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Following on from the discussion here I have transcribed the Summary of Findings Relating to Specification T.16/48 of circa April 1949 by Air.P.1(a) in AVIA 54/318 Single Engine Basic Training Aircraft (O.R./257) (Tech Policy).
Air Service Training
Load on Hand (Design Team): No experimental projects for complete aircraft for M. of S. direct. Some trial installations being done for DTD on engine installation.
Load on Hand: Contract for modification of York aircraft 110 off. Also sub-contract for Meteor centre sections & front fuselages for Gloster aircraft up to 8 per week. In addition, repairs and maintenance of York aircraft for Berlin Air Lift 4 per month approx.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Well equipped but might require some additional equipment.
Capacity: Adequate capacity available. Labour force should also be adequate but may require some slight increase for large quantity production.
Production Ability: Production personnel have had previous experience of large scale repairs to various types of aircraft and have also done sub-contracts for aircraft components on a large scale.
Airtech Ltd.
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: None for M. of S. Some commercial repair and maintenance commitments on a small scale.
Plant and Equipment: Inadequate. Would require extensive enlargement and re-equipping.
Capacity: Capacity available subject to commercial commitments.
Production Ability: Little previous experience of any value for undertaking large scale production.
Auster
Load on Hand (Design Team): A2/45 2 prototypes – one finished, 2nd to be finished by March 1949.
Load on Hand: Auster 7 115 off at peak rate of 5 per month to be completed by Aug 1952.
Plant and Equipment: Inadequate. Would require some re-equipping to meet a large production order.
Capacity: Full capacity will be available unless orders for A2/45 or follow on contracts for Auster 7 are placed. Considerable expansion of labour force would be required to handle a larger order for T.16/48.
Production Ability: Present production personnel have had previous experience on production of small aircraft and could form a nucleus in event of labour force being expanded, but previous experience of press work very limited.
A.V. Roe
Load on Hand (Design Team): B.35/46 2 prototypes 1st June 1953, 2nd Oct 1953. B.35/46 full scale flying module 1 prototype June 1953. B.15/48 half scale model 2 prototypes 1st Sept 1949, 2nd Dec 1949. E.6/46 2 prototypes 1st April 1950, 2nd Aug 1950. Tudor 9 6 prototypes commence Nov 1949 finish June 1950.
Load on Hand: Anson 21 387 off at rate of 7 per month to be completed by March 1953. Athena T.2 17 pre-production to be completed by Feb 1950. Also modification to Lincoln 49 off and York 110 off to be completed by April 1950 and repairs to Anson 270 off and York 63 off to be completed for April 1950. Possible production order for 227 Athena T.2.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: If no order for Athena T.2 or Tudor 9 is placed adequate capacity will be available in Aug/Sept 1953. If Athena order is placed in addition to Anson commitments capacity will be very limited. In any case the capacity in the Experimental Department will be heavily loaded.
Production Ability: Production personnel adequate and competent to handle large orders for this type of aircraft and have had adequate previous experience.
Blackburn & General
Load on Hand (Design Team): GR.17/45 Naval Reconnaissance aircraft, 3 prototypes to be finished by Dec 1949. C.3/46 Military freighter, 2 prototypes to be finished by June 1950. X.50/46 Medium Glider, 2 prototypes to be finished by Nov 1951.
Load on Hand: Prentice T.1 present contract terminates in March 1949. Also conversion of Mosquito B.16 22 off to be finished by Aug 1949.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Availability of full capacity is dependent on orders for GR.17/45, X.30/46 & C.3/46. An order for X.30/46 would leave ample capacity for T.16/48. If in addition a small order for C.3/46 was placed little capacity would be available. If GR.17/45 also materialised with or without the C.3/46 no capacity would be available.
Production Ability: Production personnel have had adequate previous experience of similar and larger types of aircraft.
Boulton Paul
Load on Hand (Design Team): E.27/46 Delta research prototype, two prototypes, 1st prototype to be completed by Aug 1949 and 2nd by Dec 1949.
Load on Hand: Balliol T.2 order for 17 pre-production aircraft to be completed by Feb 1950. Wellington T.10 conversion of 121 off to be completed by July 1950.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Full capacity will be available in Aug/Sept 1952 unless they receive a production order for Balliol T.2. If this materialises the firm will be in full production (15 per month) and will have no capacity for this project.
Production Ability: Production and design personnel are competent to handle this type of aircraft from previous experience, i.e. design of Balliol and large scale production of other aircraft.
Chrislea
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: None for M. of S. Some small scale commercial repair and maintenance.
Plant and Equipment: Inadequate. Would require enlargement and re-equipping.
