Warning Light for Farnborough
Oliver Stewart writes: Security and timidity were the leading actors in this year's Society of British Aircraft Constructors' Display at Farn- borough. Security was invoked to explain the absence of the Rolls-Royce jet lift machine and of the supersonic P1 fighter. It was also invoked in a vague, uncertain manner to explain the absence of the de Havilland Gyron engine and of the Jet Gyrodyne. But it may be that timidity was at the bottom of the absence of the Gyrodyne for it is an extremely noisy helicopter and there had been much public comment just before the show on the noise caused by these aircraft. Timidity was certainly the cause for the ban upon the rolling of the Vulcan. Wing Commander Falk, the test flying superinten- dent of A. V. Roe, had rolled the big four-jet Vulcan bomber; but he did not do it at the display. Apparently it is not difficult to do and it places no large strain upon the machine. A few years ago Zurakowski introduced his new aerobatic, the fin sling' and became a headline in the newspapers of the world. This year nothing at Farnborough was reckoned worth more than a passing reference. Had the jet lift machine been there —in the static exhibition for it could not have been flown at Farnborough—the show would have attracted the same world attention as in thd past. But the Minister, Mr. Duncan Sandys, saw fit to direct attention at this machine on the eve of the show although it was not to be there. The attendance on the final Sunday was a record; but that was probably because of Saturday's television coverage. The attendance on all the public days was 17,000 down on last year. The absence of the P1 was inexcusable and the `security' explanation was an excuse and a bad one. The P1 had been seen in flight by thousands of people in the Boscombe Down district. No one would have discovered anything more about it had it flown at Farnborough. The Council of the 'MAC will have to make up its mind whether it desires its annual, show to be an event attracting world interest or just another air display.
If it desires to maintain the prestige and importance of this event in the future—and it has decided to hold another show next year—it must curb ministers who wish to blurt out secrets which divert public- attention and interest.
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