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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 0573.PDF
FLIGHT April igth, 1948 469 Handicapped by poor visibility which,, from five hundred feet did not permit-Lithgow to see each suc- ceeding turn from the preceding one; the Attacker, which was flyjng at its normal all-up weighlL of 11,3001b, averaged 560.634 m.p.h. Later in thejpiy Lithgow was off again but was forced by haze to give up. Next day the weather was somewhat improved", though visibility was little better than on the previous evening. Nevertheless Lithgow was able to raise his previous speed to 564.881 m.p.h. and, though not fully satisfied, Supermarines were content to call it a day. The newest record, which still awaits homologation, is especially significant because the aircraft concerned —the D.H.108—is not a fighter, like the Vampire, Meteor and Attacker, but a research machine, built primarily for the investigation of phenomena associ- ated with swept-back wings. Though; one of the world's fastest aircraft, with a speed, ih its present form, of the order of 640 m.p.h., the " 108" has a relatively low wing loading, a factor of great impor- D.H. 108 (Deny) tance in a test of speed and manoeuvrability. This low loading is associated with a wing of relatively large span and area, so that it might be expected that an inordinate amount of thrust would be demanded to achieve speeds such as those mentioned. In fact, the 108 is fitted with a Goblin turbo-jet which, though operating at a special rating is unlikely to deliver much more than 3,5001b. Splendidly mounted as he was, Mr. John Deny, the pilot' of the '' 108'' when it broke the 100km record on April 12th, is deserving of the highest praise for his piloting skill. The course for his flight was one lap of a left-hand circuit, starting and ending at Brookmans Park B.B.C. radio mast. The turning points were (a) Puckeridge radio mast, north of Ware ; (b) a brickworks near Three Counties station, Letchworth; (c) cement works at Upper Sundon, Luton; and (d) a point south-west of Beechwood House, Markyate. This last point was difficult to identify and smoke indicators were burnt for Derry's guidance. On one leg he waS^lying at a speed within 15-20 m.p.h. of the world's absi»]*iffe> speed record. Pilot G/C iohn Cunning- ham, D.S.O., D.F.C. S/L W. A. Water- ton, A.F.C. Lt. Cdr. M. J. Lith- gow S/L John Derry. D.F.C *W-M'*'V A N Aircraft and Power Plant D. H. Vampire 1 fighter, D. H. Goblin Gioster Meteor IV fighter, Two-Rolls- Royce Derwent V Vickers-Supermarine Attacker fighter, Rolls-Royce Nene 1 D.H. 108 research aircraft, D. H. Goblin D F 1 TotalThrust 3,000 1b 7,5O0lb 5,000 Ib 3,500 ib (approx.) G U RES Place and Date Lympne, August 31st, 1947 Moreton Valence, February 6th, 1948 • Chilbolton, Feb- ruary 27th. 1948 Hatfield, April 12th, 1948 SpMd 496.88 m.p.h. 542.945 m.p.h. 564.881 m.p.h. 605.23
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