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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 2281.PDF
228 FLIGHT V FOLLAND MIDGE The Viper~powered Precursor of the Gnat begins Flying Trials A FTER a remarkably short period of gestation, a truly lovely f^L litde prototype has emerged into the British aeronautical x .A. scene. Created by a wholly new design team, and the first aircraft to be developed by Folland Aircraft for 15 years, it has all the makings of a thoroughbred. And, although it is a completely private venture by the company, its promise is such that, eventually, very large numbers of similar aircraft may be built—and built very easily and cheaply. The background of the design was outlined in our issue of April 3rd, 1953. It is approximately three years since Mr. W. E. W. Petter, renowned as the designer of the English Electric Canberra, joined Follands as managing director and chief engineer. Of all the projects in his mind at that time, the uppermost was a light fighter, which, while making no sacrifice in performance and few compromises.in equipment, could be produced for a small fraction of die cost of fighters then under development. This project gradually materialised as the Gnat, widi the com pany designation FO.141; and, although governmental backing was conspicuous by its absence, development was steadily carried forward. We made the following remarks at the time, and they are still applicable; ^s In spite of the apparent apathy of the Ministry of Supply towards this concept, the whole design seems so obviously correct and natural that it is bound to bear fruit sooner or later. To quote but a few applications, the design is such mat it can readily be mass-produced by the NATO countries, which could thereby contribute^ gready to their own defence; this contrasts sharply with the present picture in which America has several times expressed dissatisfaction^ wkh the return being shown for M.D.A.P. assistance. As an "off-shore" aircraft, it could be a very great dollar-earner, and it would also seem to be an excellent machine for export to countries too poor to buy aircraft of the calibre of the Hunter, Swift and Javelin. At one time the whole project was placed in jeopardy by the decision of Bristols and the M.o.S. to cease work on the chosen power unit—the Saturn turbojet—but die Bristol company dien started work on a much more advanced turbojet, named Orpheus, which should suit the Gnat admirably. Progress widi the new engine is now rapid, and it seems certain that it will be available as soon as it is needed for any future Gnat programme. Nevertheless, the construction of a prototype could not be held up for want of the right engine, and the FO.139 Midge was therefore developed as an interim prototype, and it is this machine which has now begun flying trials. The airframe is almost identical with that of the Gnat, but the power unit is an Armstrong Siddeley Viper 101 (ASV.5 rating of 1,640 lb thrust) of the type fitted to the Jet Provost. With the Midge, Follands expect to prove the airframe, aerodynamics and power systems of the Gnat so that, when the latter aircraft flies in about one year's time, most of the basic problems will have been completely solved. As the photographs show, the Midge is, to say the least, easy on the eye. It has an air of the Hunter about it, although of course, it is scarcely half the size and one-fifth the weight. The structure is an extraordinarily simple stressed-skin assembly, nearly all the joints (and there are very few, relatively speaking) being riveted. Manufacture of the airframe calls for very litde in the way of special machinery, and yet the number of parts A pleasant study of the Folland chief test pilot, S/L £. A. Tennant, in a photograph which also reveals details of the very attractive Midge canopy. The optically flat, rigid gunsight windscreen is fixed to the fuselage, and the blown hood incorporates a light fairing at the front end. involved is about 80 per cent fewer than is required for fighters now in production. Readers may recall die comparisons between the man-hours required to build a Folland wing and die tail- plane of another fighter. Assembly is also straightforward, since cranes and trestles are hardly needed at all. The Viper is contained quite tighdy by the rear fuselage, and is aspirated by a pair of lateral ducts. Between these ducts lie die main fuel tanks, which give an endurance sufficient to lift the machine out of the class of "up-down" intercepters. The cockpit, which is pressurized and air-conditioned, is fitted with a Folland- developed lightweight ejector seat. Folland also make me beauti ful single-piece canopy, hinged at the rear, which fits closely around the thick, flat windscreen, with a uiinner curved outer fairing. We believe this canopy has a lower drag than that of any other fighter. The full instrumentation includes provision for D.M.E. The miniature control column hinges at the mid-point, and the pilot has plenty of room—at least as much as is needed for comfort. The ailerons and rudder are conventional and are manually controlled. The all-flying tail plane, however, is hydra ulically actuated, with the elevators acting as servos. The hydraulic move ment is also over-ridden by an electric screw jack which is used for trimming. The wing has a very low thickness/chord ratio, and a sweep angle of 40 deg at the quarter-chord line. It has marked anhedral. It is also worth noting that the horizontal tail surfaces are mounted low. There are no flaps. The undercarriage is retracted hydraulically, all three units fold ing backwards into the fuselage. The main units are stressed to permit their use as speed brakes, and they can be lowered, with their attached doors, at high indicated airspeeds. The nose gear has twin wheels, which are castoring; steering is effected by differential brake action. It has already been reported mat the eventual Gnat will carry a pair of 30 mm guns, and m-s would seem to be borne out b? the company's statement tiiat V£ fire-power will be greater di?T In this view the Midge is se^n to ha considerable length ahead of the win the main undercarriage and "spe brake" door is also visible.
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