It is now 13½ years since turbine engines first began airline service with the Dart in the Viscount. It is 11½ years since the de Havilland Ghost jet engine went into airline operation with the Comet. Today there are some 2468 gas-turbined aircraft operating (or on order) on commercial service and it would be interesting to look back over those 13½ years and ask the question, “How do we apply this experience towards meeting the requirements of the future?”

I can only speak with first hand knowledge of that part of the operation associated with engines produced by my Company. However, this is a sizeable sample covering over 50 per cent of the “Free-World’s” civil aircraft including propeller turbines, jet and by-pass engines.