Cold War icon set for Cosford.
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford’s iconic Cold War prototype jet, the TSR2 will be joining the static aircraft displays at the RAF Cosford Air Show on Sunday 14 June 2015.
The TSR2 was an ambitious British built aircraft, designed to be used as a tactical strike and reconnaissance aircraft for the Royal Air Force during the Cold War. Although the aircraft never made it past prototype stage, the British Aircraft Corporation TSR2 was one of the most exciting and controversial British combat aircraft designs of the 1960s. The cancellation of the project is a subject of great debate to this day.
Clive Elliott, Air Show Director said: “The RAF Cosford Air Show is excited to welcome the TSR2 out of the Museum to join what promises to be the best static line up for the show in years. It’s a great opportunity to display to the public the amazing technological advancements it brought to the British Aerospace Industry.”
During the mid-1950s, the increasing sophistication of air defence systems led the RAF to consider the procurement of a high speed, low level strike and reconnaissance aircraft to replace the English Electric Canberra. In October 1957, the Ministry of Supply released the first specification for such an aircraft and by January 1959, they announced a design had been selected for production. Christened the TSR2 (Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance Mach 2), this aircraft was developed by a joint design team.
A contract for eleven TSR2 prototypes was concluded in October 1960, the first (XR219) made its maiden flight from Boscombe Down in September 1964. By March 1965 XR219 had completed twenty-four flights, and a second, the aircraft on display at Cosford, was to join the programme. Initial reports indicated that the TSR2 was an outstanding technical success. However political opposition to the project led to it being cancelled from 6 April 1965.
Al McLean, RAF Museum Cosford Curator said: “We are happy to have our TSR2 as a major part of this year’s Air Show. The opportunity to see this iconic airframe outside in the 50th anniversary year of the project’s cancellation is unusual and we believe it will make a great attraction for visitors on the day.”
The aircraft will be moved outside and onto the airfield a few days prior to the Air Show. Following the event, the TSR2 will go back on display in the Museum’s Test Flight hangar.
For the first time, tickets for the RAF Cosford Air Show 2015 are advance sale only. Adult tickets are priced £22.00 with accompanied under 16s free. For more details on the event or to purchase tickets please visit www.cosfordairshow.co.uk or call the 24 hour ticket line on 0871 230 1083.