Aircraft Manufacture

[Garry Russell]

The annoying thing is the way the industry was given up

OK, so they couldn't compete in the big intercontinental airliner but Embraer and Bombadier have come from nowhere and built an industry in a market we could have dominated.

When there was a success they either sold it like the 125 of just expected to continue to sell.........like the Hawk

These products just ran down over the years with no attempt to get a replacement on the line

[telpeedell]

Many thanks for the replies Guys and all the info. I agree entirely with your last comments Garry about how the industry was allowed to slip away, not with a bang but more of a whimper. Was it not the fact that our strength lay in the design and innovation and introduction of new ideas in the aircraft industry. And yet when the hard times came from increasingly effecient competition, our industry simply seemed to stop trying as hard as they had done before. Various government policy changes and delaying measures did'nt help, but what happened to the flow of new ideas and what are the designers working on now ? Is there not a niche market for a very good, reliable, passenger carrying helicopter, shuttling between cities and the near continent, offering a fast, convenient service at a reasonable fare. I personally do not wish to travel on a train going at more than 200 mph, but I would travel by helicopter at the same speed and ticket price.

[TSR2]

When you think that you can get approx 500 people on a train at (say for example £50) compaired with maybe 50 people on a Helecopter, if such as sized aircraft existed, the economics don't stack up. The 146 / Avro RJ series was the last sucessful commercial aircraft we built, and the fact that several major airlines still have a noteable fleet is testiment to its strong design. I was in Paris last weekend and it was lovely to see Air France (City Jet) with a pristine fleet of RJ 85's.

[emfrat]

@telpeedell
Something like a Fairey Rotodyne, maybe?
The British motorcycle industry managed to self-destruct in similar fashion, but without any government "help".
It seems to be a 'cultural' thing, as in 'British Management Culture'. How on Earth did we just throw away the
lead we had in the early 'fifties and through into the 'sixties?


MikeW

[Garry Russell]

The Government nowadays seem more interested in making London a bigger, better financial centre but that does not give jobs to the majority of the population.

There seems little actual support to create any real core manufacturing industry.

[jonesey2k]

We used to bee good at inventing and building stuff. We seem to have lost our "what if" or "can we do it" drive. Now the only people taking the risks are the people who don't understand them.

[Rick Piper]

Hi Guys

As i understand it Airbus stipulated that BAe had to stop making the 146 or they couldn't have the Airbus wing contract.
Pretty sure that why we don't make any airliners these days.
BAe where not in a position to argue when the contract was offered.

Heard this from a friend who worked for Airbus back in about 2001(he was an interior fit designer).

Regards
Rick

[TSR2]

Spot on Rick, however what was short sighted was BAe destroyed all the jigs and tooling in (2003?)

[Rick Piper]

Hi Ben

If i know Airbus destroying the tooling was probably a condition of the contract too mate.

Regards
Rick

[Garry Russell]

I think the would have been better forgetting the contract under those conditions and continuing to make their own
airframes.

The re-engined One-Eleven was killed of to preserve the 146 and then that was killed.