FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1959
1959 - 2097.PDF
FLIGHT Folland Gnat Mk 1 FOLLAND AIRCRAFT LTD. Sydney Lodge, Hamble, Hants. Telephone: Hamble 3191 Gnat Mk I Following the clearance for service with both the Indian and Finnish air forces,production Gnat Mk Is are now being delivered to these countries, and two have been supplied for evaluation in Jugoslavia. In addition, components and tooling are being shipped to Indiapreparatory to production under licence by Hindustan Aircraft. Weighing 6,250 lb in the intercepter configuration, the Gnat is powered by a Bristol Siddeley Orpheus 701 turbojet of4,700 lb thrust, which affords spectacular acceleration and climb, and M 1 can be exceeded in a shallow dive. The fully powered slab tail carries an elevator surface which may be unlockedfor reversion to manual control in emergency. The inboard ailerons automatically droop when the undercarriage is lowered, and partial extension of the latter allows the fairing doors to act asairbrakes. Standard armament consists of two 30 mm Aden guns, with a radar-ranging sight, and a full range of under-wing stores or tanks carried on two pylons. With stores, the grossweight varies between 7,550 1b and 8,600 lb. In the intercepter role, take-off distance to 50ft is 2,620ft, and landing distance from 50ft is 3,500ft. Endurance with under-wing tanks is 2.5 hrand maximum level speed, M 0.98. Climb to 45,000ft takes 5.25 min, and the ceiling is over 50,000ft. The wing has a t/c ratio of 8 per cent and an area of 136.6 sq ft. Gnat Mk 2 A 6 per cent wing for a supersonic M 1.5 version of the Gnat fighter has alreadybeen built and could be fitted to a Mk 1 fuselage. A reheated version of a later mark of Bristol Siddeley Orpheus, combined with the new wing, would provide a marked increase in rate of climband level speed with relatively little alteration to the basic aircraft. It is, however, probable that the supersonic fighter would have more advanced radar equipment and be capable of all-weatheroperation. Gnat Trainer Mk I Developed from the transonic Mk 1 fighter., the Trainer accommo-dates pupil and instructor in tandem in Folland Type 4 fully automatic ejection seats under a single-piece, clamshell canopy. A development batch of 14 has been ordered for the R.A.F. as theT.I. The instructor occupies space previously used for equipment and fuel, and the latter have been moved respectively into the nose and the former gun compartments. The fuselage is alsolengthened by 9in. The new wing, of 175 sq ft area and 7 per cent t/c ratio, houses 100 gal of fuel in integral tankage round the multiple spars. Outboard ailerons and inboard flaps are fitted, thusproviding low-speed handling suitable for a trainer without compromising high-speed perform- ance. All tail surfaces are of increased area and the powerplant is a Bristol Siddejey Orpheus 100giving 4,230 lb thrust. The airframe is designed for a ten-year life of 5,000 hr flying. The first Trainer should fly at the S.B.A.C. display. The latest roller-blind instrumentation isbeing fitted. A power-operated slab tailplane, with an elevator which can be unlocked for manual flying, is being retained; the rudder is mechanically operated against feel springs and reversion ofthe powered ailerons to manual control is automatic. Internal tankage of 260 Imp. gal will allow an endurance of almost two hours, which can be increased to some three hours with two 66-galunder-wing tanks. The Gnat T.I will exceed M 1 in a dive and reach M 0.97 in level flight. It will climb to 40,000ft in 10 min, will be cleared for spinning with drop-tanks in place and will be ableto operate from 6,000ft runways in any weather. Gnat Trainer Mk 2 This is a supersonic project based on the same forward and centrefuselage as the Mk 1, but haying a wing of 150-160 sq ft and 5 per cent t/c ratio, fitted with high-lift trailing- and full-span leading-edge flaps and advanced lateral-control devices. These featureswould permit supersonic level flight while maintaining stalling and low-speed characteristics suited to training and carrier-borne operations. The Orpheus engine would have a Bristol Siddeleyreheat system requiring a tailpipe diameter increased by 50 per cent to 30in. Integral tankage would allow almost the same endurance as that of the Mk 1 Trainer, but a speed of M 1.5 and atime to 50,000ft of 3.5 min from brakes off would be possible. THE GARLAND-BIANCHI AIRCRAFT CO. Boyne Hill Works, Maidenhead, Berks. Telephone: Maidenhead 906 Linnet Production of this licence-built version of the Piel Emeraude is now beginning in theMaidenhead factory following construction and testing of the first English-built machine during the past year. The test pilot during this time has been Neville Duke. The French designer of theoriginal ultra-light Emeraude is known to have been an admirer of J. R. Mitchell, who designed the Spitfire, and the two aircraft bear some resemblance in wing plan-form. The Linnet is aside-by-side two-seater with a fixed spatted undercarriage and a Continental 90 h.p. engine. Structure is of wood with fabric covering. Mechanically operated, slotted plain flaps are mountedinboard of the slotted ailerons. The cabin is roomy and comfortable and affords ample space for baggage behind the seats. A total fuel capacity of 28 gal, allowing more than 5.5 hr endurance, isdivided between two tanks, fore and aft of the seats. The tailwheel is steerable and both cabin and carburetter heating are provided from exhaust manifold muffs. Full blind-flying instruments canbe provided. Gross weight is 1,400 1b and cruising speed just over 120 m.p.h. Electric starter and generator are standard, and radio can readily be fitted. The cost of the Linnet is little over £2,000. FoitoiKl Gnat F.I Powerplant Bristol Siddahy Orphan 701 Span 22ft 2in Length 29ft »in Gran weight Up to 8,4001b Maximum level speed ... MachO.48 Folland Gnat Trainer Mk « Powerpiant Bristol Siddefey Orpheus 100 Span 24ft Length 30ft 9m Grass weight 7,500 Ib Maximum speed Hoch 0.97
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
