BAC TSR-2 XR220 Second Prototype,
Boscombe Down, 1965.
Although never developed beyond the prototype stage, the British Aircraft Corporation TSR2 was one of the most exciting and controversial British combat aircraft designs of the 1960s. The cancellation of the project is a subject of great debate to this day.
During the mid 1950s, the increasing sophistication of air defence systems led the RAF to consider the procurement of a high speed, low level strike and reconnaissance aircraft to replace the English Electric Canberra. In October 1957, the Ministry of Supply released the first specification for such an aircraft.
On 1 January 1959 the Ministry of Supply announced a design had been selected for production. Christened the TSR2 (Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance Mach 2), this aircraft was developed by a joint design team. A contract for TSR2 prototypes was concluded on 6 October 1960, the first, XR219, made its maiden flight from Boscombe Down on 27 September 1964. By 31 March 1965 XR219 had completed twenty-four flights, and a second aircraft XR220, was to join the programme. Initial reports indicated that the TSR2 was an outstanding technical success.
XR220 was one of the development aircraft ordered as part of contract No.KD/2L/02/CB42 (a). Assembled by British Aircraft Corporation at the former Vickers factory at Weybridge, Surrey, from rear fuselage built at Samlesbury and forward fuselage/wings at Weybridge. Serial numbers XR219 – XR227 were allotted for the first development batch of TSR.2 aircraft.
On 24 February 1965 the first ground engine runs of XR220 were commenced. Ground trials were completed towards the end of March 1965 and the aircraft was then placed in temporary storage prior to its first flight, planned for the beginning of April.
However political opposition to the project led to it being cancelled from 6 April 1965. XR220 had been intended to fly that morning, with Deputy Chief Test Pilot Wing Cdr James ‘Jimmy’ Dell as the pilot; this was delayed by the need to replace a faulty fuel pump discovered during pre-flight engine checks that morning.
Over two decades passed until in August 1998, XR220 was one of a large number of aircraft donated to RAF Museum by the Ministry of Defence. On 18 June 2000 the restored airframe displayed outside for the RAF Cosford Airshow.
Today XR220 is parked in the middle of the experimental aircraft hangar at RAF Cosford, where the airframe dominates the museum’s display area.
