Stuck on the Drawing Board

From the triumphs of the world’s first jet airliner and world speed and altitude records to the rapid decline of a major industry and closure of many manufacturers, the last 60 years have, overall, been disastrous for Britain’s aviation industry. For the first time, Richard Payne looks at the failures of the past 60 years. For whatever reason, none of these aircraft went into production. The designs showed promise but were often underdeveloped by cash-strapped companies without the wherewithal to produce them. It is a tragic tale of Britain’s industrial decline.