What exotic materials did the TSR.2 use?

Short answer

Uncommon alloys: machined extrusions of L.65 aluminium-copper alloy in most of the structure. The rear fuselage used RR.5B, originally developed for engine pistons. Some components used X2020 aluminium-lithium imported from the US. Titanium was also used in several areas.

Published: November 4, 2026 · Updated: November 4, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

What exotic materials did the TSR.2 use?

TSR2 Cosford 2007Taras Young (CC BY), vía commons

Custom aluminium alloys

The initials TSR-2 stand for "Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance, Mach 2". Most of the aircraft's structure was machined from extrusions of L.65 aluminium-copper alloy. Much of the rear fuselage was built from RR.5B, a high-temperature alloy originally developed for engine pistons.

Aluminium-lithium imported from the United States

Some components were made from X2020 aluminium-lithium alloy imported from the United States, lighter than duralumin and other aluminium alloys traditionally used in aircraft construction, and of high strength. The skin of the torsion box, the wing apex and wingtips were made from tapered aluminium-lithium panels, machined from plate with integral spar webs and stringers. Both the upper and lower skins were machined to variable thickness from a single aluminium-lithium billet.