The Supermarine 508, which was originally intended for "undercarriageless" operation on "flexible-deck" carriers.

Старший летчик-испытатель "Supermarine" Майк Литгоу пилотирует Type 508, рядом с которым следует прототип Type 535 Swift. Авиашоу в Фарнборо, сентябрь 1951 года.

31 августа 1951г.: Supermarine Type 508 (VX133) выполнил первый полет под управлением Майка Литгоу. Испытания Type 508 на британском авианосце "Игл" были завершены в мае 1952 года.

The Supermarine 508 is catapulted off during trials aboard HMS Eagle, October/November 1953.

This Supermarine 508 was spotted on the way to the breakers' yard.

Busy apron scene at Bedford on August 29, 1960, depicting flight test aircraft used by both NAD and Aero Flight. They include a hybrid all-white Hunter WW598, two Fairey Delta 2s WG774 and WG777, Buccaneer S.1 XK524, Supermarine Scimitar, and in the top left hand corner of the photograph Supermarine Type 529 VX136 delivered to NAD on April 15, 1953 for tail-down deck landing trials.

The sole Supermarine Type 525, VX138, was the true genesis of the Scimitar, fitted with swept wings and conventional swept tail surfaces, in contrast to the Type 508’s straight-tapered wings and butterfly tail. The 525 made its first flight on April 27, 1954, in the hands of Supermarine test pilot Mike Lithgow, but was lost in a fatal crash while on a test flight from Boscombe Down on July 5, 1955.

An early photograph of VX138, the Type 525, first flown by Lt Cdr Mike Lithgow in April 1954.

Developed from the Type 5087, the Type 529 (525 ???) introduced wing sweep-back and was, in effect, the prototype for the Scimitar naval fighter.

The Supermarine 508, which was originally intended for "undercarriageless" operation on "flexible-deck" carriers.