About This Aircraft
The Saunders-Roe SR.53 was a British prototype "mixed-power" interceptor aircraft of the 1950s. This aircraft, XD145, was the first of two prototypes built. The SR.53 was designed to address the threat of high-flying Soviet bombers. It used a unique hybrid propulsion system: a de Havilland Spectre rocket motor for rapid, high-altitude climbs to intercept bombers, and a conventional Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbojet engine for take-off, landing, and economical cruise. The aircraft demonstrated exceptional performance, including rapid climb rates and a potential top speed over Mach 2. However, the programme was cancelled in 1958 following the infamous 1957 Defence White Paper, which shifted focus from manned fighters to guided missiles. The SR.53 remains a testament to British aerospace innovation during the Cold War.
Museums Featuring This Aircraft
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