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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 1305.PDF
•-••f FLIGHT, 6 September 1957 THE 18th S.B.A.C. DISPLAY... 393 Hawker Hunter F.4 with Fireflash (XF 310). This is the samemachine which was shown last year except that, for some reason, the dielectric nose-cap for the beam-laying radar has beenexchanged for one of the original camera noses for the F.R. variant (it has a vertical glass window, but no camera and nomounting for such equipment). The Fireflash conversion was made in co-operation with Faireys, who produce the missile, andsuccessful firing-tests have been carried out in North Wales. Hawker Hunter F.6 (XK 147). Displayed in the static parkonly, this machine is a standard F.6 with the latest modifications, including a yaw-stabilizer and the dog-tooth wing extension. Laidout around it, however, is an impressive array of stores which can be uplifted. The Hunter normally has two pylon-attachmentsunder each wing, and also four attachments for individual rocket- tiers in the area occupied by each outer pylon. Thus it can carryfour tiers of three rockets under each outer wing and two further tiers of three rockets under each pylon—a total of 36 projectiles.As noted in the Sea Vixen description, the standard rocket has a 3in body which can carry a multiplicity of heads, from 25 1b to60 lb in weight; H.E., armour-piercing or fragmentation are some of these. Also shown alongside this Hunter are the much largerH.V.A.R. rockets and 500 and 1,000-lb bombs. Practice-bomb carriers for pylon attachment, standard 100-gal plastic tanks, Fire-flash and, of course, the 4 x 30 mm gun pack are also there. This display admirably illustrates the great versatility of theHunter, and its ability to deliver all these stores with outstanding accuracy and consistency is a particularly strong point. Hawker Hunter F.6 with Firestreak (XF 378). Shown for thefirst time in public, this is the Hunter which was converted to carry A.I. gear in the nose, and it now also has two Firestreak attachedto the inner pylons. Apart from the much enlarged dielectric nose, and absence of gyro gunsight in the cockpit, this machine is largelystandard. It has no dog-tooth and carries only two guns. The battle camera is mounted under a protruding fairing on top of thenose, instead of being recessed in a trough as on standard Hunters. There is no sign of the internal equipment required to accom-modate Firestreak. ' Hawker Hunter F.6 with large tanks (XE 587). Proudly bearingthe badge of the Swiss Alpine Club to record two visits to Switzer- land this machine now mounts two very large metal tanks on theinner pylons. Each contains 230 gallons and can be jettisoned with the aid of a cartridge. The flaps have been cut away to avoidfouling these outsize tanks. Hawkers made these tanks them- selves, while Bristol made the standard plastic tanks which accom-pany them on the outer pylons. Fitted with this extra fuel capacity the Hunter could certainly fly non-stop from Malta to Cyprus.To suit Swiss conditions, this machine has been fitted with a drag-chute installation identical with that of the Hunter T.7, andboth machines stream their parachutes on landing after the display. Also painted on the side are the names of the Swiss airfieldsvisited during the recent official demonstrations. They are Diiben- dorf (Zurich), Payerne, Ambri-Piotta, Buochs and Meiringer; ofthese Ambri-Piotta was the most difficult. XE 588, the next air- craft off the production line, went to Switzerland three times dur-ing the course of the trials. Hawker Hunter F.6 with rockets (XK 148). This is a fullystandard F.6 with the dog-tooth wing, to which have been attached the maximum number of rockets which can be carried. As explainedabove, these number 36, all of the 3in body-size and all attached in tiers of three to the standard Mk 12 launcher rails. The standardgun-pack is retained. Hawker Hunter Two-Seater (XJ 627). This is the second two-seater built and is in effect an F.6 converted to carry two pilots side-by-side. The true Hunter T.7 is equivalent to the firstmachine which was converted from an F.4, the T.7s for the R.A.F. A model of the English Electric P.1B, showing twin Firestreak missiles. being of the latter kind. XJ 627, brilliantly flown in the displayby Bill Bedford, now carries only the starboard gun, though the port "Sabrina" (link-collector box) is retained. Dog-tooth and allmodifications to F.6 standard are included. Hunting Percival Jet Provost (G-AOUS). Shown on the groundunderneath the wings of the civil-registered Provost is the range of armament for the armed versions. No slings are fitted to thisaircraft. In addition to two Browning .303 machine guns, alterna- tive loads are eight 25-lb practice bombs and four 60-lb rockets;eight 25-lb fragmentation bombs and eight Mk 5 rockets; eight 25-lb fragmentation bombs or 12 Mk 5 rockets. Also shown was G-23-1, the pre-production Jet Provost Mk 3powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Viper 8 giving 1,750 lb thrust. This version has wing-tip tanks, ejector seats and a clear-visionwindscreen to which a new centre strut has been fitted to meet bird-protection requirements. The limits of performance of thisbasic trainer for the R.A.F. are 287 kt and a ceiling of over 30,000ft. A "very substantial" order has been placed; it will progressivelyreplace the piston-engined Provost in the flying training schools. The shrouds, gaps and elevator balances of this aircraft havebeen cleaned up and the hinges now have shrouds raised above them on wooden blocks. Hunting Percival Pembroke (AS-554). The first British aircraftever to appear at an S.B.A.C. display bearing the black Maltese cross of the German Air Force is the Pembroke all-purpose, com-munications transport and trainer. The West German Luftwaffe is the seventh air force (including the Fleet Air Arm and theR.A.F.) to buy aircraft of this family; and the Pembroke displayed (a nine-seater), as denoted by the last number of its serial, is thefourth machine of the batch of 33 ordered. Aircraft Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 have already been delivered to the Luftwaffe. Hunting Percival President (G-AOJG). An appealing newcolour scheme of maroon and cream makes the President a distinc- tive exhibit in the aircraft park. This particular aircraft, HuntingPercivaFs demonstrator, is furnished as a six-seater executive. Miles H.D.M. 105 (G-AHDM). The natural classification forthis characteristically original new Miles transport is "Rapide- replacement." The secret of a demonstrably short-field perform-ance lies in the distinctive, high-aspect-ratio wing—the design of the French concern Hurel-Dubois, with whom Miles are col-laborating. The 105—a development aircraft for the production H.D.M. 106 Caravan—has flown about 60 hours since its firstflight last spring. Basically, the 105 is the Miles Aerovan with a new wing: thebox-like fuselage, with its rear-opening door (giving it the payload- versatility of a miniature Beverley), will be enlarged and improvedin the production 106, of which delivery can be made in about two years' time. A number of firms have shown interest, includingChannel Airways, Commercial Air Services of Rhodesia, and Air Sahara of Morocco. The 106 will have 290 h.p. LycomingGO-480s: the development 105 on show has Blackburn Cirrus Majors. Miles are studying also what they consider to be theattractive proposition of a Turbomeca Astazou (340 s.h.p. turbo- prop) installation for the 106. Four Firestreak heat-homing missiles are carried by the Gloster Javelin FAW.7 development aircraft, which exhibits numerous refinements. m
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