…….Or the story of TSR2?

Keith

Which would be a good start for a documentary…

I think the P-51 (not ‘P51’) concerned is still airworthy Stateside. Other pictures (many tests done on this P-51D) are around of similar tests on the same aircraft, using full model, half model, and various wing forms.

Nothing fake about any of it.

Please put it back in Spanish markings

Where’s the vote button!!

Top two look to be Bovingdon: Biggin for the others?

I was thinking Ford.

The Ethiopian Fireflies and F-86Fs (there were others too) went to Gauteng in SA and at least three of the F-86Fs went on to Avspecs in NZ. IIRC two have been restored as static display aircraft.

Re the earlier comment about F86 Sabre canopies.

I photographed this rather battered (look at the wrinkling of the fuselage and the iffy paint job) USAF Manston-Based F86F of USAF 406th FIW at Biggin Hill during the 1955 Royal Observer Corps “Recognition Day”. The canopy looks fairly conventional and if opened at speed during the ejection sequence I would assume the slip-stream would lift it well clear of the pilot’s head.

Rather puzzling is the absence of the red “Ejection Seat” triangle alongside the cockpit. Did perhaps the USAF adopt the red warning triangle later? R.A.F. Meteors I photographed at the same time (1955) quite clearly display the red triangle.

Just noticed this: it’s not a Manston-based F-86F but a 92nd FBS F-86A from Shepherds Grove. Nice shot though!

PS – no ejection triangles prior to circa mid-60s.

Marksman badge (qualification) used to mean extra pay too: never got mine sewn on and still have them somewhere. Also visible is a ‘sparks’ badge, as worn by RAF radio operators (air or ground trades).

Service no. possibly July 1954 boy entrant?