DISCONTINUED AZ-Model 7691 Saunders Roe SR-53T-1 "Rocketeer"

The Saunders-Roe SR.53 was an experimental British Cold War fighter. A prototype flight took place in 1957, but the machine never entered mass production. The propulsion was provided by two engines: a single de Havilland Specter rocket engine and a jet engine Armstrong Siddeley Viper 8. The machine was 13.72 meters long with a wingspan of 7.65 meters. It was assumed that the plane would have no on-board armament, and its only armament would be two Firestreak air-to-air missiles. The maximum speed was to be about 2400 km / h.

The Saunders-Roe SR.53 was developed in order to test the properties and capabilities of a dual propelled rocket and jet interceptor in flight. quite a formidable interceptor. First of all, it was assumed that the SR.53 model would have a very good rate of climb and the highest possible top speed. Despite the fact that the plane was flown in 1957 - mainly for political reasons - further work on the machine was stopped.