Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 30:34-32:20

An operational SR.177 could have challenged the F-104

Its combined rocket and jet propulsion promised exceptional 1950s performance, though the wider benefit to British industry remained uncertain.

Aircraft ProcurementBritish Aircraft IndustryF-104 StarfighterInterceptor AircraftMixed Power AircraftSaunders Roe Sr 177
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Question

What career and industrial legacy might the Saunders-Roe SR.177 have had if it entered service?

Short answer

It could have become an F-104 competitor because its mixed rocket-and-jet power was extraordinary for the early 1950s, but its industrial legacy would be less certain.

Notes

The SR.177 combined rocket and jet propulsion at a time when roughly 10,000 pounds of thrust was extraordinary. If it reached service, it could have competed in the same high-performance interceptor market as the F-104. That prospect gives the design more potential than a short-lived curiosity. Its effect on the wider British aircraft industry remains uncertain, regardless of the technical promise.