BAC TSR-2 [#]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSR-2

http://www.ausairpower.net/Profile-BAC-TSR.2.html

"The British Aircraft Corporation TSR-2 was a cancelled Cold War strike and reconnaissance aircraft developed by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The TSR-2 was designed to penetrate a well-defended forward battle area at low altitudes and very high speeds, and then attack high-value targets in the rear with nuclear or conventional weapons. Another aspect of its combat role was to provide high-altitude, high-speed photo reconnaissance, requirements that necessitated incorporating "state-of-the-art" aviation technology that would make it the highest-performing aircraft in these roles. Only one airframe flew and test flights and weight rise during design indicated that the aircraft would be unable^[1] to meet its original stringent^[2] design specifications.^{[3][4][5][N 1]} The design specifications had been reduced as the results of flight testing became available.^[6]

The TSR-2 was the victim of ever rising costs^[7] and inter-service squabbling^[8] over Britain's future defence needs, which led to the controversial decision to scrap the programme in 1965. With the election of a new government, the TSR-2 was cancelled due to rising costs, in favour of purchasing the General Dynamics F-111, an "off-the-shelf" decision that itself was later rescinded as costs and development times skyrocketed.^[9] The replacements included the Blackburn Buccaneer and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, both types being previously considered and rejected early in the TSR-2 procurement process. Eventually, the smaller swing-wing Panavia Tornado was developed and adopted by a European consortium to fulfill broadly similar requirements to the TSR-2." --Wikipedia

Another "what if" aircraft. She probably would have still been flying in the 1980s, maybe even the 1990s, especially if she was comparable to the F-111.

ANW

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