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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0354.PDF
FLIGHT PERSPECTIVE SKETCHES BY CHARLES KING THE GNAT DISSECTED LAST week we gave the latest news of the Folland Gnat andMidge to be released by the makers. This we now follow-J with perspective sketches of the Gnat in the form in which prototypes are likely to appear (the pointed nose and inboardailerons are noticeable), and with three-view drawings, from a foreign source, showing hitherto unknown features. From the samesource (the authenticity of which is not confirmed) it is learned that, as first installed in the Gnat, the Bristol Orpheus will be of 3,850 lbthrust, but that the ultimate thrust will be 4,U501b. The Gnat will be available (it is averred) in two main versions, ground attack andintercepter, the latter also being adaptable for carrier operation. Both versions will be powered by the Bristol Orpheus B.E.26. The Gnat 1, or Fo.141, is said to have a gross weight of 8,223 lb, and tobe able to carry two 1,000 lb bombs in addition to some 1,500 lb of fuel and two Aden guns. In this condition the "range" (presum-ably radius of action) is quoted as 102 miles. As an intercepter the Gnat 2 (or Fo.143) would have radar ranging or search radar. TheOrpheus would be fitted with an afterburner of the "BSR" type— this could signify "Bristol simplified reheat"—and from standstilla height of 39,370ft should be attained in 3 min. Slightly less than another minute would be required to climb to 49,000ft. All-upweight would be slightly less than 10,500 lb. The weight of the Orpheus—examples of which are on test—is given as 848 lb andthe unit is said to measure 32.28in in diameter and 6£ft in length.
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