Bristol 188 Mach-2 Research Aircraft Family

The Bristol 188 was a British experimental aircraft designed to sustain approximately Mach 2 long enough to measure steady-state aerodynamic heating of its structure. Two flying aircraft and a static structural-test airframe were built. XF923 first flew on April 14, 1962; XF926 followed on April 29, 1963. The latter completed 51 flights and reached Mach 1.88 at 36,000 feet, below the intended sustained Mach 2 condition. Tests examined handling, flutter, acceleration, engine relighting, and surge. High fuel consumption, difficulty sustaining the required speed, and changes in the original requirement contributed to suspension of the project in 1964. XF926’s final flight was on January 12, 1964.