Aircraft - Aviation - Balloons - Helicopters

May 17, 1957 - 17-5-57 British Rocket Fighter makes its first flight The first manned aircraft produced in Britain with a rocket as its main power plant made its initial flight from the Ministry of Supply experimental establishment at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, yesterday. Designed and built by Saunders-Roe under a Ministry of Supply contract and known as the SR 53, it is a mixed power unit interception research aircraft. Fitted with a de Havilland Spectre rocket and an Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbo jet engine, the SR 53 was flown by Squadron Leader John Booth, Saunders- Roe chief test pilot. The Spectre is the first controllable thrust rocket to be flown in Britain and perhaps any other country. The aircraft takes off with both the Viper jet engine and the Spectre rocket giving full boost and it can climb to 60, 000 ft. in 3 ½ minutes. Photo Shows: Britain first rocket-jet fighter the SR 53

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

And Frac12 Boost Boscombe Climb Contract Controllable Establishment Experimental Fitted Flown Initial Interception Manned Minutes Mixed Perhaps Saunders Saunders-roe Spectre Thrust Turbo Viper

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