Concord Cost Up To £400m.

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 15

Concord Cost Up To £400m.

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

LONDON, Feb. 4.

The Concord jet aircraft being built by France and Britain will cost £4OO million Itefore a single plane is delivered, according to the “Daily Mail.”

This is more than £lOO million up on the last estimate given to Parliament in July. The latest bill is expected to be presented to the Minister of Aviation. Mr Frederick Mulley, soon by a Ministry costing team.

pect of the British Government cancelling the project, says the “Daily Mail.” Two factors which will serve the Government to go ahead with the plans are: continued American dithering over their 2000 miles an hour rival to the Concord, has ensured the Anglo-French plane at least a two-year lead between 1972 and 1974: and Government plans for partnership in the project with Europe would hardly survive the cancellation of the most important Anglo-European aircraft.

Britain pays half a share of the cost and Mr Mulley is expected to authorise a big increase in Concord spending this year. This news will no doubt cause another inquiry into the costs of the world’s first supersonic airliner.

The July estimate was £275 million, and the new figure is two and a half times as much as the original estimate of £l7O million. The French Government this week authorised the spending of a further £lB million on top of the £2O million already earmarked foi the Concord project this year.

Extension Plan The latest estimate will take into account of the costs of extending the Concord, which will exceed speeds of 1400 miles an hour, into a new super version seating 140 persons.

There seems to be no pros-