From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Letter from the Air Ministry outlining the procedure for ordering new aircraft and aero-engine designs from private firms.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 33\1\ Scan015 | |
| Date | 14th February 1920 | |
| COPY OF LETTER RECEIVED FROM THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH AIRCRAFT CONSTRUCTORS LTD. Copy of letter received from:- AIR MINISTRY, KINGSWAY, LONDON. W.C.2. subject - Scheme for the ORDERING of Aircraft and Aero. engine of new design. Sir, I am commanded to state, for the information of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors, that the Air Council have had under consideration the ordering of aircraft and aero engines of new design from private firms. I am to say that the procedure set forth below appears to the Council to be equitable both to the Government and the Aircraft Industry and has been accepted by the Ministry of Munitions:- (a) A specification of the type required to be issued and firms invited to submit in competition preliminary designs to fulfil this specification. (b) The designs to be then submitted, and a selection made of say, the two best designs submitted which fulfil this specification. (c) An order for up to three machines or engines to be placed with the selected firms and the type tried out. (d) The design selected from this trial to be purchased and the purchase to include the manufacture in this country of machines or engines of this type for Government use. The firm to retain the manufacturing rights for orders placed with them for civil purposes in the British Empire. and for all purposes in foreign countries. (e) A condition of the purchase to be the provision of working drawings complete in all respects so that any firm can manufacture from these drawings. (f) Although the Government will acquire the right to order machines or engines of this type as a result of open tenders sent in by any of the Aircraft firms, it is the intention to give the whole order in peace time to the design firm where possible provided that the prices charged by the designing firm are shewn, after investigation, to be fair and reasonable. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Signed - J.A. Webster. IP/14.2.20. | ||