Rescued from Foulness and arrived at Cosford for preservation as 8368M on 3 September 1972. Seen here in overall gloss black.

For the first time in many years this aircraft was displayed outside for the 2016 Air Show,

The first prototype Bristol 188 (of two completed) on a test flight soon after its first flight on 14 April 1962. The stainless steel aircraft was primarily used for supersonic tests to determine the effect of heating on aircraft structures. It reached Mach 1.88 - 1440 mph. After retirement, sent to Shoeburyness where it was destructively tested. Obtained from Bristol in the 1960s.

The 'Test Flight' hangar at Cosford contains some really fascinating and incredible X-planes. This one was built from stainless steel and designed to investigate airframe heat build-up at very high speeds.

The Bristol 188 research aircraft did not fly until 1962, nine years after it had been ordered, and due to excessive fuel consumption it never flew beyond Mach 1.88 so its stainless steel construction was never really put to the test.

This was the second and final Bristol 188 to fly, the prototype having first taken to the air in 1962. It was an experimental design to investigate the effects of heating on the aircraft at high speeds. Constructed largely of stainless steel, it achieved a maximum speed of 1.88 Mach against a design target of 2 Mach. It is part of the RAF Museum Cosford collection.

The first of two stainless steel research aircraft. This example first flew on 14 April 1962 and is being displayed at the 1962 Farnborough Air Show. It was later destructively tested.