I seem to remember a few years ago, the story emerging that the senior civil servant or minister responsible for the M52 project, stated that he had cancelled the project, as he did not believe that it would succeed in breaking the sound barrier, that the pilot would have no chance and would be killed, and he did not want the death of a brave man on his concience.
I think that it was also mentioned that the urgency behind breaking the sound barrier was no longer needed due to the allies winning the war.
Re the Rotodyne, yes it made the most awfull noise, I heard and saw it virtually throughout the flying programme. The noise level that it produced was unlikely to have been acceptable flying, let alone at an aerodrome or heliport. I believe it was a result of the tip jets and blade design.
SO they said ...............................
