Although final assembly of the first SR.53, XD145, began in June 1956, lengthy ground testing delayed its first flight for almost a year. That event, which took place at Boscombe Down on May 16, 1957, is seen here. Sqn Ldr John Booth was the pilot.
The all-white first prototype S.R.53, XD145, catches the sunlight in the skies above Boscombe Down during its maiden flight on May 16, 1957. At the controls was John S. Booth, Saunders-Roe's chief test pilot.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.53 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

XD145 on approach to Farnborough’s runway on press day, September 1957.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.53 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

A member of the RAF Police contemplates the empennage of the ill-fated second prototype SR.53, XD151, at the 1957 Farnborough show. The vertical twin orifices are well depicted.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.53 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Another view of XD151 at Farnborough in September 1957. At this time it had yet to fly, not doing so until December 8. It crashed fatally on June 5 the following year.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.53 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

The SR.53 touches down with wing leading edges drooped and rear-fuselage airbrakes extended. The Viper’s intakes seemed extremely small.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.53 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Later in the Farnborough week, dummy Firestreaks were added. The Spectre is firing during this flypast.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.53 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

SR.53 набирает высоту на ракетной тяге
XD145 with dummy Firestreaks at its wingtips and shock diamonds trailing from its de Havilland Spectre rocket motor, which was mounted below the orifice for the Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbojet.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.53 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.53 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

XD145 cruises at altitude on its turbojet. The anhedral angle of the wings is apparent here.
The mid-fifties saw the Saunders-Roe SR.53, which mated a Viper turbojet and a Spectre rocket

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.53 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.53 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Three-view of XD151, the second SR.53, as displayed in the static park of the 1957 SBAC Show. It crashed on June 5, 1958, at the start of its 12th flight, claiming the life of Sqn Ldr John Booth DFC.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.53 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

A wind-tunnel model of the SR.177, complete with wingtip-mounted de Havilland Firestreak missiles, awaits testing.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.177 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Самолет SR.177 был дальнейшим развитием SR.53. К моменту закрытия программы был построен натурный макет, и началась постройка прототипа.
The full-size wooden mock-up of the SR.177 at Cowes, November 1957, showing the undernose intake for the Gyron Junior turbojet.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.177 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Three-view of how XL905, the first SR.177, could have appeared had it been completed. It is reasoned that, as both the RAF and RN contracts had been cancelled, the aircraft would have been finished in a company paint scheme similar to that of the SR. 53 - evinced by models displayed at the time.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saunders-Roe SR.177 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957