Sparrow Hawk GR(x)-71

[markmarples]

Its the height of the cold war, and as the USSR and the US of A vamps up its war machine both countries begin to realise the cost of the escalation, so when Great Britain ask to buy certain 'specialist aircraft' for evaluation and development, America realises it may be better for the UK to do the hard development work for them. One of the aircraft chosen for this programme was the SR-71A, In 1967 one airframe was sold and delivered to the RAF and in conjunction with Hawker Siddeley (soon to become BAe) developed the SR-71a to their specification, unfortunately for the US the UK never sent back the information they required but instead modified and used their aircraft for a stopgap until the TSR2 was ushered into RAF service in 1972.

The RAF tinkered with the aircraft's systems and incorporated a radar into the aircraft's empty nose, and the ability to add fuselage pylons for a small range of stores. Thought this drastically affected its speed when utilised, it remained faster the Russian fighters.  At the same time the RAF was going though some structural changes in 1967 41sqn  was a bloodhound sqn but disbanded in April of that year reforming 2 months later with only 1 aircraft on charge. This Aircraft was designated the GR(X)- 71 'Sparrow Hawk'

[ChernayaAkula]

Lovely!  Those colours look extremely good on a Blackbird!

[Hobbes]

I agree, this looks wonderful. A striking change from the usual flat black.

[sturmvogel]

NMF fits the sleekness of the SR-71 so well.

[rickshaw]

That shark's mouth looks quite frightening...

[James]

I love it. Great stuff.

[Dizzyfugu]

Lovely!  Those colours look extremely good on a Blackbird!

Second that. Beautiful big bird!

[Weaver]

Looks great - nice one.

[markmarples]

thanks guys, i dont make enough Whifs these days but have a few more in the pipeline

[lancer]

Love it! The ONLY time I've liked the SR71..... Now, seeing as it was developed by the UK, what is it's intended role?

[markmarples]

41 sqn is a test and evaluation sqn so dependant on the outcome anything but.... Nuclear strike is the obvious as she could be clear of the blast zone

i was planning on arming her with cruise missiles but a bit early fot that

[NARSES2]

Come out well sir 

[Army of One]

Great looking finish.....!!!

[pyro-manic]

Red Beards in the chine bays? The side-looking radar intended for the Avro 730?

[Mr.Creak]

A late-model Blue Steel ¹ dorsally mounted a la D-21 drone?

1 Or any of the other rather spiffy zoomy bangy things illustrated in Vulcan's Hammer.