From Richard Payne’s ‘Stuck on the Drawing Board’
‘In 1965, the government released a report into the industry and its future, which became known as the Plowden Report. Among many proposals in this report was the advocation that all future airliner projects were to be undertaken as collaborative ventures with Europe, bar some small aircraft. Many of the reports conclusions were negative and provided a field day for competitors who could seize on the fact that Britain appeared to be abdicating from airliner design and manufacture. It saw no predetermined place for an aircraft industry in Britain and the need to purchase from the United States the most complex of weapons systems.
One good point to come out of the report was that any future projects should not be tailor made for one carrier – a la VC-10 and Trident, and that there should be a sustained drive towards the export market.’
Did the Plowden report have a negative impact on the UK's aeroindustry, was it capable of remaining a player by itself?
‘In 1965, the government released a report into the industry and its future, which became known as the Plowden Report. Among many proposals in this report was the advocation that all future airliner projects were to be undertaken as collaborative ventures with Europe, bar some small aircraft. Many of the reports conclusions were negative and provided a field day for competitors who could seize on the fact that Britain appeared to be abdicating from airliner design and manufacture. It saw no predetermined place for an aircraft industry in Britain and the need to purchase from the United States the most complex of weapons systems.
One good point to come out of the report was that any future projects should not be tailor made for one carrier – a la VC-10 and Trident, and that there should be a sustained drive towards the export market.’
Did the Plowden report have a negative impact on the UK's aeroindustry, was it capable of remaining a player by itself?