Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 - TG263

The SR.A/1 is an example of one of the rarest categories of aircraft - a jet fighter flying-boat. The three aircraft built were used for experimental purposes for several years.

Flight tests of all three prototypes proceeded with the manufacturers and with the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Felixstowe until August 1949 when both the second and third aircraft were lost in accidents, one sinking after hitting a floating object while landing on the Solent and the other after loss of control during an aerobatic display practice. Around this time the Air Ministry lost interest in the project, and also effectively cancelled development of the Beryl engine but Saunders-Roe brought the first prototype out of storage for trials of their own for which purposes it received the "B-Conditions" civil registration G-12-1. These trials continued until 1951 when, after being displayed at the Festival of Britain site on the Thames, it was retired to the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield.

The SR.A/1 is also noteworthy in that it was the first British aircraft to be fitted with a production ejection-seat, made by Martin-Baker, and was the only aircraft designed to fly with the Metrovick Beryl axial flow jet engine, probably the most advanced aero engine in the world at the time. Both the seat and the engine are displayed in the Museum alongside the aircraft.

TG263 is the first, and sole surviving, example of the three SR.A/1s. In 1993 it was made available to the Southampton Hall of Aviation so that it could be displayed at the museum closest to its original home.

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