British Secret Projects

More about the book

The original version of this book explored the development of British jet fighters from the end of WWII, revealing previously undisclosed projects and dead ends. It launched the successful 'Secret Projects' series and the career of historian Tony Buttler. This revised second edition enhances the original material with new findings from the decades since its initial release. It focuses on design competitions and the Air Ministry's decisions to reject certain promising projects while allowing others to proceed. Covered aircraft types include the Hawker P.1103/P.1116/P.1121 series, Saunders-Roe's jet and rocket interceptors, the Fairey 'Delta III', and the origins of the Hawk and Eurofighter. The book features appendices listing all British fighter projects and specifications from this era. Additionally, it includes specially commissioned color illustrations of 'might-have-been' aircraft in contemporary markings, along with photographs and general arrangement 3-view drawings—over 400 illustrations in total. This work provides a unique insight into the secret world of British jet fighter projects during the golden years of the aerospace industry, presenting a coherent overview of British fighter development and evolution.