Greatest ever blunder in the history of the UK aircraft industry?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: @exRAF_Al
Greatest ever blunder in the history of the UK aircraft industry?
Do we never learn? Following on from the 'Best Value' thread, this slightly more ignominious award seems to have more than a few likely candidates. Starting with..?
BBC News - Former BAE workers' call to save scrapped Nimrod planes
Plus ca change.
BBC News - Former BAE workers' call to save scrapped Nimrod planes
Plus ca change.
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: In England
I assume we are defining this thread as a blunder by UK manufacturing industry itself rather than politicians or the MoD or UK airlines? If so that will cut out quite a few options...and TSR2 was never a blunder...not by industry (excepting it was built at a factory where it could not be flight tested from!).....just political ineptitude, prejudice and cowardice.
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From: front seat, facing forwards
L J R...we've not all been around as long as you nor have the time to trawl through all the threads, so that "old chesnut" me old fruit, may well be a new one to many, and anyway, the point is totally in keeping with this thread.
Kindly remove oneself from one's high horse.
Tallsar, I assume differently!
Just remember what they say....
Kindly remove oneself from one's high horse.
Tallsar, I assume differently!
Just remember what they say....
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: UK
A serious answer to this question?
For me, probably scaling down HS Trident 1 (DH 121) to meet the BEA requirement. Boeing were terrified of the original spec Trident 1, as it would've done very nasty things to the 727 (1831 built); instead, BEA insisted on a smaller, less capable aircraft and the result was Trident 1, 2, 3 - a total of 117 built.
S41
For me, probably scaling down HS Trident 1 (DH 121) to meet the BEA requirement. Boeing were terrified of the original spec Trident 1, as it would've done very nasty things to the 727 (1831 built); instead, BEA insisted on a smaller, less capable aircraft and the result was Trident 1, 2, 3 - a total of 117 built.
S41
Joined: May 1999
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From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Fairey Battle, Blackburn Botha and Saro Lerwick, to name just a few....
But one of the very worst must have been the Percival P.74 helicopter - of which it was written "The first flight had to be aborted when the aircraft failed to fly".......
TSR2 wasn't an industry blunder - it was killed by politicians and Lord Mountbottom.
But one of the very worst must have been the Percival P.74 helicopter - of which it was written "The first flight had to be aborted when the aircraft failed to fly".......
TSR2 wasn't an industry blunder - it was killed by politicians and Lord Mountbottom.
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From: on the beach
The whole Comet debacle is, without doubt, our biggest boo boo to date.
I know it came at the wrong time but the time it took for us to investigate the cause of the two crashes and to do something about it, enabled the yanks to overtake us in the race for mass jet transport aircraft.
The rest, as they say, is history.
I know it came at the wrong time but the time it took for us to investigate the cause of the two crashes and to do something about it, enabled the yanks to overtake us in the race for mass jet transport aircraft.
The rest, as they say, is history.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Lincolnshire
Britannia, too late,
Belfast, too slow,
Argosy, too heavy
Javelin, nine lives and still never supersonic
Andover, too clever
Nimwacs, just too . . .
or
Brabazon
Princess
Belfast, too slow,
Argosy, too heavy
Javelin, nine lives and still never supersonic
Andover, too clever
Nimwacs, just too . . .
or
Brabazon
Princess
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,519
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From: Longton, Lancs, UK
LJR
The blunder is that we didn't do that much sooner after 1945 - we persevered too long with too many aviation companies, instead of consolidating the industry around two or three well-managed major organisations.
BEags
Aye to that
......combining a number of UK aviation companies into BWoS
BEags
TSR2 wasn't an industry blunder - it was killed by politicians and Lord Mountbottom.
DIRECTOR
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: U.K.
I suggest you all read a book called Empire of the Clouds ( When Britain's Aircraft ruled the World) A Litany of cockups, political ineptitude ( both Labour and Conservative in equal measure) and crass management. Aircraft put into service before they were ready etc etc
As regards the TSR2 John Farley said it would never have been any good as it didn't have enough wing Page 240
As regards the TSR2 John Farley said it would never have been any good as it didn't have enough wing Page 240
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From: Falling off the end of the thread
A serious answer to this question?
For me, probably scaling down HS Trident 1 (DH 121) to meet the BEA requirement. Boeing were terrified of the original spec Trident 1, as it would've done very nasty things to the 727 (1831 built); instead, BEA insisted on a smaller, less capable aircraft and the result was Trident 1, 2, 3 - a total of 117 built.
S41
For me, probably scaling down HS Trident 1 (DH 121) to meet the BEA requirement. Boeing were terrified of the original spec Trident 1, as it would've done very nasty things to the 727 (1831 built); instead, BEA insisted on a smaller, less capable aircraft and the result was Trident 1, 2, 3 - a total of 117 built.
S41
Handing over the moving tailplane concept data to the USA allowing the Bell X1 to crack the speed of sound, whilst scrapping the Miles M1 that would have and was later proved to have been capable of taking the record, long before the USA.
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From: Kilmarnock,United Kingdom
"That and on the orders of the UK PLC HS travelling to the USA to Boeing in a technology sharing exercise and handing over the all the data"
And add all the other technological knowledge we were obliged to share with the US as a result of the Lend Lease agreements we had entered into! To be fair though, the Cousins did give us their Polaris and Trident technology
And add all the other technological knowledge we were obliged to share with the US as a result of the Lend Lease agreements we had entered into! To be fair though, the Cousins did give us their Polaris and Trident technology