It is sad that the UK is ceasing production of the Avro RJX regional jet. However, Mr Freschi's conclusion is wrong (Flight International, 18 December 2001).
It is true that Britain has produced a string of commercial airliners over the past 50 years and that they were bullet-proof and reliable. But they didn't make money for the operators or the manufacturers although at least the Viscount and 1-11 sold in half decent numbers.
The track record therefore shows, depressingly, that Britain is poor at working and understanding the commercial aviation markets and has no track record of successful mass production of aircraft.
Sad though it is, these well engineered aircraft masterpieces of 'committee' design (Comet, Britannia, VC10, Trident, Concorde) did nothing to give Britain the base it deserves. In this, I agree entirely with Mr Freschi.
Thank goodness Europe is nearby and that people who want to find careers in aircraft design, aerodynamics, avionics and flight testing still have options on their doorstep. For the UK still produces both innovative people promoting state-of-the-art designs and particularly good engineers.
Tim Hodgson
Alton, UK
Source: Flight International
