I have tendency to come across some quite weird and wacky aircraft designs. The focus of this video is no different. The Saunders Roe SR.A/1 was an experimental jet powered flying boat fighter. Design on the type began in 1943, and by mid 1944 a contract for three prototypes had been issued by the Air Ministry. It was designed specifically for the Pacific theatre of war and was to be powered by turbojets, at the time a new and emerging technology. However, the project was never a top priority and coupled with the end of the Second World War in 1945 meant that the first prototype didn't take to the air until mid 1947. By the end of 1948 all three prototypes had taken to the skies, however in 1949 two would be lost, one involving the death of its pilot. Shortly after the program was shelved, and although there was renewed interest in the project with the outbreak of the Korean War, by 1951 the project was discontinued. The sole remaining prototype however was preserved and now resides on display at the Solent Sky Museum.

Links:
Solent Sky Museum: https://www.solentsky.org/

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Sources:
Books:
Wings on my sleeve by Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown

Websites:
Aviastar: http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/s...
Hot cars: https://www.hotcars.com/saundersroe...
Military Factory: https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircr...
New Forest Knowledge: https://nfknowledge.org/contributions...
Solent Sky Museum: https://www.solentsky.org/post/ourex...


#aviation #aviationhistory #ww2aircraft #seaplanes #fighterjet #prototype #ww2 #ww2aircraft #history #britishhistory

0:00 1:33 Background
1:33 3:04 Design
3:04 4:23 Prototypes
4:23 5:39 setbacks
5:39 6:35 The end of the program
6:35 6:48 Final flight
6:48 7:22 Survivor and Conclusion