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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 1854.PDF
S.F.E.CM.A.S. 1402 Gerfaut (S.N.E.C.M.A. Atar 101C). in level flight. With a new, laminar-flow fuselage housing a Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet the Spiteful became the 590 m.p.h. Attacker, and this was followed in 1948 by the swept-wing Type 510—considered by the makers to have been the first of the Swifts. In July 1950 a second prototype 510 was flown and, with the substitution of a nosewheel undercarriage, this became the 535. The first "production-prototype" Swift—the 541—in which a Rolls-Royce Avon axial turbojet replaced the centrifugal Nene, flew in August 1952. The Mk 1 has a fixed tailplane and no afterburner. The Mk 2 is similar, but has four guns; the Mk 3 has an afterburner and two guns; and the Mk 4—now in quantity production — has an afterburner, a movable tailplane and four guns. The Mk 4 was first flown on May 27th, 1953. The only figures which can usefully be quoted for the Swift's performance are the low-level speed of 735.7 m.p.h., confirmed as a world record last year, and an average of 669 m.p.h. between London and Paris. Of armament a trifle more can be said, for the Swift is the first fighter officially admitted to carry the new 30 mm Aden gun. Official reference to this weapon was made by the Minister of Supply in March this year. "With this powerful cannon," he said, "the Swift is capable of bringing to bear eight times more high explosive than was possible with earlier types of guns. Its revolutionary design gives the Aden cannon about twice the rate of fire of the 20 mm Hispano gun, which has been our standard fighter weapon since 1941. Trials have proved that the Aden, with advanced type of gun-sights and quick- acting fuse, is capable of inflicting devastating damage. The introduction of the Swift, with its superb flying performance and terrific fire power, is a milestone in the progress of Britain's air defence." Span of the Swift F.4 is 32ft 4in, length 41ft 6in. AUSTRALIA Commonwealth Avon-Sabre (CA-27). This is a version of the North American F-86 Sabre, built by the Commonwealth Air craft Corporation Pty., Ltd. Though differing little in appear ance from the F-86F, substitution of a Rolls-Royce RA. 7 for the General Electric J47, and replacement of the six 0.5in guns by two 30 mm Adens, necessitated so many changes that only about 40 per cent of the original fuselage structure could be retained. As the Avon consumes some 25 per cent more air than the J47, the size of the intake duct had to be correspondingly increased, and the problems which then arose were simply solved by splitting the front fuselage horizontally and inserting a "wedge" of structure. As the Avon does not support the tail pipe cantilever-fashion, the rear fuselage had to be redesigned. Excellent speed and climb performance has been demonstrated and a radius of action of about 500 miles should be attainable. Saab-29 (j-29) (D.H. Ghost). 25 June 1954 823 Mig-15 (RD-45F). CANADA Canadair Orenda-Sabre (F-86EO, or Sabre F.5). For some months past aircraft of this type have been leaving the Canadair production lines for delivery to the R.C.A.F. and RAF. The "O" in the designation denotes an F-86E airframe adapted for the Avro Canada Orenda turbojet. The 6-3 leading edge (see F-86F) is embodied, and armament is six 0.5in guns. FRANCE Marcel Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan. The Ouragan was designed late in 1947 and first flew early in 1949. It is serving with the French and Indian air forces, is Nene-powered, has four 20 mm guns and weighs about 11,600 lb all-up. It is being supplanted in production by the Mystere. Marcel Dassault M.D.452 Mystere IL This swept-wing Ouragan development dates from 1951 and is being produced, as the Mystere IIC, with the SNECMA Atar 101. It is armed with two 30 mm guns, with radar-ranging sight. Top speed is about 670 m.ph. Marcel Dassault Mystere IVA. Now in production for the French Air Force and for NATO (225 aircraft), this mark of Mystere has thinner, more sharply swept wings than the II. Initially the Hispano-Suiza Tay was installed, but the more powerful Verdon is specified for later machines. All-round per formance is considerably in excess of that of the Mystere II. Marcel Dassault Mystere IVB. Standard power plant of this variant is the Hispano-Suiza-buik Avon RA. 7R, and with this unit a Mach number of 1 has been attained in level flight. The two 30 mm guns can be supplemented by a retractable rocket- launcher. Marcel Dassault Mystere XXB. An even more sharply swept, uiin-wing Avon-powered Mystere development, designed for a maximum level speed considerably in excess of Mach 1. Marcel Dassault Light Fighter. Possibly designated M.D.550, this is intended to have an Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbojet, for which Marcel Dassault hold a manufacturing licence. S.N.C.A.S.E. Durandal. A light, delta-wing, supersonic inter-cepter, the first prototype of which should fly next year; this machine has a nose intake and a fuselage of inordinate length relative to the wing span. A "spine" fairing, as on the Hunter and Mystere, is a feature. S.N.C.A.S.E. Mistral. A Nene-powered version of the de Havilland Vampire, developed in France, this fighter flies at a weight of 10,900 lb, has a top speed of nearly 570 m.p.h., and climbs to 39,350ft in about 11 min. (Another Nene-Vampire development is a standard R.A.A.F. fighter.) S.F.E.C.M.A.S. 1402 Gerfaut A prototype, Atar-powered intercepter, the Gerfaut has an extremely thin delta wing, much of which is thought to be of high-tensile steel. A characteristic
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