i think that it would be just breathtaking and would be the first on the bandwagon to start a project like this, i wish it was possible, but realistically it will never ever happen 🙁
for a start, both airframes are still owned by the government in one way or another, one by the IWM and the other by RAFM, the one at RAFM cosford (XR220) is as good as a centrepiece exhibit for them.
both remaining airframes are zero timed. neither XR220 nor XR222 flew (XR219 was the only one to fly) so stress wouldnt be a problem in that area.
what you have to consider is that the TSR.2 was a prototype aircraft that never progressed past the prototype stage, with very few hours flying acredited to the type, so unlike the vulcan and victor, is a largely unproven, higher performance and vastly more complicated aircraft.
concerning XL231, i think that the case is more that the airframe has almost no flying life left in her (but dont quote me on it) and would need a major spar rebuild, instead of being an unproved aircraft like the TSR.2
all the tooling etc was destroyed when the project was cancelled in 1965 as well as most of the spares and as i understand it (rather a large setback), all the airframes were supposed to be scrapped. effectively the government tried to wipe the project off the face of the earth
XR220 would be my choice too but i fear that upon closer examination of the systems, there may be some rather large setbacks,
(Quoted from thunder and lightnings.org)
“XR219, XR221 and XR223 were taken to the shooting range at Shoeburyness to be destroyed as ‘damage to aircraft’ targets. XR220 was kept at Boscombe for a year or so and then placed in storage at RAF Henlow after it had had all internal equipment ripped out (even the wires to equipment were cut rather than disconnected). It was later transferred to RAF Cosford’s Aerospace Museum”
so that would be a major setback.
the next big problem would be the undercarriage, considering that the vibration caused upon landing matched the natural frequency of the human eyeball causing temporary blindness 😮 i also heard that the undercarriage was flawed in that after a few weeks of XR219 being at shoeburyness range, the bogey cracked causing her to lean to one side.
also, i believe that the hydraulics system was hugely complicated, and was a major delaying factor in the development of the project (another thing to consider concerning flight)
labour cancelled the project on the fact that it had cost a colossal amount of money (which it had) though, the initial budgeted estimates were ludicrously low for the type of aircraft being designed/built
as i said, what you have is a untried and untested aircraft that has sat on the ground for 40+ years and suffered having things ripped out of her, and whatever untold atrocities.
ANYTHING is possible with enough of the following
1) Money (concerning the aircraft an unlimited amount would be good)
2) Time
3) Space
4) Patience
in reality i dont think it will ever happen, but the idea is something i have dreamt about and toyed with for years 🙂
Regards
Ben
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