Miles 52
I thought the point of the M.52 was supersonic level flight – and didn’t we have B-29 Washingtons suitable for air-launch then, if we’d got round to it ?!
Getting the engine going let alone intake issues etc might have been a different matter of course.
I’ve always thought Mr Yeager ( who was debatably the first anyway ) did it by brute power & guts, + the all moving tail…
As I recall there was a test ‘prone-pilot’ Meteor, the summary of which was “ there are 2 things a pilot can do in that position, neither of which involve flying ! ”
The scale models of the thing did rather well on the supersonic speed stakes, I believe.
I’ve always thought whoever ‘designed’ Thunderbird One had a good look at the M.52, though TB1 was supposedly good for 24,000 MPH and VTOL to boot, so I suspect may have used a different powerplant.
Before anyone queries, I’ve touched the real thing – TB1 - but unfortunately didn’t get a flight, security and all that.
Aviate1138, I think you’ll find all political parties are as bad as each other- the P1216 project, which made the F-35 look like a Sopwith Camel, including ‘trained carbon fibre’ forward swept wing versions was vetoed by none other then Margaret Thatcher when she was shown the mock-up at Kingston; what did she care, the Harrier had already saved her political arse !
DZ