Extract from Westminster Hall debate on Decarbonising Aviation: Rolls-Royce - Sep 21
Wednesday, 22 September 2021 08:02
Dave Doogan (Angus) (SNP):...I know the Minister will not mind my
pointing out that, like me, he is a bit of an aviation geek. I
therefore have no hesitation in highlighting aircraft such as the
de Havilland Comet, the Fairey Rotodyne, the Harrier Jump Jet and
the Avro Vulcan—aircraft developed on these islands that
represented a quantum leap in aircraft design and performance—all
of which were facilitated by colossal Government investment. Where
is that investment now? I do not know how...Request free trial
(Angus) (SNP):...I know the Minister will not
mind my pointing out that, like me, he is a bit of an aviation
geek. I therefore have no hesitation in highlighting aircraft such
as the de Havilland Comet, the Fairey Rotodyne, the Harrier Jump
Jet and the Avro Vulcan—aircraft developed on these islands that
represented a quantum leap in aircraft design and performance—all
of which were facilitated by colossal Government investment. Where
is that investment now? I do not know how much Government
investment went into the now terminated
Airbus/Rolls-Royce E-Fan X, which substituted one
turbo fan on a BAE 146 regional jet for an electric fan powered by
a battery linked to a gas turbine on board generator. It was not
the last word in outside-the-box thinking, but I am advised by
Rolls-Royce that it was a valuable test
bed for high-powered electrical architecture on board aircraft.
Other Members have touched on hydrogen, and my personal view is
that that is the route out for us. I invite the Minister to set out
how he is going to facilitate that...
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