Pandora

Jet flap

WHEN a chunk of wing broke off a British Airways Concorde whisking Rupert Murdoch and 61 other passengers and crew to New York last night, it was bound to raise questions about the longevity of these supersonic passenger jets. Most Concordes are over 20 years old now; they regularly fly at speeds exceeding Mach 2 and reach altitudes near 70,000 feet. Pandora asked Pete Middleton, a BA press spokesman, how old last night's disadvantaged Concorde was. "Pass," was his answer, "but you have to bear in mind that it's not the age but the amount of flying time that matters with aeroplanes." According to his reckoning, a 20-plus-year-old Concorde, which travels so much faster and less frequently, has a flying life equal to a four- or five-year-old 747. Pandora reminded him that many of the tycoons who run their own private jets would consider a five-year-old plane ripe for trade-in.

FOB

ON Monday Pandora wrote about generous Bernard Schwartz, multimillionaire American chief of Loral Space & Communications and leading financial benefactor of President Clinton's last campaign, who is at the heart of the Chinese satellite controversy now engulfing the White House. Schwartz attended both a VIP New York fund-raising event for the British Labour Party in February 1997 and the glittering bash which Clinton hosted for Blair in Washington this year. Now word has reached Pandora that, contrary to what appeared here on Monday, campaign contributions were accepted from American citizens by the Labour Party. My call to Labour Party headquarters yesterday with a request to know if Bernard Schwartz had given a substantial gift to Labour was not entirely productive. All donations over pounds 5,000 are published, but the list of donations is at present only available up to 1996. According to the Labour spokesperson, the 1997 list will be audited and published in time for the autumn Party Conference. However, she said, "We'll try and help you with this." Pandora is nothing if not patient.

Party 2000

ONE of the thornier behind-the-scenes issues at the recent G-8 talks in Birmingham had nothing to do with Third World debt. In fact, it concerned where the de luxe conference will take place in the year 2000, after Germany welcomes the group of world leaders next year (exact venue yet to be decided). Russia is very keen to play host in 2000, although the normal rota calls for it to be Japan's turn.

On Monday the Washington Post suggested that hosting the G-8 might be part of a plan to celebrate Yeltsin's farewell from political leadership, but one roadblock is the fact that Russia is still not a fully fledged G8 economy. Maybe not, but Pandora is certain they could throw a world- class banquet.

He who dares

WHAT are we to make of this US Navy "radio communique"?

Voice One: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.

Voice Two: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

Voice One: This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again divert YOUR course.

Voice Two: No. I say again you divert YOUR course.

Voice One: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ENTERPRISE. WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP OF THE US NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!

Voice Two: This is a lighthouse. Your call.