Saunders-Roe SR53

Ahh the sr53, the test bed for the sr177 which was at loggerheads with the lockheed f104 starfighter in the 1970's for a NATO Contract. Germany eventually chose the Starfighter and experts in the UK especially at Saunders Roe could not believe that the Germans had chosen a plane that was clearly inferior to the dual engined (Rocket and Jet) SR177. It later transpired that Lockheed had offered bribes totalling millions of dollars to secure the deal with Germany, resulting in the new President of the USA, Jimmy Carter passing an act that would prevent this happening again (Im sure). So as a result of foul play the SR177 became a "Plane that never flew" but it should have.

Footnote: 207 Starfighters crashed in German service with a loss of 107 Pilots. This was due to the sheer difficulty in flying the aircraft.

Excellent picture Firefox