New book - TSR2 - Britain's Lost Bomber

[DamienB]

Oh dear. Hope you didn't pay for it. 

[DamienB]

A chapter breakdown of my book may be of interest...

Chapter 1 - Beginnings - covers the initial thoughts about replacing the Canberra, and the aircraft suggested as a possible replacement - namely Blackburn B.103(A) (Buccaneer), de Havilland developed Sea Vixen, English Electric P.18, Vickers developed Scimitar, Hawker P.1121, Folland Light Bomber. All but the P.18 with three views and various other illustrations.

Chapter 2 - Submissions to GOR.339 - covers the actual GOR.339 'competition' submissions - Avro Type 739, Vickers Swallow momentum bomber, Blackburn B.108 (developed Buccaneer), Bristol Type 204, de Havilland GOR.339, English Electric P.17 family (14 pages worth), Fairey Project 75, Gloster P.384 thin wing Javelin, Handley Page GOR.339, Hawker P.1121 Stage B and P.1129, Hawker-Siddeley P.1129 development and the Vickers Type 571 (6 pages). Plus details of the evaluation process, choosing the winners, etc. Again each aircraft has detailed three-views and other illustrations.

Chapter 3 - Designing TSR2 - covers the design process that brought the VA Type 571 and EE P.17 together to form the final TSR2 design, with 3-views of each significant step along the way and lots of wind tunnel and other model shots.

Chapter 4 - Building TSR2 - covers the manufacture of the aircraft, with detailed production sequence diagram, details of the problems run into along the way, lots of photos of the various stages in production - many previously unpublished. Also revision of the spec in the final months.

Chapter 5 - Flight Test Development - covers the flight test programme, including the real story behind the choice of Boscombe Down (differs somewhat from the usual one), taxiing trialsm XR220's accident on arrival (again a subtly different story to previous accounts), a fairly detailed run-down of each flight and the problems experienced; undercarriage problems, handling characteristics and a flight log. Lots and lots of photos of XR219 and XR220, mostly previously unpublished including some tasty colour air to air shots and - for the first time I believe - photos of XR219's rather basic cockpits.

Chapter 6 - The Aircraft - describes the TSR2 in detail from nose to tail and everything in between including refuelling probe, buddy refuelling pack, drop tanks, ejection seat development etc. with lots of detail photos of the aircraft (either as preserved or being built), diagrams from the maintenance manuals and other BAC documentation. Includes colour cockpit photos and diagrams of how the cockpit was going to look on production aircraft.

Chapter 7 - The Engine - a detailed look at the engine choice arguments, development of the Olympus 320 and associated systems, engine test failures, the Vulcan flying test bed, problems with the physical engine installation and accessories bay, flying the engine and the huge risks taken on flight 1. Again lots of photos and diagrams.

Chapter 8 - Electronic Systems - covers all of the major systems on the aircraft; stable platform, doppler, side-looking radar, central computer, automatic flight control system, terrain following radar, head-up display, recce pack, linescan, recce radar, cameras, missile warning system, chaff & flare dispensers, etc. Lots of previously unpublished material.

Chapter 9 - Weapons - accuracy, delivery methods, attack profiles, the nuclear strike role - Red Beard and subsequent weapons up to WE177, conventional strike, Bullpup, AS.30, Tychon, Martel... lots of pics again, and a few unpublished shots.

Chapter 10 - RAF Service - a look at how it was intended to enter service and the initial squadron make-ups. Brief intro to the TSR2 dual trainer, details of the Lightning TSR2 trainer proposal and Hunter lead-in training. Operational plans, overseas training, a bit on paint schemes including some excellent profile artwork from Ronnie Olsthoorn; ground support equipment.

