It was the Solent, piloted by Eric “Winkle” Brown. He was trapped under the wing and dragged out by Geoffrey Tyson. The wind direction changed during the flight and he had to land on an area that hadn’t been checked for floating stuff. Apparently it hit a mast from a yacht, following a race the previous week.
As already stated, the aeroplane’s still down there, they couldn’t find it.

Apart from the wing shape, nothing in common with the Supermarine aircraft. All geodetic and no wing spars so flapping is pretty certain I would think.
What sort of bloke comes up with the idea of knitting an aeroplane?
In similar vein, when a high altitude bomber was needed, I wonder what the thought processes were that suggested the Wellington would be a good subject for pressurisation.

Looking at that picture, English Electric and Warton left a legacy to be proud of.

Despite TSR2 being largely an English Electric design, the government gave Vickers the design lead.

XR220 is the one that came off the lorry, and ended up virtualy underneath it. It caused more damage to the concrete than the airframe. Amazingly, when it was re-assembled and checked there was no distortion in the airframe.

To be pedantic, XR220 was flight capable, it just hadn’t flown. XR219, 221 and 223 were sent to Shoeburyness. Another strange and malicious decision.

One of the conspiracy theories is the Americans leaned on Wilson to cancel it as it was too good. I’m not one for theories and I don’t give any more credence to that than any others but there was something odd, and malicious about the way it was cancelled.
It was announced, IIRC, in the Budget speech which meant there could be no Parliamentary discussion. All jigs, drawings, data and research were specifically destroyed. There were a substantial number of pre-production machines under construction. I’m sure I read somewhere that certain production jigs had to be made after cancellation so they could be seen to be destroyed.

I have to say I agree with Moggy’s comment, although it’s a little mild, but I would add Wilson to the list.

I don’t know when it was built but the Alcock and Brown Vimy in the Science Museum is the actual aircraft, not a replica.

Thanks for the comments, Webbie, but I don’t think you or Key need to be apologising for anything.
It might not always seem like it, but we do appreciate this facility and the work that goes into maintaining it.

I’ll start another thread in a week or so, but at Leg Ends, Robbo suggested a meet up at Newark, assuming we get some fine weather.
Seems to be quite a few following this thread so, anybody interested in the next month or two?

Following from Action Stations 7. It’s a 1993 reprint of the 1989 2nd edition so it’s not exactly up to date.
Only 3 airfields, Scatsta, Sullom Voe and Sumburgh.
Scatsta restored 1978. One runway resurfaced and new control tower built. Used to take some of the load from Sumburgh.
Sullum Voe completely swallowed up by the oil terminal. The book does say there were a few Nissen huts still visible but it’s quite a few years ago now and it’s presumably a huge site.
Sumburgh extended and modernised in 1973. It was very busy as the book was written but it does say that long-range helicopters were beginning to bypass it.

Looks like it’s going to be wrecks, not airfields. 🙁