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This paper discusses the US Air Force/Bell Aircraft Corporation X-2 project which began in 1945. It was aimed at developing a research aircraft designed to reach speeds of over Mach 3 and altitudes over 100,000ft. A brief description of the aircraft is given along with a discussion of its flight test programme. The much-delayed project ended on 27 September 1956 during the aircraft's 13th powered flight. Loss of control at over Mach 3 led to violent motions characteristic of inertia roll coupling, following which both pilot and aircraft were lost. The paper concludes with an examination of the limited achievements of the project and lessons learned from it.

This paper deals with aspects of the British Aircraft Corporation TSR2 programme designed to produce for the Royal Air Force a supersonic low-level nuclear strike and reconnaissance aircraft for service entry in 1964. A short background to the project is given, together with a brief history of the progression of the programme. Reference is made to mission requirements, selection of the powerplant, the development of the configuration, mission avionics, and the brief flight test programme. The paper concludes with a discussion of the main problems encountered over the life of the project and (hopefully) the lessons learned.