Chapter 11 - Cancellation. A rather different story to the one you are used to reading. Lots of the same ingredients but cooked in a different way! Australian sale efforts and other export customers; the RAF losing faith; final cost saving efforts; the actual cancellation, attempts to keep the aircraft flying, and the aftermath. The story behind the 'everything must be destroyed' myth. Surviving airframes and current whereabouts. The 1970s/80s plan to resurrect the aircraft. Alternatives to TSR2 - P.28 (mod) Canberra, Spey Mirage IVA, AFVG and conclusion. Piccies of XR221 nearly completed and XR225 at various stages of the construction and scrapping process as well as of course XR219, XR220 and XR222, many previously unpublished.

Chapter 12 - Unbuilt versions - Whiffer heaven - STOL version, VTOL versions including baby TSR2, swing-wing versions including how the Americans took the idea and ran with it, TSR2 in the strategic role - Blue Water, glide rockets, ballistic missiles with Polaris heads, overload fuel, Grand Slam missile, enlarged wing designs, a detailed look at the Type 595 Trainer version, the fighter versions. Again lots of 3-views and other diagrams.

Appendix I - complete text of GOR.339
Appendix II - complete text of OR.343
Appendix III - flight reference cards

Finishes off with some more of Ronnie's colour profiles covering XR219 to XR222 inclusive and a comprehensive index.

[Thorvic]

Just received my copy today and what can i say, first impressions are that its a superb book based on a general scan of the chapters, excellent coverage from the very start of the project to the end and from a TSR2 modeller or Whiff modellers perspective its a must have if you have any serious interest in the subject. 

Well done Damien, it was well worth the wait, the effort put into the subject shows in the quality of the book as its illustrated throughout. Makes me want to consider redoing the the Fairey P75 now  .

Cheers

Geoff

[DamienB]

Is nice    "Please, you come see my book. If it not success, I will be execute"

[TsrJoe]

Damien's book just arrived through the letterbox this morning... thunk!

... an excellent volume and definately what can be considered a definative work on the type, i an pleasantly surprised to see a few pics and items of new material to me too, eg. Lightning trainer proposal, TSR.2 ADV. etc. amazing research indeed 

ill do a proper read through later today but no real crits as yet, looks an excellent volume indeed, amazingly well produced too setting what should be a new standard for works of this type (id love a biblography tho)

a definate 5 star rating methinks

cheers, Joe Warner Cherrie

[DamienB]

Thanks guys - can't ask for better first impressions than those can I! 

[martin hale]

An absolutely fantastic effort and cracking value for money!  :thumbsup:If you haven't already bought one; Buy it now! Buy it now! Buy it now! Oh did I mention? But it now!

Martin

[SPINNERS]

Big hint* given to Mrs. Spinners...

* i.e. Piece of paper with name of book, author, publisher and ISBN number. Subtle ain't I??

[daniel_g]

Superb book.  Most books I read have an author's bias, and miss out huge chunks of information that doesn't fit with the native.  Top marks for the comprehensive detail, especially the redrawn 3-views all in the same style.  As said previously, better than many books on aircraft that made it into service - and twice as think!

[Martin H]

Amazon delivered mine today.  Haveing quickly flicked throu it, Im impressed...very impressed.  At last the big boys book on the TSR 2 is here.

The only problem ive come across, is the fact that this book is 8-9 years late for us modellers lol

[The Wooksta!]

I dunno, some of us have a decent size stash of the Airfix kit if we get itchy!

[PR19_Kit]

...and if the Stratos kit includes a 'vanilla' TSR2 we'll have even more by Saturday evening!

[Deino]

I just received my copy from Amazon today (and still have a second one direct from the publisher on order ) ) and I have to admit it was a long, long time ago, when I had a book in hand and was that much impressed (*).

It surpassed all my expectations and I could only wish for more.
If I had to rate this book I would give a full 12 out of 10. 

Cheers, Deino


(*) ... just to add, I'm equally impressed by the latest three books from Harpia Publishing (http://www.harpia-publishing.com/)  regarding ...

- IRIAF 2010
- African MiGs
- Latin American Mirages

[DamienB]

Some of us couldn't build any of ours because they were busy writing 

[Martin H]

Alistair. There is a pair of TSR-2 stashes located some ware on Tyneside that makes my 9 examples look like nothing.