Supermarine Type 525 Fighter Prototype

The Type 525 was a development of the Type 508 of which three examples had been ordered from Supermarine in November 1947 to Air Ministry specification N.9/47. The Type 508s were to be development aircraft for a carrier-borne interceptor, reconnaissance and low-level nuclear strike aircraft which became the Type 544 which entered service as the Scimitar.

The third Type 508 VX138, was modified on the production line closer to Scimitar standards and was redesignated the Type 525. This aircraft made its first flight on 27 April 1954 at the hands of Supermarine’s test pilot M J Lithgow.

The Type 525 was powered by two Rolls-Royce Avon turbojets and fitted with a taller tricycle undercarriage positioned further out on the wings than on the Type 508. It had a conventional tail and rudder surfaces and swept wings.

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