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Aviation History
1974
1974 - 2006.PDF
816 FLIGHT International, 12 December 1974 Benn puts HS.146 on ice . . . In a statement to the British Parliament on Monday, December 9, Secretary for Industry Mr Wedgwood Benn put the HS.146 on ice. HSA had said that it could continue only if the Government provided all the fund ing, which would amount to £120 million over three years at today's prices. This the Government could not justify, but all jigs, tools and drawings, plus the design capacity, would be maintained, if necessary with Govern ment help, so that the project would be available for review by a future nationalised aircraft corporation. Mr Benn had called a tripartite meeting with unions and HSA later this week to discuss maintenance of the design capability. He was also con sidering how the House could discuss this type of project in future. . . . while the unions fight on All the indications are that the British Cabinet will consider the report of the HS.146 study group on December 12. In anticipation of a decision the unions are making a determined effort to place the case for the HS.146, as they sae it, before the Government, MPs of all parties and the public. Labour MPs will discuss the future of the HS.146 this week and there will be a tripartite meeting at the Department of Trade and Industry where representatives of the Confederation; of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions and Sir Arnold Hall, chairman of Hawker Siddeley, LEAD LINES UK aviation policy : more review details 819 Teheran: airport roof collapses 821 Dash 7: full ahead on sales 821 UK defence: Mason announces cuts 827 Nato: Europe's contribution 828 RAF accidents: major policy change 829 Middle East: more arms con tracts 830 Pioneer 11: successful Jupiter reconnaissance 856 will meet Mr Benn, Secretary of State for Industry. The CSEU, which is campaigning for the full-scale con tinuation of the HS.146, is confident that its meeting will not be too late to influence the final decision. In putting the case for the HS.146, the aerospace subcommittee of the CSEU says cancellation would mean the break-up of one of the four civil design teams outside the United States which can claim a worldwide reputation, (Fokker, Aerospatiale, BAC and HSA). On marketing, it says the potential market to 1983 is some 1,450 aircraft; 29 airlines have been visited by HSA teams; 13 have shown interest and sent representatives to view the mock-up and 20 have asked for further information on route studies and performance. Based on orders for 150 aircraft delivered at four per month, the price of the HS.146 is suggested as £1-91 million at January 1973 costs (including £0-25 million State return and £0-21 million profit for HSA). At September 1974 costs, the price is suggested as £2-23 million (including £0-29 million State return and £0-25 million profit). For the UK Government to allow the HS.146 to be cancelled, says the CSEU, would be to accept the self- fulfilling prophecies of Britain becom ing the "poor man of Europe" in the 1980s. The unions note that the Government, now that the aerospace industry is to be nationalised, is the custodian of its future and, if the project is cancelled, will find itself The prototype Boeing Vertol YUH-6IA Uttas (Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System) during its maiden flight on November 29 (see "Flight" last week, page 778). Initial fatigue testing of the rotor hub, transmission and flight controls and shake testing of the fuselage have been completed, and the transmission has undergone 200hr of over load trials running an industry whose future was compromised by the present HS board. . . . and so does VFW-Fokker As Britain nears a decision on the future of the HS.146 the VFW-Fokker group is placing a series of advertise ments in British national daily news papers with the catchline "Thank you Britain." The advertisements make the point that "Some European aircraft are essentially British . . . We couldn't fly without you. Can you afford to fly without us?" They are also to appear in local newspapers near Rolls-Royce's Derby, Bristol, Coventry and Glasgow plants. The British annual income from the group, they declare, is nearly £30 million and represents steady employment for 8,500 people. It is pointed out that nearly 50 per cent of the value of each F.28 is British-made, that the F.27 uses British engines, landing gear and systems and that the VFW 614 is powered by "tailor - made Rolls - Royce / Snecma turbofans, which alone account for one-fifth of the aircraft's value." Thank you Britain Some European aircraft are essentially British... What is an application satellite? Are you a total aviation person? Do you believe in ghosts? Will the US Marines reach Fort Knox in time? Is the Sea of Tranquility really up for sale? Can manpowered aircraft cross the Mediterranean? See next week's Christmas number for the answers as well as our regular features.
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