This was a very advanced Mach 2 fighter
project of the 1950s, company funded until the 1957 Sandys defence
white paper made it clear the prospects of its adoption for the RAF
were gone. A prototype, to be powered by the mighty DH Gyron turbojet,
was well under way at the time, most of the fuselage and one wing bring
built. Having been in storage for many years at the RAF Museum Duxford,
these assemblies have been declared surplus to requirements. On behalf
of the Association our Chairman has submitted an ‘expression of
interest’ and is working closely with the Brooklands Museum management
and trustees to bring the remains back to Surrey.
Book Reviews
The Aviation Historian Issue 38.
HA Member Nick Stroud’s high quality quarterly
continues to inform and entertain. An article on outboard tailplanes,
currently flying on the Virgin SpaceShip (sic) Two, covers their
history including Kingston’s P.1219 project study, a P.1216
predecessor. Prof Keith Hayward explains the early UK involvement in
the Airbus and BAe chairman Frank Beswick’s staunch support leading to
long term wing design and manufacture in the UK.
Writing about the Scimitar, Paul Stoddart shows that Supermarine
lost their way and produced a powerful Naval interceptor fighter with
much lower performance than contemporary US products. The F-8E
Crusader, for example, had a 23% greater initial climb rate and a 93%
higher speed at high altitude! Joel Mesnard examines French jet powered
naval fighter prototypes of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Designed
and built at a frantic pace many proved fatal to their brave test
pilots.
There is much more fascinating history including wartime plans to build Centaurus powered Boeing B-29s in the UK.