asked the Minister for Defence if it is a fact that portion of a consignment of Miles "Magister" aircraft, which was recently purchased for the Air Corps, has arrived at Baldonnel; if he is aware that it has been publicly alleged that such aircraft have been largely replaced in England by the American "Harvard" which is now obsolescent, and that the "Magister" suffers from various disadvantages, including the lack of suitable intercommunication, both visual and oral, between instructor and pupil; and if he will make a statement on these allegations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allegations in Regard to Aircraft.
Major de Valera
It is a fact that portion of a consignment of Miles "Magister" aircraft which was recently purchased for the Air Corps has arrived at Baldonnel. My attention has been drawn to a report in a Dublin morning newspaper of the 19th instant on this matter. The statement in the report that the "Magister" has been replaced by the "Harvard" is not correct. The "Magister" is an elementary trainer while the "Harvard" is an advanced trainer. I am informed that the "Harvard" was tried as an initial training aircraft but was not found suitable for the purpose. I am advised that the "Magisters" do not suffer from disadvantages and that they are, in fact, eminently suitable. As regards the question of intercommunication, it can be stated that the aeroplanes which have been purchased are fitted with the latest type of electrical intercommunication. The expression "visual intercommunication" is unknown to air authorities in this connection. I may mention that, before this type of aircraft was purchased, my Department was aware that numerous other countries were buying and using this aircraft as elementary trainers.