British, supersonic, stainless steel aircraft

The BAC-188 was an experimental aircraft made by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. The aeroplane was made from titanium-stabillised stainless steel so that it could withstand skin temperatures of 300 centigrade during supersonic flight at Mach 2. Although the aircraft did not meet the design requirements, it revealed data that helped in the subsequent design of the Concorde.

Photographs courtesy of Dr Lin Sun (PT Group Member).