Aircraft and Accusations
The immoderate criticisms of the quality of workmanship in British aircraft made by Mr. B. S. Shenstone, chief engineer of British European Airways, have presented the public with a controversy which only the experts can now clear up. The Society of British Aircraft Constructors has asked BEA for details of the alleged technical deficiencies, and, till these are made known, no judgment can be passed on their extent or their seriousness. On the other hand, there is no doubt about the immediately unfortunate effect produced by this public attack. British manufacturers are trying to sell their aeroplanes abroad. Will they be helped by Mr. Shenstone? Moreover, since Mr. Shenstone himself represents one of the major buyers of aircraft, it might have been thought that he already had his remedy in the technical committees set up within the industry to deal with customers' needs and complaints. Even if all he said was justified, he still chose the wrong place to say it. Of course, it may well be that there are sections of the British aircraft industry which compare unfavourably, in the matter of workmanship and " finish," with their American counter- parts, and if Mr. Shenstone's remarks draw attention to real black spots he will have done some good in the long run. But the British aircraft industry has been rather good at getting its models from the drawing-board into the air of recent years. It would be a pity if this incident were to damage its repu- tation beyond what is reasonable or just.
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