LowNSlow
Your raise interesting questions over the relative merits of the TSR2/F-111/opposition various
I guess we will never know as the TSR2 was not developed. A few comments can be made about the fundamentals (not the details) which are unlikely to have been changed. I guess the aircraft would have come into service circa 1975 and so would probably still have been around. (Remember the Harrier went into service in 1969) The Olympus was not designed as economic low level donk, so with the limited fuel of the relatively small aeroplane (compared to the large contents of the Vulcan when that started to be operated low level and off design at the later part of its career) I would not have been very sanguine about the range. As for being caught, interceptors have the advantage of operating relatively close to base compared to a penetrator approaching its target. Super cruise was not feasible in those days, so you cruised at high subsonic with a supersonic dash using reheat. That would have had you looking at your return range requirements from the moment you lit the burners. On the other hand the F-111 was renowned as the one to beat for low level legs – largely because of its particularly efficient (for those days) bypass engines.
Sometimes the dream of supersonic operation really fades when you look at reheated fuel consumption. I remember being in the crew room at Macair the day (in the mid 70s) that one of their F-15 test pilots managed to raise the record for the maximum time at Mach 2 to 7 mins and still get to base without refuelling. 7 mins at 20 miles a minute is still only 140 miles however you look at it. The same aeroplane (a very good one too remember) would go over ten times that at high subsonic. Supersonic operation (not dash) really is a bit of a myth. A myth which IMHO will not become a reality until F-22 is in service. Remember even supersonic dash may not be available when carrying external weapons as the older ones would not cope with kinetic heating effects – without thinking about drag issues. Although I full appreciate that the TSR2 concept recognised this with its internal carriage.
But like I said we will never really know because its many fans never had a chance to prove their concept. However, as a final point (to keep this post legal) I am certain the TSR2 would not have had a ground loop problem.
JF