Capacity: Available subject to commercial commitments.
Production Ability: Little previous experience of any value for undertaking large scale order for complete aircraft.
Elliotts of Newbury
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: None for M. of S. Present commitments mainly on commercial products entirely divorced from aircraft.
Plant and Equipment: Inadequate. Would require enlargement and re-equipping. Firm have agreed sub-contracting to Vickers-Supermarine.
Capacity: Available subject to discontinuation of present commercial production.
Production Ability: Have had previous experience of large scale production of aircraft components on sub-contract from Vickers-Supermarine.
Fairey
Load on Hand (Design Team): Hayes GR.17/45 Naval Reconnaissance aircraft, 2 prototypes, 1st prototype to be completed by May 1949 and 2nd by Aug 1949. Stockport E.10/47 Delta research aircraft. 3 prototypes – 1st to be completed by Sept 1949, 2nd by Feb 1950, 3rd by May 1950. Possible orders for R.14/49 prototypes and Firefly ASV 3-seater [AS.7]
Load on Hand: Firefly FR.5 608 off at peak rate of 14 per month finishing March 1955. Also conversion of Firefly 49 off to be finished by Nov 1949. Also modification of Barracuda 45 off to be finished by Jan 1950 and Firefly R.R.F [or R.R.E?? must be a typo] 83 off to be finished by Nov 1950. Possible order for GR.17/45 50 off starting June 1952 and ending March 1953.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Adequate capacity will be available in Aug/Sept 1952 if no order is placed for GR.17/45 or if the order is split with Blackburn. If GR.17/45 order is placed capacity will be available for T.16/48 at Stockport and the labour force built up accordingly.
Production Ability: Production and design personnel at Hayes are competent to handle this type of aircraft from extensive previous design and large scale production experience. Nucleus of experienced personnel available at Stockport but would require “building up”.
Folland
Load on Hand (Design Team): No experimental aircraft projects for M. of S.
Load on Hand: Extensive sub-contracts for Vampire components in hand for de Havilland. Additional capacity at present occupied by commercial production of refrigerators and electric trucks but these commitments are terminating.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Very well equipped but might require some additional equipment.
Capacity: Adequate capacity will be available as the Vampire commitments will not occupy the full capacity of the firm.
Production Ability: Production personnel have had adequate experience of large scale production of aircraft components. In addition they have adequate capacity and experience to manufacture their own jigs and tools.
Handley Page (Reading)
Load on Hand (Design Team): 15/46 Marathon 2, 1 prototype to be completed by April 1949.
Load on Hand: Marathon 2 contract for 40 off now being negotiated. Commence August 1949 and finish October 1950.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Full capacity will be available unless a follow on contract is placed for the Marathon 2. Additional capacity is available at Cricklewood were Hastings and Hermes production is of now magnitude in 1952/53.
Production Ability: Production personnel have previous experience and would form a nucleus for expansion. In addition the extensive experience of the main form at Cricklewood is available.
Percival
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: Prentice T.1 (RAF) contract for 226 off terminating in Jan 1950. Prentice T.1 contract for 140 off for Argentina terminating in March 1950. Proctor & Prince commercial contracts on these types unlikely to be of any magnitude.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Full capacity will be available at the termination of the present contracts for Prentice aircraft, as there are no contracts for any types being negotiated.
Production Ability: Production personnel have had adequate experience of large scale production of similar types of aircraft.
Planet Aircraft
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: None for M. of S. or commercial consumers.
Plant and Equipment: None existent. Capacity had been promised at one of the major contractors works. Name unknown.
Capacity: Unknown as the name of the major contractor is not disclosed.
Production Ability: No experience of their own production. If capacity is at a major works adequate experience would be available.
Portsmouth Aviation
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: None for M. of S. Capacity at present engaged on commercial transport construction.
Plant and Equipment: Inadequate. Would require enlargement and re-equipping.
Capacity: Available subject to commercial commitments.
Production Ability: Little previous experience of any value in undertaking large scale orders for complete aircraft.
Westland
Load on Hand (Design Team): Wyvern TF.2 1 prototype to be completed by April 1949. Wyvern Training 1 prototype to be completed by July 1949.
Load on Hand: Wyvern FT.2 163 off at rate of 6 per month starting Aug 1949 and finishing March 1953. Sikorsky S.14/48 43 off at 1 to 2 per month starting June 1949 finishing March 1953. Also modifications to Meteor F.4 34 off and Spitfire 85 off to be completed by the end of 1949.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Sufficient capacity will not be available in 1952/53 without considerable sub-contracting in the view of the firm’s commitments on the Wyvern and helicopters.
