Most of the aircraft featured in this book can be found on display in museums around the British Isles, and when combined with those covered in the previous volume, represent all that remain of Britain’s once burgeoning aircraft industry.

This second volume explores those predominantly built or designed by the companies that formed the British Aircraft Corporation and Westland Helicopters, concluding the fall out from the 1957 Defence White Paper.

Spurred on by a need to explore new wing shapes, engines and technologies, numerous aircraft appeared during Britain’s ‘Golden Age’ of aircraft development during the first 20 years after World War Two.

Though many were successes, others progressed no further than proving whether or not a theory worked, or simply weren’t as good as predicted.

Included is the most famous cancelled project in British aviation history, BAC’s TSR.2, along with the brief flirtation with mixed-power fighters in the shape of the SR.53. Also covered in detail are the Supermarine Swift, English Electric Lightning, Jet Provost and the Folland Gnat, as well as helicopters and other early rotary-winged aircraft.

We detour into the world of air-to-air missiles, return to cover two research aircraft that contributed to the success of Concorde and finish with a section dedicated to those who work long hours behind the scenes, restoring aviation wrecks into aircraft worthy of display to the paying public.

ISBN: 9781836322368

Author: Craig Vaughton

Number of Pages: 144

Format: hardcover

Publication Date: August 03, 2026

Expected Delivery: 3rd August 2026