Ken’s a name from my distant past. I can vaguely remember us spending an afternoon in the back of a Dominie, bumbling round the old V-Bomber low level route… let’s see, that must be about 25-30 years ago? Eek!

Anyone know if a decent-quality image of the Harrier at St.Pancras can be found anywhere? I’ve only managed to find a couple of rather dodgy website pictures…

It rather depends what you mean by “great aircraft” I suppose. As you say, the aircraft’s systems weren’t spectacular. They were good for 1965 but distinctly low-tech by later standards, and the TSR2’s systems were certainly ambitious – maybe unrealistically so. I don’t doubt for a minute that getting the aircraft’s “kit” up to a good standard for service use would probably have been the project’s biggest problem – but we never got to that stage.

But as an actual aircraft it was outstanding, there’s no doubt about that. It’s the stuff inside the aircraft that might have been the difficulty.

Questions which can never be answered really. Lots of theories of course so it’s a case of picking the one you think is most likely. I suppose that if the Government hadn’t had the presence of mind to abandon TSR2 when they did, it would have only been affordable in fairly small numbers – maybe fifty, especially if the abortive AFVG project had also continued. The most reliable guess on longevity would be to look at how the Buccaneer was used, and this gives you a fair guess at when TSR2 might have been retired. But then you also have to take into account the non-appearance of Tornado which would presumably have had a lot of influence on TSR2’s future (ie, it’s difficult to guess what might have replaced it).

In simple terms you could make an estimate based on an initial entry into service around 1970, take into account that Tornado was planned to remain in service until 2025, and apply the same figures to TSR2, which suggests that it could have had an OSD of maybe 2012-13 in which case it would still have been in service. But as we know, Tornado is now unlikely to be around until 2025 and if TSR2 had still been in service, last week’s SDR might well have called for its retirement. But much depends on what would have ultimately replaced TSR2.

Again, it can only be a guess, but if the RAF had received TSR2 (and maybe AFVG too) then the development of what eventually became Tornado would have been of far less interest to Britain and it would doubtless have been a very different aircraft (without so much British input) which entered service rather later. Consequently, I wouldn’t discount the notion that Britain would have opted for a purchase of F-15Es at some stage as a replacement, in which case TSR2 would have no doubt been retired many years ago.

You also can speculate on how TSR2’s systems might have been developed, as this would have had an important effect on the aircraft’s usefulness and projected service life. Lots of variable all of which depend on available cash, military requirements, other design projects, and so on.

In short, it all depends on what criteria you factor-in to your projected future. But I think it fair to say that no matter what scenario you prefer, TSR2 would have either been long gone, or about to retire within the next few weeks.

Entertaining claptrap were words that came to my mind after I’d finished watching it 😀

Yes, all of the squadron’s aircraft were similarly painted:-

Their twin-seater T.Mk.4 was also painted in the same scheme. The actual display team was a nine-ship (as far as I can recall) mostly split into two component formations. Most (if not all) of the squadron’s aircraft were also fitted with two vent pipes linked to one of the wing flap fuel tanks. This housed diesel fuel which was pumped into the jet exhaust to provide white smoke, similar to the system now used by the Red Arrows.

As for Hunters, yes, there were two teams, these being 111 Squadron’s “Black Arrows” (from where the Red Arrows acquired their name – combined with the Red Pelicans’ title) with black-painted aircraft, and the “Blue Diamonds” of No.92 Squadron, their aircraft being blue. The large formation you refer to is presumably the famous (and record-breaking) 22-aircraft which looped at the Farnborough show. I would imagine that larger formations of Hunters were assembled but not for aerobatics. I guess some of the experts on this forum might be able to recall those better than I can though!

Well things were slightly different with the F1A as at that stage the squadron was performing in public as the “Firebirds” display team. Consequently, the paint scheme you refer-to was essentially an air display scheme. The check design applied when the F3s were delivered was intended as the squadron’s standard colours, so a different view evidently prevailed. It was in effect a culmination of the increasingly-colourful schemes which had been applied to aircraft with almost every Lightning squadron and one suspects that the miserable officials simply felt that the trend had gone too far.

There was no logic or reason behind the decision, it was simply a case of those with the authority having no interest in artistic flair. Presumably they felt that Her Majesty’s aircraft should be maintained in as miserable a condition as possible. The same depressing attitude still seems to be around even now although it’s usually dressed-up in some unconvincing notion of camouflage effectiveness. It’s a pity that common sense cannot prevail, enabling the RAF to return to the pre-war days when each squadron’s air and ground crews were encouraged to take pride in their aircraft. In many ways the check-tailed F3s were the end of a great tradition.