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Sepecat Jaguar ACT Demonstrator

Aircraft & Exhibits, JUN 1975-JUN 1996, Cosford, Hangar Two, 1996/0168/A

The Active Control Technology (ACT) Jaguar was an analogue airframe modified to be less stable and fitted with fly-by-wire computer technology for trials work. Lessons learned from these trials was used in later aircraft like the EAP and Eurofighter Typhoon. No modern fighter jet today could fly without the use of computers.

SEPECAT Jaguar ACT Demonstrator on display at Cosford, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Fairey Delta 2

Aircraft & Exhibits, FEB 1956-SEP 1967, Cosford, Hangar Two, 85/A/10

In the late 1940s Britain was trailing far behind in supersonic aircraft design. To try to retrieve matters the Ministry of Supply issued a specification for a supersonic research aircraft, and Fairey set about meeting this with a delta-winged aircraft designed for investigation into flight and control at transonic and supersonic speeds.

Fairey FD2 on display at RAFM Cosford., © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

English Electric Lightning P1B/F.1

Aircraft & Exhibits, APR 1959-OCT 1983, Cosford, Hangar Four, 84/A/1167

The Lightning was the Royal Air Force’s first truly supersonic aircraft, serving as an air defence interceptor from 1960 until 1988. Its formidable top speed came at the cost of a very short range.

Silver-coloured aircraft with highly swept wings and large RAF roundels, carrying to white missiles, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / (c) RAF Museum/ Iain Duncan

Hunting H126

Aircraft & Exhibits, NOV 1962-MAY 1970, In Storage, 85/A/63

The Hunting H126 was an experimental type designed to add research data rather than enter production.

Yellow high wing biplane, with a circular jet intake in the nose, on display at the RAF Museum, RAF Museum

English Electric P1A

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1954-1982, In Storage, 1987/0014/A

The first flight of P1 WG760 was on 4 August 1954, just 10 years after the RAF’s first jet aircraft, the Meteor, entered squadron service. It was experimental and was the basis for the RAF’s front line fighter, the English Electric Lightning.

English Electric P1A on display at Cosford, RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Westland Whirlwind HAR.10

Aircraft & Exhibits, MAR 1961-DEC 1981, Cosford, Hangar Four, 1987/0012/A

This airframe is the first Bristol Siddeley Gnome engined Whirlwind HAR.10 aircraft to have been manufactured. It made its first flight on 28 March 1961. The Whirlwind HAR.10 was so successful that it remained in RAF service for 21 years, the last squadron converting to the Westland Wessex in 1982

Westland Whirlwind HAR 10 on display at Hendon, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Bristol Blenheim Mark IV

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1942-1945, Cosford, Hangar Three, 70/A/626

The Bristol Blenheim was faster than its contemporary RAF fighters when it entered service in 1937. Blenheims served in RAF Fighter, Bomber, Army Co-operation and Coastal Commands. During the Battle of Britain, they had the important mission to bomb Channel ports to disrupt German preparations for invasion.

Twin engine aircraft with propellers and camouflage pattern, © RAF Museum

Avro Rota Mk I

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1934-1978, London, Hangar Three, 79/A/1785

The Avro Rota played an important role in the Dowding System during the Battle of Britain, being used to calibrate radar stations.

Silver aircraft with propeller and three rotors, © RAF Museum

British Aircraft Corporation TSR.2 XR220

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1965-1966, Cosford, Hangar Two, 84/A/1171

The British Aircraft Corporation TSR2 strike and reconnaissance aircraft was one of the most exciting and controversial British combat aircraft designs of the late 1950s and early 60s. But due to rising costs and inter-service disagreements saw the programme cancelled entirely.

British Aircraft Corporation TSR 2 on display at Cosford, RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.14 WS843

Aircraft & Exhibits, MAY 1954-MAR 1967, Cosford, Hangar Four, 1990/0689/A

The Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.14 was the ultimate variant of the Meteor night fighter family, combining the most technically advanced avionics suite with a new clear-vision canopy.

Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF14 cut out on white background., © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan