Shortly before the M55 motorway was due for completion, arrangements were made in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence, and the British Aircraft Corporation, for a Jaguar GR1 , from Warton (Lancashire) to land on the road base of a section of carriageway near Weeton on the afternoon of Saturday, 26 April 1975. After fitting four of the RAF's latest cluster bombs on the plane, it then took off from the motorway. The purpose was to demonstrate the Jaguar's ability to land and take off in short distances. The motorway was opened to traffic in July 1975.
