Axed! The trillion dollar list of shame: The 14 Most Expensive Cancelled Aircraft

The amount that has been spent on aircraft projects that have been cancelled is colossal. In assembling this list I’ve been surprised a few times: the Bristol Brabazon didn’t make it, yet a few in the top five I hadn’t even considered. I’ve tried to be sensible, not including projects that spawned actual aircraft- like the B-1A, but including radical variants like the two cursed Nimrods.

I’ve avoided aircraft where no figures where available (so no Sukhoi T-4 or XFV-12). With so many variables to get wrong (unreliable figures, time and currency conversion rates among many) I accept that this is at best a rough guide. I do however hope you enjoy it and that, in a small way, it serves to highlight the wasteful nature of the weapon procurement process.

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14. Saunders-Roe Princess £10 million in 1950 prices

13. Hughes XF-11 

$14 million in 1946

$235,958,462 in 2024 dollars 

12. Hughes H-4 Hercules $23 million in 1946 dollars (circa $275 million in 2013 figures)

Bristol 188

The Bristol 188 cost £20 million in 1962 – the equivalent of £534.77 million in 2024. This wasn’t really a cancellation as it was research aircraft, hence no ranking number in this list. 

11. British Aerospace Nimrod AEW3 £1 billion 1986 pounds

10. Compass Arrow

$2 billion in 2024 dollars

9. FARA helicopter programme 

$2.4 billion

8. Martin P6M SeaMaster $400 million in 1953 dollars (circa 3.4 billion in 2013 dollars)

7. McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II circa $2 billion in 1991 dollars (3.44 billion in 2013) + ongoing legal fees. Check out the ten worst carrier aircraft.

6. BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 £3.8 billion in 2010 pounds

5 .Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche circa $7 billion in 2004 dollars (8.67 in 2013 figures). This reminds me, here’s what helicopters do in Hollywood

4. Northrop XB-35 $522 million in 1946 (6+ billion)

3. Boeing SST

$8 billion (in 2024 USD)

2.  British Aircraft Corporation TSR. 2 £450 million in 1965 pounds. £ Seven billion two hundred ninety-four million five hundred thousand in 2024. More on TSR.2 here

1. North American XB-70 Valkyrie $1.5 billion in 1966 dollars (10.81 in today dollars)

UPDATE: I will add the Boeing 2707 when I find good figures.

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Edit: Convair 880

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