Yeh i see wherre your coming from on the whole TSR2 angle! It does have that certain likeness! Anyone have any info or is it still a; “We’ve got it but we’re not telling how good it is yet”?
Regards
BARNOWL

They worked with me!!!
Good Luck, though!

Vega

The Vega was a six-passenger monoplane built by the Lockheed company starting in 1927. It became famous for its use by a number of record breaking pilots who were attracted to the rugged and very long-ranged design. Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly the Atlantic single handed in one, and Wiley Post flew his around the world twice.
Both the internal structure and the outer covering of the aircraft were wood. The wing was of the internally braced, cantilever type, and the fuselage was of semi-monocoque construction. A new feature was a circular cowling surrounding the 450-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Wasp air-cooled engine. This cowling provided substantial increases in the speed of aircraft employing radial engines, but, at the same time, directed the cooling air through the engine in such a way as to provide adequate cooling.
Fairings, called pants, around the wheels of the landing gear also reduced the drag and resulted in an increase in the speed of the aircraft.
The Vega was a highly advanced and refined design for its day, and, even now, the performance is very good for an aircraft with fixed landing gear.
The Lockheed Vega was originally (1927) designed to carry 4 passengers plus a pilot. The model represented here is a later version, modified to add two more seats. As usual, many different sub-versions existed, including a sea-plane one (no hard data on this one, but speed would probably be a little lower).

“B” of nefis in Gelendzhike New amphibian aircraft struck the specialists Yuri THE AVDAYS, the “Red Star”. On the past in Gelendzhike Of “gidroaviasalone-200ya” Taganrog aviation scientific and technical complex (TANTK) im. Beriyeva demonstrated the model airplane, which drew the attention of the adviser of the President RF on the military technical and defense- industrial policy of Aleksandr burutin. After reading the technical characteristic of amphibian aircraft, it inquired in beriyevtsev, as work on its creation far moved. And it heard as the answer: they are ready to begin the production of this aircraft although tomorrow, if in state money be located. The design solutions of the aircraft of future are checked on b -103, by the become actually scale flying model. Let us say without false modesty that the ideas, placed in it, to many decades outdistanced foreign developments in this region… Amphibian aircraft is executed according to aerodynamic configuration the “flying wing”. Its construction ensures gliding on the step of boat and the trailing edge of center section, moving along the water with the high lift-drag ratio. The effect of blowing will be used with the water takeoff. Exhaust gases of engines, established along the sides of forward fuselage section, be sent under the wing, where in the closed volume the unique gas pillow, which facilitates detachment from the water, is formed. The application of blowing not only uprostit, but will make by safer a decrease and the splashdown of flight vehicle. This regime is reached with a constant pitch angle and maximally simplifies aircraft handling. The concept of use b -2500 allows for the possibility of flights both above the oceanic surface in the screen and in the high-altitude regimes. It can find its use with the transportation of commercial it is cargo on the transoceanic routes. Its base – practically any existing port. Moreover for this does not be required creation some of new unique infrastructure. Amphibian aircraft has the capability to work from the surface of sea and thus it will partially solve the problems, connected with the overloading of international airports and the decrease of noise in the zone it is municipal. Superheavy amphibian aircraft can effectively be used in the search and rescue operations, coming to the aid to people, which suffer calamity, much more rapid than the means existing today. But its transport possibilities will ensure the transfer of expeditions for the liquidation of technogenic emergencies and catastrophes. By economically advantageous sphere it is used iya beriyevskoy machine it can become the transport of the obtained mineral in the zone shelves and archipelagoes. Foreign analogs the development TANTK im. Beriyeva does not have. Will not foresee their appearance and in the forseeable future. Aqueous medium very rapidly and badly destroys aviation materials on the takeoff and the landing. For the amphibian aircraft in these stages of flight it is converted into the emery stone. Abroad they cannot overcome this “aqueous wall”. Western specialists already which yr are trampled down at one place, even without having approached the solution, after which it is possible to begin draft works. We about our successes in the hydro-aviation hush up or we consider it their something ordinary. Certainly, from the creation of project to its realization the way of very large. And nevertheless the technology of production b -2500 for Russia does not present special complexities. Today the production of superheavy amphibian aircraft our country cannot allow itself on the financial possibilities, which the market dictates. It is obvious that such massive program should be realized in the collaboration with other states, interested in the mastery of oceanic spaces and the development of sea communications. Thus, in TANTK im. Beriyeva is counted the version of installation to the amphibian aircraft of the English engines Trent of 800 firms Rolls-Royce. Probably, it does not interfere with recalling capital truth that advertisement – engine of trade. Look at, for example, the designs of the super-large airliners of firms Boeing and Airbus. With their entire independence they even in the advertising constantly obtain support from the state structures. It is yet built not one machine, but the advertisement so “pronyala” of Russian zapadopoklonnikov, that they dream about the acquisition of these machines, disregarding of all economic expenditures on the re-equipment of airports and other problems. Cooperation with the foreign partners departs also to the sphere of policy. The European and North American aircraft industry has very strong anti-Russian lobby. As an example that b, serves. The fire of fires from year to year devours forests of the European countries, and international market for our “flying firemen” is closed under different pretexts. To move the matter from dead center made it possible only resolution of a question at the level of Heads of The State. To place cross on b -2500 early… In the hydro-aviation it is one of our “strategic” reserves. How to know, can, after the economic revival of Russia the project will find its use and it does take place its benefit performance?
Translation of http://www.babelfish.altavista.com

An air-horn is good for that too.

It is also commonly accepted that many of the later DB-601’s built in Germany/France were of an extremely poor quality through over-bebasement of the metals, but were so well put together that they worked well for a long while. Resulted in lots of wear and tear. But i have no information on the Merlin engine to compare this with. Sorry! Anyone else with anything to add?
Regards,
BARNOWL