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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0575.PDF
APRIL 17TH, 1947 FLIGHT 341 UNVEILED total tankage of 404 gallons, half of which is carried internally and half in under-wing tanks. The tare weight is 6,9271b and the, all-up weight u,97olb, giving a wing loading of 45 lb/sq ft. Flying at a weight of 9,5oolb, the Vampire F.III attains 525 m.p.h. at sea level, 540 m.p.h. at 17,500ft and 526 m.p.h. at 30,000ft. At sea level the rate of climb is 3,800 ft/min, and at 30,000ft 1,550 ..ft/min. A pressure cabin is fitted and 'the operational ceiling is 45,000ft. In view of, the still-prevalent im- pression that jet-propelled fighters are suitable only for short-range operation it is especially in- teresting to record the endurance of the Vampire F.III as 3 hours at 30,000ft, and the range as 1,390 miles. Externally the F.III is characterized by a low-set tail- plane and fin and rudder assemblies of new design. Admirers of the Hornet and Sea Hornet—the fastest airscrew-driven fighters of their class in the world—will be interested in the following details of three new variants. The Sea Hornet N.F.21 is a two-seat Naval night fighter, which may be alternatively employed for high-speed recon- A recent view of a^*-> The new nose of the Sea Hornet NF 21 two-seater nightfighter developed for Naval Aviation. naissance or on "strike navigator" duties. Range and tankage are substantially as for the Sea Hornet Mk.xx, which has a typical range with operational load of 1,230 Mytes- The N.F.21 carries a radar scanner in the rede- signed nose, flame dampers for the exhausts of the Merlin engines, and a rear cockpit hood somewhat resembling that on the early Beaufighters. Complete performance data are not yet available, but the first prototype is already flying. A long-range version of the Hornet F.i, the sub-type F.III, has a total internal tankage of 540 gallons and external provision for two tanks of 100 or 200 gallons capacity apiece. With 740 gallons of fuel the flying weight is 19,4701b, and with 940 gallons, 2i,o8olb. Including an allowance for fifteen minutes' combat, the Hornet F.III with maximum tankage has a range of 2,500 miles a1 20,000ft or 30,000ft. Development of the Hornet as a photographic recon naissance aircraft has already been mentioned, and the following details may now be given of the Hornet P.R.11. Tankage is the same as for the F.III and the range (no combat allowance) is 2,900 miles at 20,000ft, or 2,650 miles at 30,000ft. No guns are fitted but two F.52 cameras are the Handley Page Hastings I. A substantial order for thisimposing military transport is now being filled. mounted between bulkheads 4 and 5 and there is a K.17 camera in the forward part of the gun bay. Provision is made in the aft fuselage for a F.45 oblique camera. FAIREY A NIGHT* fighter version of the Fairey Firefly iv isJrx designated Firefly N.F.iv. It has readily detachable flame dampers and, of course, carries the familiar radar nacelle. Griffon-powered developments of the Fairey Barracuda are the T.R. v and vi. GLOSTER APART from the dual-control trainer version of the •£*• Meteor mention may now be made of an earlier photo- graphic reconnaissance version (Meteor P.R.m). The Meteor iv is, of course, similarly adaptable for reconnais- sance. HANDLEY PAGE THE impressive appearance of the Handley Page Hast- -*- ings C.i (four Bristol Hercules), soon to be issued \o R.A.F. transport squadrons, is already familiar to Flight readers. A recent photograph appears here, and it is now possible '0 state that the crew numbers five Dimensions are: span 113ft; length 81 ft 8in ; wing area 1,408 sq ft. Like the Hermes, its civil counterpart, the long-fuselage Mk.n version of which should fly in about three months' time, the Hasting is notable for its exceptionally clean design. This is reflected in performance, and though actual figures for the Hastings may not yet be quoted, the Hermes 1, which is similar in all essential respects, has a top speed of 355 m.p.h. at 22,700ft A distinguishing feature of the Hastings is the large load- ing door, served by a special ramp in the port side of the fuselage. Other differences concern internal equipment. HESTON '"PHE twin-boom A.O.P ind communications aircraft •*• with tricycle undercarriage and Gipsy Queen engine, now being built by Heston Aircraft has been designed to Specification A.2/45 Its span and length are 44ft and 34ft respectively. * VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS "PHE Vickers-Armstrongs Windsor bomber is, of course, -*- not a new design, but the following note by Mr. Rex Pierson, Chief Engineer of the Aircraft Section of Virkcrs- Armstrongs, Ltd., is ol interest because this iypr. has been so little publicized "In the Windsor,' says Mr. Pierson, " goedetic con- struction attained outstanding development, the structure being principally of light alloy geodetics with special pre- telisioned metallic fabric covering The four power units were mounted in line in nacelles, each of which formed a housing for a single retractable main wheel unit. The proto- type machine was laid down in 1942. and the first flights were made in October, 1943. the immediate objective being
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