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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 2454.PDF
FLIGHT, 3 September 1954 331 Power plant Span Length Gran weight (a A.S. Viper 1*1 aOftKn 28ft9in 0 about 4,500 lb OLLAND MIDGE AND GNAT Though essentially similar in design to the Gnat light fighter, the Midge is merely a prototype, intended to try out the aerodynamic characteristics and services of that type, pending the availability of the Bristol Orpheus turbo jet. The Midge itself is powered with an Armstrong Siddeley Viper 101 of only 1,640 lb thrust—about one-third of the thrust of the Orpheus—yet it is capable of exceeding 600 m.p.h. in level flight or of diving at a Mach number better than 1. Remarkable as this is, it is not altogether surprising, having regard to the fine aerodynamic design and small dimensions (span 20ft 8in). The pressurized and air-conditioned cockpit of the Midge is fitted with a Folland-developed lightweight ejector seat and is covered with a single-piece canopy hinged at die rear. Ailerons and rudder are manually controlled, but the all-flying tailplane is hydraulically actuated, with die elevators acting as servos. The hydraulic movement 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; anhedral is pronounced and there are no flaps. Both the Midge and Gnat will carry two 30 mm guns and the Gnat will be capable of operating in the fighter/bomber role, equipped with bombs, napalm containers or batteries of air-to-ground rockets. As for handling, it is necessary only to add that on the second flight—of half-an-hour's duration—the Midge did eight rolls. Power plant Span Length .. Two A.S. Sapphire 52ft 57ft GLOSTER JAVELIN It was announced in August that die delta-wing Javelin two- seater all-weather fighter had been "exceeding die speed of sound for some time," and that it was "likely to be the first British aircraft to carry the newly developed air-to-air guided missiles." Production for the R.A.F. is well under way and at the time of writing it is hoped that five Javelins—die third, fourth and fifth prototypes, and the first and second production machines —will appear in the S.B.A.C. flying display. In its present—FAW. 1—form the Javelin is powered with two Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire turbojets, without afterburners, but it is quite obvious that not only afterburners, but even larger turbojets, could be installed if necessary; in fact, the makers claim that the aircraft is capable of using all the increases in engine power that can be anticipated "in the foreseeable future." Many hundreds of hours of development flying have been completed on the prototypes and of these many have been spent at heights in excess of 50,000ft. It is well known that part of the secret of the Javelin's very impressive fake-off, climb and landing performance lies in its low wing loading, but the makers also testify to the value of the tailplane, which, being movable in conjunction with the elevators, also ensures good manoeuvrability at all altitudes and speeds. Auxiliary fuel tanks can be carried beneath the nacelles for the Sapphires.
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