VERY COSTLY PLANES FOR ATLANTIC RUN

Grey River Argus, 13 April 1948, Page 5

VERY COSTLY PLANES FOR ATLANTIC RUN

LONDON, April 12. The building of two prototypes of the giant Brabazon I aeroplane, designed to fly about 100 passengers non-stop from London to New Yorx will cost £5,836,000, on present estimates, according to the report of the all-party committee to the House ot Commons to-day. The report stated that if the cost of the prototypes were reflected in the sales price it was doubtful whether the British Overseas Airways Corporation would buy the three Brabazons which it had planned to take if the machines were a success. The direct operating costs of the Brabazon I would be £4OO an hour. Fuel corisumntion is estimated at 825 gallons an hour. No certain price could be given for the production of a Brabazon, excluding the money spent on the. prototypes.' lhe Ministry of Supply estimate was about £1.250.000. The Brabazon may make its first test flight this summer. The committee stated that it was surprised that neither the Brabazon nor the ten-engined giant Saunders Roe flying boat were on the special priorities list. It recommended that the Brabazon and the flying boat should be put into production as soon as possible if they proved successful. The main difficulty with flying boats was the provision of bases. It would devolve on the operators to provide them. It is estimated that a base with all facilities, would cost £70,000. .