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Hawker P.1121 Hurricane F.2

603(City of Edinburgh)Sqn 1968

The P.1121 was a proposed private venture Mach 2.6 interceptor/strike aircraft from 1958. In many ways a development of the Hunter, the remains of the initial prototype are at RAF Cosford.

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Saunders Roe P177N

803 Naval Air Squadron

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, 1969

The Saunders-Roe P.177 was a 1950s project to develop a combined jet- and rocket-powered interceptor aircraft for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, based on the SR-53 research aircraft..

Saunders Roe SR.53

Rocket Development Aircraft

Boscombe Down, 1959

Isle of Wight based Saunders Roe produced the elegant and successful SR.53 research aircraft to prove the concept of a dual rocket/jet powered interceptor.

Angel Interceptor

Spectrum, Cloudbase, 2065

Hawker P.1154 RN

804 Naval Air Squadron

HMS HERMES, 1978

Hawker P.1127

VSTOL Development Aircraft,

HMS ARK ROYAL, 1963

The Angel Interceptor was created by Film maker Gerry Anderson's Century 21 production company for the successful 1960s Captain Scarlet sci-fi series.

The P.1154 was Hawker's original proposal for an in-service VSTOL aircraft developed from the P.1127. With the powerful BS.100 engine it would have been supersonic.

The P.1127 was a flying test-bed for the Pegasus engine and vectored thrust concept. As the Kestrel, nine aircraft were flown by a joint UK-US-West German evaluation squadron.

Fairey Delta II

Boscombe Down, 1956

Lockheed Martin X-35 JSF

800 Naval Air Squadron

HMS PRINCE OF WALES, 2020

Boeing X-32 JSF

892 Naval Air Squadron

RNAS Lossiemouth, 2020

Flown by Lt Cdr Peter Twiss, in 1956 the Fairey Delta 2 achieved a new World Air Speed Record (1,132mph). Plans to develop the concept were another victim of the Sandys' Defence Review.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is intended as a replacement for a wide range of Western aircraft, including the Harrier, Hornet and F-16.

The awkward looking X-32 was the losing contender in the JSF contest.

Westland WS-70

845 Naval Air Squadron,

Helmand 2012

Eurocopter Tiger AH.1

848 Sqn Royal Marines,

Helmand 2012

Carrier Eurofighter

899 Naval Air Squadron

RNAS Yeovilton, 2012

Westland gained a licence to build the Sikorsky Black Hawk design in Europe, but were unable to sell any against strong competition from Eurocopter and Boeing/EHI

The Eurocopter Tigre was the losing contender (to the Boeing Apache) in the UK Attack Helicopter competition.  

A marinised Eurofighter design was considered for the CVF in the event that the JSF was not available.

Convair XFY-1 Pogo

US Navy 1957

General Atomics MQ.1 Predator

809 Naval Air Squadron, 2012

Supermarine Seafang

Carrier Trials Unit

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, 1946

The Pogo was one of a number of US experimental designs intended to allow VTOL operation from small ships.

UAVs are likely to become the main types flown from future aircraft carriers.  

The Seafang married a new supercritical wing to a developed Seafire fuselage.  Although a successful design, it did not enter service.

Horten Ho-229

Luftwaffe 1946

Lippish P.13a

Luftwaffe 1946

The Ho229 was a development of the Lippisch flying wing.  This is the twin-seat night fighter version that was never built.

The P.13a was planned as a supersonic interceptor. As aviation fuel was in short supply it was intended to power the ramjet with a powdered coal ramjet.

So, What-if?

The Aircraft on the following pages have all existed in some form, whether in reality or simply on paper.

Some were genuine research aircraft; some purely speculative designs that never took to the skies.

Where appropriate, I have added a little of my own imagination!

Click on the tiles below for more details of each model:

BAC Sea Lightning

892 Naval Air Squadron,

RNAS Lossiemouth, 1970s.