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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 1391.PDF
SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1948 FLIGHT 257 A HAWKER OCCASION First Public Demon- stration of the N. 7/46 Jet Fighter Ittiis'.iated by " Fl ght" photographs) LITTEETechnical informationconcerning the Hawker N.7/46Naval jet fighter (R.-R. Nene) can be added to that given in Flight of July 29th, but after witnessing Mr. T. S. ("Wimpey") Wade's demonstration at Langley last Tues- day week it is possible to remark in general terms on certain characteris- tics of the aircraft. In the. first place it may be reported with the utmost confidence that in the "N.7," and its land-based version, the P. 1040, Hawkers have a design of exceptional promise. Especially impressive was the standard of manoeuvrability at very high speeds (on one or two occasions 600 m.p.h. A view of the new Hawker jet fighter which illustrates not only its fine lines but the skill with which Mr. Wade "placed" it for the photographers. Showing (left) the entries to, and exits from, the Rolls-Royce Nene, of 5,000 Ib static thrust. was touched and exceeded) ; the rapidity of take-off from grass; and the remarkable field of view from the beautifully enclosed cockpit. Onlookers who are now blase where ultra-fast air- craft are concerned, remarked on the lack of noise—. possibly a further result of the bifurcated jet trunk, the main advantage of which appears to be the allowance of an unusually large internal tankage. These hardened observers, in unison with Hawker's Langley staff, justly applauded Mr. Wade after his memorable demonstration of a very beautiful and obviously "right" aircraft. Excellence Explained Asked just why the "N.7" was so good, Wade spontaneously replied '' Because it is a Hawker pro- duct"—a pronouncement with which few would seek to argue. As an ex-journalist he was reticent in quoting quantitative data ; he did, however, confirm that his tight turns inside the airfield perimeter were registering accelerations of 5-6g. Equally impressive were the inverted climbs (dur- ing which a white plume of fuel trailed from the vent) and the series of four fast, smooth rolls at low level. Wade's judgment was perfect throughout, and fully worthy of that displayed by Mr. Sydney Camm and his design staff who have so brilliantly balanced speed and rate of climb against range and other qualities demanded of a modern Naval, fighter.
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