14 JANUARY 1955, Page 5

DANGER IN THE AIR

piston engines. There must be sympathy with the Corporation for the Comet set-back. When it tried to pioneer British machines it suffered severe loss. But it is not like aviation concerns to be so readily diverted from their original purpose by reverses and the Corporation's weather-cocking is hard to explain. It has been reported that the Chief Executive of the Corporation, Mr. Whitney Straight, who received his early education in the United States and has a distinguished record as a RAF pilot, and one of his staff were negotiating with Douglas as long ago as September. They should now give a 'ull account of their activities.