The TSR2 is (was) quite a significant aeroplane as it was the second last innovative British military aircraft made, the last one being the Harrier, or Hawker P1127 if you like.
After leading the world with aircraft like the Spitfire, Mosquito and Meteor and the civilian Comet we went into a serious decline. The TSR2 would have been a true world beater and many people of my father's generation believe that this aircraft was cancelled not only because of cost but also after political pressure from the U.S.A. which meant we'd have been buying the Lockheed F104 Starfighter and the General Dynamics F111. We actually bought neither which was a good job because not only was the F104 surrounded by controversy as Lockheed officials were suspected of, and later officially recognised as, being involved in corruption with bribes being paid to Italian and German Defence Ministry officials; the aircraft later gained the nickname of "The Widowmaker".
Versions of the Olympus were also used in Royal Navy (and other) destroyers and frigates.
