09/23/2003. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The unique operational flexibility of the water-based fighter has attracted many aircraft designers but, owing to hull drag, the flying boat fighter employing a conventional hull structure cannot compete in level speed with its land-based counterpart. However, the water-based fighter can perform a variety of useful roles, and the obvious value of such combat aircraft during the war in the Pacific resulted in the issue of specification E6/44, which called for a single-seat, twin-jet fighter flying boat.

To meet the requirements of this specification, Saunders-Roe Ltd. produced the SR.A/1, which, while of conventional construction and employing conventional hull design, embodied several features which were, at the time of its appearance, novel. The first of three SR.A/1 prototypes (s/n TG263, TG267, TG271) flew on July 16, 1947, powered by two 3,250 lb (1,474 kg) thrust Metropolitan Vickers Beryl M.V.B.1 turbojets housed in the hull with a common intake in the nose and outlets just aft of the wing. The first prototype, which was the world's first jet flying boat, was followed by a second machine powered by two 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) thrust Beryl M.V.B.2 turbojets, and a third prototype powered by two 3,850 lb (1,746 kg) thrust Beryl 1 (M.V.B.2) units.

The SR.A/1 had a normal fuel capacity of 425 Imp.gal (1,932 l), and jettisonable fuel tanks could be carried under the wing inboard of the retractable stabilizing floats. Loaded weight was l6,255 lb (7,373 kg), and empty weight was 11,262 lb (5,108 kg). The third prototype attained a maximum speed of 516 mph (830 kmh), and initial climb rate exceeded 4,000 ft (1,219 m)/min. Dimensions were: span, 46 ft (14.02 m); length 50 ft (15.24 m); height, 16 ft 9 in (5.11 m); gross wing area, 415 sq.ft (38.55 sq.m)."

(Walter van Tilborg Collection)

03/31/2006. Remarks by Charles Mac Kay: "It was unusual to see this type of aircraft development beginning in 1943 when allied jets were still in their infancy. A specification was sent to the Morris Furniture company in Glasgow Scotland by the Ministry of Aircraft Production for and on behalf of the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Helensburgh.

There were three prototypes to be delivered by road to Felixstowe in England. The first (s/n TG263), which appears to have been a one-third scale model, had the small tail which was so characteristic of Saunders-Roe types. The latter two prototypes (s/n TG267, TG271) had the high slab tail as found on production aircraft. The model fuselage had the provision of a model engine bay for the Beryl engines as found on the production aircraft.

The fighter was to be used in island hopping against Japan. The British lost interest in the scheme with the end of the war but the Americans pursued the scheme right up to 1951 when they too lost interest in the jet fighter flying boat.

Of the three prototypes, two were lost in accidents while the third lost its cockpit on a high-speed trial. Performance was exceptional for its type but it could not be developed further and when flown it had already reached obsolescence since it was undergunned and could not carry advanced electronics. Had it not been for the Beryl engine there would have been no Sapphire and with no Sapphire, no Avon - the Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 was exceptional. The surviving prototype (s/n TG263) is preserved at the Solent Sky Museum at Southampton, UK."