TSR 2 TAXI, TAKE OFF AND LANDING [Main Title]

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  • Title: TSR 2 TAXI, TAKE OFF AND LANDING [Main Title]
  • Film Number: DEC 7
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Runway trials and the first test flight at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, for the TSR.2, a low-level supersonic strike aircraft built by the British Aircraft Corporation for service with the Royal Air Force, in September 1964.
  • Description: START 10:0:00 The BAC TSR.2 prototype, XR219, during taxiing trials at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down, on 7th September 1964. Camera #1: film shot at normal speed shows the aircraft, in its all white anti-flash paint scheme common to all RAF nuclear strike aircraft at this time, heading down the runway at take off speed. At 10:00:08 its nose wheel lifts off the runway but three seconds later it drops down again and the TSR.2 continues down the runway. A large shed in the foreground obstructs the view before the aircraft comes to a stop. 10:00:26 An A&AEE employee (?) holds up a cue card that reads "SR II - 4th Chute Stream - 7.9.64 - 13.40"; the camera lens pulls back to reveal he is standing at the edge of Boscombe Down airfield. 10:00:38 Camera #2: a whip pan across the airfield to XR219 as it rolls down the runway and as it picks up speed the tail section drops down (as the unseen nose wheel lifts off the runway) and resumes its normal angle seconds later once the engine throttles have been pushed back. Another film cameraman can be seen filming as the TSR.2 continues to roll down the runway before disappearing behind an obstruction in the foreground. 10:01:33 XR219 rolls along the runway at Boscombe Down and coming to a stop. As its brakes are applied, they produce tufts of blue smoke. The TSR.2 is seen taxiing along the runway at slow speed and performing another high-speed run and, after applying its brakes, comes to a halt. Two Land Rovers (one a bright red airfield emergency vehicle) are seen standing by. 10:02:33 XR219 is filmed from two different locations performing two high-speed runs down the runway. deploying a brake parachute (stowed just above the rear engine vents), causing it to slow down. During the second run, the aircraft is actually seen coming to rest, with several AAEE and airfield emergency vehicles in pursuit. XR219 taxies back along the runway in the same direction as the two Land Rovers seen earlier. 10:03:52 The TSR.2 prototype is filmed as it does a high speed run along the runway at Boscombe Down and deploys its braking parachute. It has almost come to a halt when the camera cuts. 10:04:19 XR219 is filmed making a take-off run down the runway with bright exhaust flame coming out of its two Bristol Siddeley Olympus jet engines; its nose wheel briefly lifts off the ground but, as the engine throttles are pushed back, it eventually drops back down. The TSR.2 continues along the runway as it decelerates but disappears behind the large shed seen earlier before it has come to a stop. 10:04:54 Scenes filmed on 27th September 1964 during the TSR.2's maiden flight with test pilot Roland Beamont at the controls. A rotating radar aerial in the foreground before the camera is pointed at XR219 as it flies overhead at about 1500 feet emitting a trail of black exhaust fumes. Its undercarriage remains in the lowered position. Flying alongside as chaser planes are two English Electric designs, a Lightning (designed as an interceptor) and a Canberra (designed as a bomber). The cameraman has trouble keeping his camera steady as the Lightning and TSR.2 prototype pass overhead. XR219 comes into land at a steep angle and deploys its braking parachute as it rolls down the runway past a sign in the foreground that instructs people to cross the runway only when the lights are green and bans bicyclists or pedestrians from doing so. The camera becomes unsteady at this point but recovers as XR219 jettisons its braking parachute and comes to a halt. 10:05:59 XR219 taxies past the camera with both the pilot's and the co-pilot's canopies raised. The cameraman is unable to keep the camera steady as the aircraft slowly taxis along the runway. END 10:06:34
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (DEC 7)
  • Featured Period: 1945-1975
  • Production Date: 1964-09-01
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: British Aircraft Corporation (Production sponsor) Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 247 ft; Running time: 6 mins 34 secs
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  • Notes: Remarks: good textbook views of this aircraft, cancelled in a controversial decision by Harold Wilson's Labour Government in April 1965. Summary: TSR stands for Tactical Support and Reconnaissance. The reason why the TSR.2 prototype flew with its undercarriage in the lowered position was the difficulty BAC and AAEE were having in devising a fully-functioning undercarriage retraction system in time for its maiden flight.
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    DEC 7

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