During the 1960s, the British aviation industry had its last real chance to find a place in the expanding jet airliner business. Try as they might, they did not succeed. The nation that had built the world’s first jet airliner had to concede defeat to its American rivals.

The 1960s were a turbulent time in British Aviation as the legendary aircraft manufacturers that had helped defend Britain in WWII were forced to merge together just to survive. As military orders were shrinking, producing long-range jetliners was key to their survival.