After WWII, Britain urgently needed a jet bomber for its independent nuclear deterrent. While developing the highly advanced V-bombers, the military ordered the Short SA.4 Sperrin as a pragmatic backup plan. This conventional straight-wing jet featured a highly unusual vertical stacked engine design. When the primary V-bomber projects succeeded, the Sperrin immediately became obsolete for frontline combat. Instead of being scrapped, the completed prototypes found a second life as vital flying testbeds, evaluating new turbojets and early nuclear weapon mock-ups. #aviationhistory #coldwaraircraft #militaryaviation #royalairforce
Source: Short SA.4 Sperrin: Why It Had Bizarre Stacked Engines
