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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0764.PDF
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TRIMMER TAB MARTIN BAKER EJECTOR SEAT SILICA GEL : . CONTAINER STARBOARD, I AND PORT FUE BOUNDARY LAYER OUTLET its test programme at the new Supermarine experimental establishment, Chilbolton (some miles from the firm's experimental design department and works at Hursley Park, near Winchester), before delivery to Boscombe Down for official trials. The second and third prototypes are essentially the same as the original " E.io " but, being intended for Naval operation, have a long-stroke, pre-retracting under- carriage as on the Seafang, provision for arrester hook, rocket - assisted take-off, accelerator hooks in the wheel bays, and slinging and lashing-down points. Like all modern Super- marine fighters the Attacker was stressed to take the loads imposed by an arrester hook. This is pneumatically damped and on retraction automatic- ally disconnects from the ARMOUR PLATE ADJUSTABLE BALLAST WEIGHTS RADIO STARTERPANEL DINGHY UNDERCARRIAGEDOOR arrester wire. Prototypes 2 and 3 differ further from the original in having the Martin-Baker ejector seat, instead of the Vickers-Armstrongs type. Aerodynamically the Attacker is notable not only for its laminar-flow wing, but for the design of its fuselage —perhaps more perfect in form than that of any other fighter. Whereas this has no straight lines, the wing and tail surfaces, except for their end caps, have no curves. In section the fuselage reproduces something of the laminar-flow characteristics of the wing, though the maximum thickness is at 50, and not 40, per cent. A comparatively large cross section in this region was in any case dictated by the diameter of the Nene. The fuselage lines are broken only by the pilot's enclosure— in itself exceptionally clean, having a faired windscreen —and by the segmental air intakes flanking the cockpit. The design of the intakes was, of course, very critical, and bleeds are used to tap off the "tired" air of the boundary layer. Tests with these faired-over resulted, as predicted, in reduced performance and thrust. Structurally, the aircraft is distinguished for its finish and strength, heavy-gauge material having been applied in an exemplary manner. The fuselage is mainly of aluminium-alloy, stressed- skin construction, with 24 closely spaced stringers and formers of channel section, though the nose is unusual in being a true.'' lobster claw'' structure of laminated aluminium-alloy sheet, as much as 0.56m thick at the top and bottom, and having no stiffening members. This serves as armour protection for the pilot and is amen- to pressurizing. A detachable tip is provided for the cine camera-gun and for ballast stow- HISPANO ' ^ age, and behind this is a transverse sheet 20 ""„ GyUN of armour plate. There follows the main nose section INBOARD GUN PASSE (at present housing automatic observer THROUGH OLEO MOUN' equipment in addition to the accumu- ON MAIN SPAR lators, oxygen bottle, radio and engine- starting panel) and the cockpit proper, with its cordite-operated ejector seat, jettisonable sliding canopy, and provision for a g-suit. Aft of the armour plate in the tip of the nose the whole of the forward portion of the fuselage, which, due to the configuration of the intake ducts, is virtually a self- contained nacelle, is pressurized to a differential of lb/sq in by air from the blower casing, controlled by a Normalair constant-flow valve and slave unit. Air for the engine-bay pneumatic seal is also tapped from this supply. Emergency Exits -~ At the entrances to the engine air scoops are two emergency-escape panels, which may be jettisoned by the pilot by operating handles, or by outside helpers knocking-in small circular panels and thus gaining access to the same handles. For initial flight trials the Perspex fairing forward of the screen has not been fitted, though this feature must obviously be beneficial on an aircraft as fast as the Attacker. It is hoped that eventually double-curvature glass will be used for the complete screen. The whole cockpit enclosure is immensely strong and, located as
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