Originally Posted by
pr00ne
A Van,
HOTOL was not a fighter project in any shape or form.
Sure it was not. My message was that it was at the same very early stage - a concept - like this "Tempest" is now.
Originally Posted by
pr00ne
It was a relatively cheap reusable method for putting satellites in orbit.
Correct. Provided there would be a ram/scram jet engine available at low cost. But it is not, even as of now.
Originally Posted by
pr00ne
Apart from the US Space Shuttle none of the competing schemes went through to production.
Soviet Buran successfully flew and there were 3 other orbiters in production when the program was stopped.
A smaller plane-type spacecraft was also developed. If you are interested, you may please type "MAKS project Molniya" is a search engine and see many pictures popping out. Many of them are not drawings, but photos shot at production plants.