Where to find the truth about the TSR-2?
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TSR-2 Books
Murder of TSR2 by Stephen Hastings
Phoenix Into Ashes by Roland Beamont (a number of his books have reference to the TSR-2)
TSR-2 Phoenix or Folly by Frank Barnett-Jones (He also wrote the Jimmy Dell biography Tarnish 6)
There are a couple of Modelling Guides that have some excellent photographs.
Hope that helps.
Regards, Ian.
Phoenix Into Ashes by Roland Beamont (a number of his books have reference to the TSR-2)
TSR-2 Phoenix or Folly by Frank Barnett-Jones (He also wrote the Jimmy Dell biography Tarnish 6)
There are a couple of Modelling Guides that have some excellent photographs.
Hope that helps.
Regards, Ian.
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bkm: the only flyer was from Boscombe, 27/9/64, which would not have been in a Warton static display that summer. The 2 extant in Museums would not have been wheeled out on display summer 1965 after the cancellation decision of 6/4/65. Saudi Lightnings were ordered 5/5/66; 5 Lightning F.52s (ex-RAF F.2s) and 2 T.54s (ex-RAF T.4s) were delivered as lead-in July 1966, before 1967 new-builds. Maybe your visit was summer,1966?
sw: your Q presumes concealed "truth". This must be the most ink-consuming aero design ever: may I suggest a visit to RAFM/Cosford where their example is displayed with the avionics bay open. Vast, hot, as befits 1958 technology. By the time of its much-delayed first flight, miniaturisation/ruggedness was onway: BAC was then already scheming what became AFVG/UKVG/Tornado. At IWM/Duxford a Tornado is next to a TSR.2, which you will see is about as long as the adjacent Vulcan. It is just as meaningful to bemoan the death of this type as to bewail the demise of Super-Fury 1945 piston types, beached by turbine propulsion. Very good luck in finding something fresh to say.
sw: your Q presumes concealed "truth". This must be the most ink-consuming aero design ever: may I suggest a visit to RAFM/Cosford where their example is displayed with the avionics bay open. Vast, hot, as befits 1958 technology. By the time of its much-delayed first flight, miniaturisation/ruggedness was onway: BAC was then already scheming what became AFVG/UKVG/Tornado. At IWM/Duxford a Tornado is next to a TSR.2, which you will see is about as long as the adjacent Vulcan. It is just as meaningful to bemoan the death of this type as to bewail the demise of Super-Fury 1945 piston types, beached by turbine propulsion. Very good luck in finding something fresh to say.
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I clearly remember as an 8yr old my (layman) Father's anger at the cancellation and saying that although it seemed mechanicallly superb they'd been too ambitious with the electronics and computer spec and the development costs and risks were just too high to be borne.
The difference that 5 years would have made!
The difference that 5 years would have made!
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Ref: bkm's post #20
On Page 227 of "Phoenix or Folly" is a shot of XR 219 on display at an Open Day for the RAeS at Warton on 15th July 1965 "before being taken to Shoeburyness" alongside a Canberra and a Lightning "which had been delivered to Warton on 25th June"...
Hope this helps ...
Hope this helps ...
Last edited by Jig Peter; 21st Sep 2010 at 15:10. Reason: Date correction
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Jig Peter & Tornadoken: Thanks for your prompt and detailed replies. I've not seen the book but I'll seek it out.
Perhaps it wasn't wishful thinking on my part. You know how you can convince yourself over time.
I do recall it being an exciting day, I was used to spending endless hours at Speke watching little else but Viscounts.
I'm also chasing up my father, to encourage him to open the photo archive (it will involve him getting into the attic
), on the off chance we may have some record of the day itself.
Thanks again.
Perhaps it wasn't wishful thinking on my part. You know how you can convince yourself over time.
I do recall it being an exciting day, I was used to spending endless hours at Speke watching little else but Viscounts.
I'm also chasing up my father, to encourage him to open the photo archive (it will involve him getting into the attic
), on the off chance we may have some record of the day itself.Thanks again.
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sw: your Q presumes concealed "truth". This must be the most ink-consuming aero design ever: may I suggest a visit to RAFM/Cosford where their example is displayed with the avionics bay open. Vast, hot, as befits 1958 technology. By the time of its much-delayed first flight, miniaturisation/ruggedness was onway: BAC was then already scheming what became AFVG/UKVG/Tornado. At IWM/Duxford a Tornado is next to a TSR.2, which you will see is about as long as the adjacent Vulcan. It is just as meaningful to bemoan the death of this type as to bewail the demise of Super-Fury 1945 piston types, beached by turbine propulsion. Very good luck in finding something fresh to say.
We were onto what appeared to be a magnificent technical breakthrough, which should have gone into service with the RAF in the seventies and provided them with an aircraft that with updating would have been in service today and would have had all the abilities and the modern developed equipment of the Tornado, but it would have much further range and a lot faster!"
the only flyer was from Boscombe, 27/9/64, which would not have been in a Warton static display that summer.
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Visited Warton in the early 80's to view Jaguar and Tornado production lines and as part of the induction we were show footage of a TSR2 taking off from the apron across the taxi way, grass and runway at 90 degrees. There still seemed to be a lot of pride and nostalgia for the aircraft. I assume British Aerospace at Warton will still have the footage.
It is permanantly etched in my mind.
It is permanantly etched in my mind.
I sat in the cockpit of one at Boscombe Down during an Air Cadets visit, must have been about '66. I was very impressed - remember clearly the mock crest pencilled on the fuselage with the motto 'Harold Wilson's Folly'.
