with interest the attempt of Mr Wigg and Mr Shinwell to secure a debate on the TSR.2 and hopes that the Minister of Aviation, Mr Julian Amery, will say as much to the House about this machine as he has said outside. The Labour Party recognizes the technical skill that has gone into the TSR.2 but says that no one knows what its performance in flight would be, partic ularly in heavy [turbulent?] air"—report in The Guardian. To show how much the Opposition wanted to hear Mr Amery in the House, I will quote from Hansard:— The Minister of Aviation (Mr Amery) rose— Mr Wigg: "On a point of order . . ." Mr Amery rose— Mr James Callaghan: "On a point of order. . ." Mr Amery: "I make no apology—" Several Hon Members rose— Mr Amery: rose— Mr Wigg: "On a point of order ..." Mr Amery never was allowed to tell the House, because on the* last point of order Mr Wigg pointed out that there was no quorum present. This seems rather unfor tunate, as I'm sure that Parliament is concerned about British defence and about the TSR.2 in particular. • From the Herts Advertiser, Nov 22:— "A mystery pilot made a forced landing at the de Havilland airfield, Hatfield, on Monday morning. As a small passenger aircraft circled above the airfield, the pilot signalled that he had trouble with the under carriage . . . Fire engines and ambulances •:-:••••'.• :•':•'•;•••- Shall we dance? went to the scene but the pilot landed with only slight damage ... A spokesman for the de Havilland Division of Hawker Siddeley said the identity of the pilot would not be disclosed. "We do not regard it as an item of news,' said this public relations officer." "Hello? DH public relations office? Oh good morning, this is Straight and Level's Secrets Department here. We hear very loud reports that one of your spokesmen has just had all the tyres of his car punctured by a Herts Advertiser reporter who is enraged by an answer he was given to a perfectly reasonable enquiry. Can you confirm this ?" "WHOSE car did you say? What a rotten trick! We confirm that we regard this as an item of news." "Are You All Right?"—No 28 [The "AYAR" to end them all—the D.H.52 glider « Itford in 1921. The pilot, I am happy to say, walked away unscratched] • A Conservative MP asked the Minister of Aviation in the Commons recently "if he is aware that BOAC and BEA are making margins of profit on liquor and cigarettes many times that practised in the trades concerned; and if he will, in the public interest, issue a general direction forbidding this." The MP concerned—his name doesn't matter—happened to ask this question on the very day that Sir Matthew Slattery and Sir Basil Smallpeice of BOAC resigned. BOAC and BEA make millions on fags and booze, and for a politician to protest about it seems quite surpassingly daft to me. No wonder BOAC and BEA are so fed up with politicians. • Sir Matthew Slattery of BOAC to Mr Julian Amery, Minister of Aviation:— "In our recent talks you expressed the view that it would be necessary ... for the chairman to undertake many, if not most, of the duties that are at present assumed by the managing director." Mr Julian Amery, Minister of Aviation, in the House of Commons:— "The appointment of a managing director and the functions of management are matters for the chairman pf the board and not for me." Asked to comment on the compatibility of these two statements, the Minister of Planes, Mr J. Butchery, tells Straight and Level's Hypocrisy Detection Unit: "Yes, well, you see, it's quite simple really. If I want to get rid of a State corporation's chairman and managing director I tell the chairman that I want one man to do both jobs. Mind you, this is a matter for the chairman and not for me—or vice versa, as the case may be. Good day to you." ROOER BACON
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