Fuel Restriction Eased
In a leading article and a news item on January 16th we criticized the new currency regulation - potentially dangerous in its effects - which would limit British air tourists to an annual expenditure of £15 for fuel and oil purchased abroad.
A few days later - in the House of Commons on January 20th - the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. R.A. Butler, gave the welcome news that it had been decided to increase the allowance to £50.
A very real threat to the future of air touring is thus removed. One serious result of the restriction would have been the introduction of an element of danger by reason of the fact that the private owner would naturally tend to keep his foreign fuel-uplift to a minimum.
Exports to Middle East
In the House of Lords on January 20th, Lord Strabolgi put questions concerning the supply of "modern jet-engined military" to the countries in the Middle East.
The Marquess of Reading (Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) replied that as the result of the changes in the defence programme announced by the Prime Minister last July, it had become possible to resume the jet-aircraft export which had been suspended after the outbreak of war in Korea, and thus to meet the requests of foreign governments - including those of the Middle East - some of whom placed orders and as long ago as 1950.
Saro Beware!
Last night, January 29th, the premiere of a new British film with a strong aviation interest was due to take place at the Odeon, Leicester Square. Its title, The Net, alludes to the security restrictions which enmesh the characters concerned with the M.7, a delta-wing flying-boat project said to be capable, when its "nuclear units" are brought into action, of flying at Mach 3.
The imagination of the film maker wishing to depict a futuristic aircraft can easily run riot, often with ludicrous results, but those responsible for The Net have avoided the major pitfalls. The M.7, "designed" by G/C. Peter Wykeham-Barnes, D.S.O., O.B.E., D.F.C., A.F.C., is a quite exciting and - apart from one or two details - credible aeroplane. Science fiction pressure suits, of Michelin-man appearance and including goldfish-bowl helmets, also play prominent parts. Appropriately, perhaps, they were designed by Frankenstein and Sons (Manchester), Ltd.
Source: Flight International