Production Ability: Production personnel is competent to handle large order for this type of aircraft and have had adequate previous experience.
Air Service Training
Load on Hand (Design Team): No experimental projects for complete aircraft for M. of S. direct. Some trial installations being done for DTD on engine installation.
Load on Hand: Contract for modification of York aircraft 110 off. Also sub-contract for Meteor centre sections & front fuselages for Gloster aircraft up to 8 per week. In addition, repairs and maintenance of York aircraft for Berlin Air Lift 4 per month approx.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Well equipped but might require some additional equipment.
Capacity: Adequate capacity available. Labour force should also be adequate but may require some slight increase for large quantity production.
Production Ability: Production personnel have had previous experience of large scale repairs to various types of aircraft and have also done sub-contracts for aircraft components on a large scale.
Airtech Ltd.
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: None for M. of S. Some commercial repair and maintenance commitments on a small scale.
Plant and Equipment: Inadequate. Would require extensive enlargement and re-equipping.
Capacity: Capacity available subject to commercial commitments.
Production Ability: Little previous experience of any value for undertaking large scale production.
Auster
Load on Hand (Design Team): A2/45 2 prototypes – one finished, 2nd to be finished by March 1949.
Load on Hand: Auster 7 115 off at peak rate of 5 per month to be completed by Aug 1952.
Plant and Equipment: Inadequate. Would require some re-equipping to meet a large production order.
Capacity: Full capacity will be available unless orders for A2/45 or follow on contracts for Auster 7 are placed. Considerable expansion of labour force would be required to handle a larger order for T.16/48.
Production Ability: Present production personnel have had previous experience on production of small aircraft and could form a nucleus in event of labour force being expanded, but previous experience of press work very limited.
A.V. Roe
Load on Hand (Design Team): B.35/46 2 prototypes 1st June 1953, 2nd Oct 1953. B.35/46 full scale flying module 1 prototype June 1953. B.15/48 half scale model 2 prototypes 1st Sept 1949, 2nd Dec 1949. E.6/46 2 prototypes 1st April 1950, 2nd Aug 1950. Tudor 9 6 prototypes commence Nov 1949 finish June 1950.
Load on Hand: Anson 21 387 off at rate of 7 per month to be completed by March 1953. Athena T.2 17 pre-production to be completed by Feb 1950. Also modification to Lincoln 49 off and York 110 off to be completed by April 1950 and repairs to Anson 270 off and York 63 off to be completed for April 1950. Possible production order for 227 Athena T.2.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: If no order for Athena T.2 or Tudor 9 is placed adequate capacity will be available in Aug/Sept 1953. If Athena order is placed in addition to Anson commitments capacity will be very limited. In any case the capacity in the Experimental Department will be heavily loaded.
Production Ability: Production personnel adequate and competent to handle large orders for this type of aircraft and have had adequate previous experience.
Blackburn & General
Load on Hand (Design Team): GR.17/45 Naval Reconnaissance aircraft, 3 prototypes to be finished by Dec 1949. C.3/46 Military freighter, 2 prototypes to be finished by June 1950. X.50/46 Medium Glider, 2 prototypes to be finished by Nov 1951.
Load on Hand: Prentice T.1 present contract terminates in March 1949. Also conversion of Mosquito B.16 22 off to be finished by Aug 1949.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Availability of full capacity is dependent on orders for GR.17/45, X.30/46 & C.3/46. An order for X.30/46 would leave ample capacity for T.16/48. If in addition a small order for C.3/46 was placed little capacity would be available. If GR.17/45 also materialised with or without the C.3/46 no capacity would be available.
Production Ability: Production personnel have had adequate previous experience of similar and larger types of aircraft.
Boulton Paul
Load on Hand (Design Team): E.27/46 Delta research prototype, two prototypes, 1st prototype to be completed by Aug 1949 and 2nd by Dec 1949.
Load on Hand: Balliol T.2 order for 17 pre-production aircraft to be completed by Feb 1950. Wellington T.10 conversion of 121 off to be completed by July 1950.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Full capacity will be available in Aug/Sept 1952 unless they receive a production order for Balliol T.2. If this materialises the firm will be in full production (15 per month) and will have no capacity for this project.
Production Ability: Production and design personnel are competent to handle this type of aircraft from previous experience, i.e. design of Balliol and large scale production of other aircraft.
Chrislea
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: None for M. of S. Some small scale commercial repair and maintenance.
Plant and Equipment: Inadequate. Would require enlargement and re-equipping.
Capacity: Available subject to commercial commitments.
Production Ability: Little previous experience of any value for undertaking large scale order for complete aircraft.
Elliotts of Newbury
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: None for M. of S. Present commitments mainly on commercial products entirely divorced from aircraft.
