On 14 October 1947, the Bell XS-1 became the first aircraft in the world to achieve supersonic flight. In March 1946 the Miles M52 — also designed specifically for that purpose — had been cancelled before the first example was ready. Was the British aircraft really a serious contender for what became America’s crown? The latest research casts serious doubts
M52 VERSUS X-1
May 1943: A Supersonic Committee was formed by Ben Lockspeiser, director of scientific research at the UK’s Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP). This move was prompted by a captured German engineer who declared that Germany had looked at an aircraft capable of well over 1,000mph (1,609km/h). It was subsequently established that no supersonic aircraft existed in Germany.
September 1943: The decision to start work on an experimental British supersonic project. Miles Aircraft, with which firm agreement was finalised on 8 October, was to undertake it.
December 1943: A contract for two Miles M52 airframes with military serials RT133 and RT136 was awarded to Miles Aircraft and specification E24/43 was raised to cover them.
In the meantime, jet engine pioneer Frank Whittle had revealed that he had been developing an ‘augmenter’ to provide a…
