BAC TSR-2

British Aircraft Corporation · United Kingdom · first flew 1964 · bomber

The BAC TSR-2 was a highly advanced British supersonic low-level strike and reconnaissance aircraft that flew in 1964 but was controversially cancelled by the British government in 1965 before entering service. It represented the pinnacle of 1960s British aviation technology.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, delta
E — Engines	2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	27 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Large slender delta-wing British strike aircraft
Shoulder-mounted engine intakes below wing roots
Cancelled 1960s supersonic low-level strike aircraft

A very long, slender fuselage with a small cropped delta wing, prominent engine intakes positioned below and behind the cockpit, and an all-moving slab tailplane; the exceptionally thin wing and area-ruled fuselage are distinctive.

Specifications

The BAC TSR-2 has a length of 27 m (89 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.33 m (37 ft).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed by the British Aircraft Corporation to replace the English Electric Canberra, the TSR-2 (Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance, Mach 2) was designed for low-level penetration of Soviet-defended airspace. Its cancellation was a political and economic decision that triggered lasting controversy in British aviation.

Variants

Only one aircraft (XR219) made it to flight status; a second was partially assembled. No production variants were completed.

Where you'll see it

Never entered RAF service; the sole flying prototype is preserved at the RAF Museum Cosford. The cancellation remains one of the most debated decisions in British aviation history.

Related aircraft

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