It was 45 years ago today...

[SPINNERS]

that Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play

That Mr. Callaghan announced the cancellation of the TSR.2 

[GTX]

Runs for cover...

Regards,

Greg

[rickshaw]

Cheeky bugger...   

[Radish]

And I was one month off my 16th Birthday....

[rickshaw]

that Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play

That Mr. Callaghan announced the cancellation of the TSR.2 

Interestingly, 40 years ago, The Beatles formally announced their breakup. 

[NARSES2]

And I was one month off my 16th Birthday....

Geez, your only 3 years older then me 

[Radish]

And so mature too....just like an old cheese lol.

[JayBee]

And I was one month off my 16th Birthday....

and I was eight months of my 16th birthday, ye Gods Terry and I are of similsr ages

[uk 75]

It was the same year I got the Marx battery powered TSR 2 for my tenth birthday and I have
hated politicians ever since, so I suppose it wasn't a total bad thing.

This year I will be 55 and I still love the TSR2 and what it might have been.  I know all the
arguments by now backwards and sideways but for me Farnborough 1976 should have featured
the following:

Flypast by 617 TSR 2s with Blue Water stand off weapons

Tactical setpiece attack on airfield with three TSR2s from 9 Squadron kicking off,
followed by 1 Squadron 1154s beating the place up with simulated rocket pods.
After which a line of HS 681s would disgorge Sciimitars and Spartans, while WG34s
would bring in 105mm light guns.  All of course to commentary by Raymond Baxter.

As Basil F once said by from the Land of Dreams...

UK 75

[SPINNERS]

Well on that fateful day I was still four months away from my fourth birthday and the only flying things I knew about were Thunderbird One and Thunderbird Two (FAB). It was early 1974 when I first became aware of the TSR.2 when my local library had a new book in, "Attack Aircraft of the West*" by Bill Gunston - one of the greatest books on aviation ever (the Buccaneer, Mirage IV, MRCA, F-111 and TSR.2 chapters are superb). Whilst it only had one illustration of the TSR.2 it captured my imagination and I found it hard to believe that it could be cancelled and then followed by the F-111K and AFVG debacles.

I think the thing that sealed it for me was the scratchbuilding the TSR.2 article in the Airfix Magazine and seeing the plans and the size comparison shot alongside the MRCA. Followed by the two articles in the 1976 RAF Yearbook - 'Wings clipped and cancelled' by Derek Wood (with THAT photo of a TSR.2 with a No.74 squadron P.1121) and 'Airborne in the TSR.2' by Roland Beamont.

I've mentioned this before, but with all the TSR.2 models, 'what if' decals, profiles and GCI it does sometimes feel as if it did enter service! Ho-hum.

* As a side note, I own the very same copy of that book - one of the many benefits of marrying the Librarian who had first dibs when old stock was thrown out!

[SPINNERS]

Tactical setpiece attack on airfield with three TSR2s from 9 Squadron kicking off

Will four do ya?!

[uk 75]

Spinners, you have made an old man very happy..

But seriously do they not look the business even in 2010. In 1976 of
course they would have been ....

UK 75

[Devilfish]

It was the same year I got the Marx battery powered TSR 2 for my tenth birthday and I have
hated politicians ever since, so I suppose it wasn't a total bad thing.

This year I will be 55 and I still love the TSR2 and what it might have been.  I know all the
arguments by now backwards and sideways but for me Farnborough 1976 should have featured
the following:

Flypast by 617 TSR 2s with Blue Water stand off weapons

Tactical setpiece attack on airfield with three TSR2s from 9 Squadron kicking off,
followed by 1 Squadron 1154s beating the place up with simulated rocket pods.
After which a line of HS 681s would disgorge Sciimitars and Spartans, while WG34s
would bring in 105mm light guns.  All of course to commentary by Raymond Baxter.

As Basil F once said by from the Land of Dreams...

UK 75

Farnborough '76....I was there.  Concorde and some dodgy POS called MRCA as I remember......Red Arrows in Gnats....

Oh and I was 9........