TSR2 On The Beeb

Oh well, I guess my inclination to make an assumption wasn’t entirely justified. No conspiracy theories, in fact nothing of any interest at all. Kinda like “The Archers” with wings!

That’s forty-five minutes of my life I’ll never see again!

Loved the comedy Stuka dive at the end though – summed it up nicely.:p

Oh well, I guess my inclination to make an assumption wasn’t entirely justified. No conspiracy theories, in fact nothing of any interest at all. Kinda like “The Archers” with wings!

That’s forty-five minutes of my life I’ll never see again!

Loved the comedy Stuka dive at the end though – summed it up nicely.:p

So, on the basis that it said something, what did it say? Was it factual? Was it purely fictional with no basis in fact? Why will you consign those 45 minutes to oblivion. Bad production? Bad acting? Or was it just boring because, perhaps, the subject was boring?

Good in parts I think. A bit like a British ‘Right Stuff’ with the inclusion of the insights into the home life of the characters . I liked the scene of the first encounter between Beamont and Edwards. Shame about the comedy Stuka at the end though, but its difficult finding good usable clean sound effects of a Sabre at full throttle from inside or outside the cockpit ! Well done to the Beeb for broadcasting a story which still manages to stir emotions either way.

Good in parts I think. A bit like a British ‘Right Stuff’ with the inclusion of the insights into the home life of the characters . I liked the scene of the first encounter between Beamont and Edwards. Shame about the comedy Stuka at the end though, but its difficult finding good usable clean sound effects of a Sabre at full throttle from inside or outside the cockpit ! Well done to the Beeb for broadcasting a story which still manages to stir emotions either way.

I’ll give it a listen, then. Sounds as though you and Chox were listeing to different programmes………;)

I wouldn’t bother. Basically it was a series of extracts from Beamont’s autobiographical accounts, tarted-up with some dodgy sound effects and acting. The comedy voices for two Prime Ministers were just stupid – bit like Spitting Image but without the puppets or the humour.

It didn’t include any “facts” as such, nor did it explain why the programme was cancelled. It was just a dramatic account of how the aircraft was assembled at Boscombe Down, flown and then cancelled – supposedly with no warning and for no plausible reason. That really was it – nothing more. I guess Radio 4 plays are not the place to delve into technicalities or politics but you have to wonder what the point of it was.

I had a small (very small) hope that maybe the writer had got some direct accounts which would give some insight into the story but there was nothing. It was simply extracts from books (some of them verbatim) which were mixed-up until they made little sense, and with no conclusion or explanation. The way it was portrayed it sounded as if the whole project was just some whimsical “wish list” from the Air Ministry which was the victim of two Prime Ministers who were portrayed as idiots. Silly really and pointless. Sad thing is that it wasn’t even funny!

I am interested. What would you recommend as the best written account of what went on and why?

I listened on the web. Didn’t think it was that bad overall, although couple of parts were a bit odd. However I was taking it just as a drama/play so didn’t expect a whole bunch of interesting facts and figures.

Hmmm… Well I’ve just listened to it and thought it a emotive piece, just don’t think of it anymore than what it is, a drama and you can’t go wrong… 😉

I am interested. What would you recommend as the best written account of what went on and why?

For my money, the best book I’ve read on the type was “TSR-2, Phoenix or Folly?” by Frank Barnett Jones [GMS Enterprises, 1994, ISBN: 1-870384-27-X]

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

It was refreshing to hear what would could have been a dull documentary turned into a palatable piece of informative entertainment. No it would never satisfy the anoraks but think how many people (especially the younger generation) who now have gained an insight into a fascinating era of aviation, who knows with wetted appetites they may well wish to find out more!
It is a great deal easier to criticise than write the stuff……

If it wasn’t for the TSR.2 being cancelled…
not to mention the supersonic Harrier, V1000 airliner, Rotodyne, etc,etc…
what would UK aviation enthuiasts have to write/talk/complain about? 😀

It’s hard to know what to suggest as a “best read” on the TSR2. I’m currently writing a new book on the subject for Ian Allan so I’ve read pretty-much everything that is currently available and it’s a case of gathering material from a variety of sources, removing the waffle, emotion and biased opinions, and then trying to establish the facts as best I can!

The afore-mentioned “Phoenix or Folly” is certainly a good read but it does contain a great deal of material which is irrelevant and misleading. As a general account of the aircraft’s creation it’s pretty good but the author has undoubtedly coloured his account to portray the saga as a dark political plot (yet again) without any good reason. Worth reading though, providing that you don’t take every word at face value.

TSR2 cockpit section at Brooklands Museum photgraphed just before lunch :

:diablo: It would be nice to see that at Cockpit-Fest!

(Rebuild project using the panel from NAM’s Engine Hall ?!? :dev2:)

Best TSR-2 book for me – “The Murder of TSR 2” by S Hastings; published by MacDonald.

He might well be right – that’s the only book I haven’t managed to track-down so I couldn’t say whether it’s good, bad or indifferent!

I second TO’s vote for ‘The Murder of TSR-2’, my copy has been read several times over and is arguably one of the best and ‘freshesed’ accounts of the government failings in the TSR project and the ultimate reason as to why it was cancelled…….cost.

Regards,

John.

Sold my copy for £6.00 in June 2005 at one of these events – and I believe that it might have been to someone that posts on here!

What struck me was how everything seemed to be so fresh in the authors mind! 😉

Chox – you have PM, which I read after I’d made the post! Sorry about the book having moved on!! 😮

Sold my copy for £6.00 in June 2005 at one of these events – and I believe that it might have been to someone that posts on here!

What struck me was how everything seemed to be so fresh in the authors mind! 😉

Chox – you have PM, which I read after I’d made the post! Sorry about the book having moved on!! 😮

£6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dear god man do you know what they change hands for now:D.

Regards,

John.

😮 ….. slightly younger, just starting out on the ‘self-employed route’ …. or was it “one that slipped through my fingers”? …. Come to think of it the buyer did have a big smile on his face!!! 😀

£6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dear god man do you know what they change hands for now:D.

Regards,

John.

The last price I saw a few years ago was £25. Still hanging on to mine 😀

Brian