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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1322.PDF
Attacker (production type). Above, "Navalized" Type 510. Below, Type S35 SIRES OF THE SWIFT . . . revised tail, and having an Attacker-type twin-tailwheel unit in addition to the nosewheel, the 535 first flew during August, 1950. Use of the tailwheels made possible a conventional tail-down landing with corresponding braking effect, due to the high angle of attack of wings: The Nene turbojet was retained. Type 541 Swift.—This was the prototype of the Swift, and differed from the Type 535 in having enlarged intakes for the axial Avon turbojet. The tailwheel installation was deleted. Swift F.l.—Developed as a day intercepter fighter from the Type 535, the Swift F.l was fitted with Service equipment and Type 529. Type 508 Is similar). 478 ^ FLIGHT, 2 October 1953 guns (2 x 30 mm) and put into limited production for the R.A.F. The "four-point" undercarriage (or more strictly "five-point," the tail-wheel being double) and long nose of the 535 were dis carded in favour of a normal tricycle gear and short nose; the engine intakes were carried forward to the level of the cockpit windscreen, and the guns were mounted in the lower fuselage beneath the pilot. A number of F.ls were completed and delivered to the R.A.F. for evaluation. As work pro gressed, development was continuing and several important modifications were introduced to increase performance and fire power. These resulted in the F.4 which is the version eventually to go into large-scale service. Swift F.2.—This interim mark of Swift retains the original Avon, without reheat, but features two additional 30 mm guns. These are mounted beneadi the fuselage, between the guns mounted under the intake ducts. Swift F.3.—First demonstrated at the recent S.B.A.C. Flying Display, the Swift Mk 3 is virtually a reheat Mk 1. There are a number of other detail alterations, but the increased power is the main change, the big afterburner and tail-pipe necessitating a number of cooling-air intakes above the fuselage. Like the Swift F.2, this mark retains the cranked wing leading-edge. Swift F.4.—The basic external differences between the F.l and F.4 are in the tailpipe, tailplane, wing plan, armament and gun- sight. The Avon engine has reheat; the tailpipe is con sequently longer and has a nozzle area which can be varied by the use of "eyelids." The tailplane is of "all-flying" type, in which the control column moves the tailplane directly, the elevators playing a purely secondary role; the wing plan has also been modified by sweeping the inboard section of the leading edge forward, as in the Mks 2 and 3. Armament of the F.4 corresponds to the new British fighter standard of four 30 mm cannon, for which space has been found in the under-fuselage. F.4s seen recently are also fitted with the radar gunsight, nose- mounted gun camera and a buried aerial along the leading edge of each wing, close to the fuselage. Various arrangements of wing fences have been observed on the Swift 4, but the latest arrange ment consists of one long, fairly deep fence from the leading edge to a point just forward and outboard of the inner edge of the ailerons. A number of intakes on the top of the fuselage over the engine bay have recently been fitted; these are of the flush type, developed by the N.A.C.A. in America. An interesting feature of all Swifts is the combined speed- brake and flap. The flaps themselves are of very large area and, because of their deep chord, the hinge line is some distance forward of the wing trailing edge. Trim change on extension at high speeds should therefore be comparatively small. It is thought that the dive-brake control operates the first flap position and that a second lever controls the full range of movement. Types 508 and 529.—The few weeks preceding the S.B.A.C. Dis play of 1951 were significant ones for Supermarines. The Type 541 Swift had flown on August 1st, and on September 5th came an announcement of the maiden flight that day of a new Naval twin-jet fighter designated Type 508. It was a machine of singular appearance, having an extremely thin straight wing, two Rolls- Royce Avon turbojets housed in the fuselage sides, and a "butter fly" tail unit, in which the hinged trailing portions worked as elevators (operated together) and as rudders (operated dif ferentially). When it appeared at Farnborough more novel features were observed, including "droop-snoot" leading edges, which, in conjunction with the large flaps, conferred a moderate landing speed. Four large gun ports (presumably for 30 mm weapons) were visible beneath the air intakes. The first deck- landing trials, aboard H.M.S. Eagle, were undertaken by M. J. Lithgow early in 1952. The Type 529 differs only in minor respects from the 508. Type 508 Development.—In April this year it was announced that an order had been placed for a substantial quantity of "twin- jet fighters developed from the Supermarine 508." The air craft concerned is reported to be designated Type 525 and has swept-back wings and a conventional tail. Swift F.1.
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