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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2016
The opening paragraph in my first Flight Test Report after the initial flight of the Fairey Delta 2 still rings very true today:—
“This aircraft shews every promise of being a very pleasant flying machine. Soon after take-off, I had confidence in the handling characteristics, and I should like to congratulate all the design and engineering personnel who made this possible.”
This great day was the 6th October 1954, at Boscombe Down, and was the start of an intensely interesting development programme—not without its setbacks and excitements—which was highlighted last March by the gaining of the World's Absolute Air Speed Record for Britain. The early flights followed the pattern of most prototype aircraft and, but for an unfortunate setback on the fourteenth flight, went very smoothly.