Aug. 08, 1954 - Britain Produces The Fastest Fighter Aircraft Its Top Speed May Be...

Aug. 08, 1954 - Britain Produces The Fastest Fighter Aircraft Its Top Speed May Be 1,000 M.P.H: Britain has produced what experts believe is the fastest fighter aircraft in the world. The aircraft, known as the 'P.L.' is a sleek, delta-winged single seater, powered by two Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire turbojet engines buried in the fuselage. The new fighter is capable of at least 800 m.p.h. in level flight, but its performance is being kept strictly secret. It may well be able to reach 1,000 m.p.h. It is the first British aircraft capable of flying faster than sound in level flight. All the other” sonic Bang” aircraft have broken the sound barrier in a dive. Wing commander Roland P. Beaumont, 33, chief test pilot of the English Electric Company, flew the machine for the first time yesterday. Photo Shows: Britain's fastest fighter aircraft, the English Electric p.l