Plant and Equipment: Inadequate. Would require enlargement and re-equipping. Firm have agreed sub-contracting to Vickers-Supermarine.
Capacity: Available subject to discontinuation of present commercial production.
Production Ability: Have had previous experience of large scale production of aircraft components on sub-contract from Vickers-Supermarine.
Fairey
Load on Hand (Design Team): Hayes GR.17/45 Naval Reconnaissance aircraft, 2 prototypes, 1st prototype to be completed by May 1949 and 2nd by Aug 1949. Stockport E.10/47 Delta research aircraft. 3 prototypes – 1st to be completed by Sept 1949, 2nd by Feb 1950, 3rd by May 1950. Possible orders for R.14/49 prototypes and Firefly ASV 3-seater [AS.7]
Load on Hand: Firefly FR.5 608 off at peak rate of 14 per month finishing March 1955. Also conversion of Firefly 49 off to be finished by Nov 1949. Also modification of Barracuda 45 off to be finished by Jan 1950 and Firefly R.R.F [or R.R.E?? must be a typo] 83 off to be finished by Nov 1950. Possible order for GR.17/45 50 off starting June 1952 and ending March 1953.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Adequate capacity will be available in Aug/Sept 1952 if no order is placed for GR.17/45 or if the order is split with Blackburn. If GR.17/45 order is placed capacity will be available for T.16/48 at Stockport and the labour force built up accordingly.
Production Ability: Production and design personnel at Hayes are competent to handle this type of aircraft from extensive previous design and large scale production experience. Nucleus of experienced personnel available at Stockport but would require “building up”.
Folland
Load on Hand (Design Team): No experimental aircraft projects for M. of S.
Load on Hand: Extensive sub-contracts for Vampire components in hand for de Havilland. Additional capacity at present occupied by commercial production of refrigerators and electric trucks but these commitments are terminating.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Very well equipped but might require some additional equipment.
Capacity: Adequate capacity will be available as the Vampire commitments will not occupy the full capacity of the firm.
Production Ability: Production personnel have had adequate experience of large scale production of aircraft components. In addition they have adequate capacity and experience to manufacture their own jigs and tools.
Handley Page (Reading)
Load on Hand (Design Team): 15/46 Marathon 2, 1 prototype to be completed by April 1949.
Load on Hand: Marathon 2 contract for 40 off now being negotiated. Commence August 1949 and finish October 1950.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Full capacity will be available unless a follow on contract is placed for the Marathon 2. Additional capacity is available at Cricklewood were Hastings and Hermes production is of now magnitude in 1952/53.
Production Ability: Production personnel have previous experience and would form a nucleus for expansion. In addition the extensive experience of the main form at Cricklewood is available.
Percival
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: Prentice T.1 (RAF) contract for 226 off terminating in Jan 1950. Prentice T.1 contract for 140 off for Argentina terminating in March 1950. Proctor & Prince commercial contracts on these types unlikely to be of any magnitude.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Full capacity will be available at the termination of the present contracts for Prentice aircraft, as there are no contracts for any types being negotiated.
Production Ability: Production personnel have had adequate experience of large scale production of similar types of aircraft.
Planet Aircraft
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: None for M. of S. or commercial consumers.
Plant and Equipment: None existent. Capacity had been promised at one of the major contractors works. Name unknown.
Capacity: Unknown as the name of the major contractor is not disclosed.
Production Ability: No experience of their own production. If capacity is at a major works adequate experience would be available.
Portsmouth Aviation
Load on Hand (Design Team): None for M. of S.
Load on Hand: None for M. of S. Capacity at present engaged on commercial transport construction.
Plant and Equipment: Inadequate. Would require enlargement and re-equipping.
Capacity: Available subject to commercial commitments.
Production Ability: Little previous experience of any value in undertaking large scale orders for complete aircraft.
Westland
Load on Hand (Design Team): Wyvern TF.2 1 prototype to be completed by April 1949. Wyvern Training 1 prototype to be completed by July 1949.
Load on Hand: Wyvern FT.2 163 off at rate of 6 per month starting Aug 1949 and finishing March 1953. Sikorsky S.14/48 43 off at 1 to 2 per month starting June 1949 finishing March 1953. Also modifications to Meteor F.4 34 off and Spitfire 85 off to be completed by the end of 1949.
Plant and Equipment: Adequate. Fully equipped.
Capacity: Sufficient capacity will not be available in 1952/53 without considerable sub-contracting in the view of the firm’s commitments on the Wyvern and helicopters.
Production Ability: Production personnel is competent to handle large order for this type of aircraft and have had adequate previous experience.
