Ear‐to‐ground

The urgent need for decisions on new programmes is emphasised by Sir Richard Smeeton, Director of the Society of British Aerospace Companies. “With such aircraft as the supersonic Concorde and the V/STOL Harrier we can truly claim to be ahead of all competition. But, particularly in STOL and V/STOL, our lead is being steadily whittled away and, unless action is taken on firm projects soon, it will stand in danger of being lost altogether.” Sir Richard continues: “At the same time governments of other countries, such as France, Germany and Japan, are showing a strong awareness of the need to expand their technological standing by offering increasing support to long‐term development of their aerospace industries”.