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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0951.PDF
FLIGHT, 13 July 1961 LIGHTNING ... supply duct warms the refrigerated supply to the pilot's multi-services connection, to which a ground supply can also be fed to keep the pilot comfortable during " cockpit readiness." Oxygen Surprisingly, the F.I A has a gaseous-oxygen system.The two oxygen cylinders are located in cradles in the nose of the aircraft, and are arranged to serve either a face mask or partial-pressure helmet. Armament The first aeroplane in the Lightning family to beararms was the P.I A WG763, which was fitted with a pair of Aden 30mm guns in the upper part of the forward fuselage. But the trendis away from guns, and guided weapons are regarded as the primary armament of all fighters equipped to carry them. In the LightningF.I A the upper guns are retained, while the armament pack in the underside of the forward fuselage can be of any of three types. Inall aircraft so far seen in service it accommodates equipment for two de Havilland Firestreak air-to-air missiles which are carried out-board on pylons projecting from the pack; but an alternative pack accommodates two further Aden guns and their ammunition, whilethe third arrangement is to fill the bay between frames 13 and 22 with two boxes each holding 24 spin-stabilized rockets. Before describing this ordnance in more detail it is appropriateto turn to the system which enables the Lightning to find and follow its quarry: the Ferranti Airpass radar fire-control and the associatedPilot Attack Sight. This leads the narrator to regions which are sensitive to security, but the basic functioning of the system can bedetermined by previous reports. For example, at Farnborough last year we wrote:15 "Ferranti took some of the covers off Airpass I and Airpass IIradar. Airpass II is a radar-fire-control and bomb aiming system, provided with additional facilities compared with Airpass 1 anddeveloped as a private venture. Contour mapping, to assist in hill avoidance and to assist descents on to difficult airfields is includedtogether with terrain clearance, or profile flying, facilities. "A dead-reckoning navigational computer is available for theequipment, equipped with push-button inputs. When preset co-ordinates of points on the aircraft's route are fed in by pushingthe appropriate button the computer will indicate the range and bearing to the point. It will operate from Doppler, air data or aninertial platform and is integrated into the radar display to present the range-bearing information as a deflection of the target spot oras a marker circle on the ground-mapping display. Inspection of the equipment shown indicates that many more transistors are usedin Airpass II than in Airpass I. "Particularly interesting is the new version of the pilot's handcontrol for the equipment. This is shaped for operation by the left hand only, conforming to its contours. Overall movement of thepalm operates a rate control of the target spot, instead of the posi- tional type of control used in Airpass I. In addition, the handcontrol also manages to incorporate two knobs and seven switches. Its sculptured ergonomic design could well be the forerunner of awhole new family of flying controls—particularly for high-g environments." The upper gun installation comprises a pair of short-barrel AdenMk 4 guns, with their blast tubes terminating in flush aperture plates on either side of the nose. The ammunition tanks sit directlyover the guns, the empty links fall into chutes forming boxes down each side of the fuselage and the spent cases are ducted throughpipes into the wing leading edges. The gun bays are purged by hot bleed air. If fitted, the lower gun installation comprises a self-contained pack, similar to that for the Hunter but mounting only- two guns, and incorporating ammunition tanks and compartmentsfor empty links and spent cases. By far the most important weapons carried by the LightningF.I A are the two de Havilland Firestreak air-to-air. IR-homing missiles. From this weapon de Havilland Aircraft have evolved amore advanced missile known as Red Top; but this is still some way from operational service, and has never been publicly associatedwith present marks of Lightning. Firestreak is, of course, a pursuit- course weapon, and this obviously governs its method of employ-ment in the Lightning. As we have already surmised,16 Red Top is probably—and certainly ought to be—a collision-course missile,capable of being fired at its target from any direction. Apart from related cockpit equipment, all the airborne parts ofthe Firestreak weapon system are grouped neatly in the missile pack tailored to the armament bay. Most details remain classified, butthe pack has been exhibited publicly and described.17 It provides supplies of hot air to maintain the temperature of critical parts ofthe missile at high altitude; cold air, refrigerated by a closed-circuit ammonia system, to cool the IR seeker cell in the homing head (theneed for this was first revealed at the 1959 SBAC show); and a range of electrical services, including special a.c. supplies from an -alternator within the pack driven from the aircraft hydraulic services system. This equipment has been fully described.18 Allsupplies are passed outboard through the pylons projecting on either side of the rear of the pack, and through the missile launch 51 shoe. The starboard pylon incorporates a ram intake to cool thealternator. Manufacturer of the alternative rocket installation is Microcell.Each pack is a metal-skinned, moulded reinforced glass-fibre box incorporating launching tubes for 24 spin-stabilized 2in folding-tinrockets. The two packs are attached by integral metal hinges, and are flipped open and shut by hydraulic rams governed by thefire-control system. Details of the Lightning cockpit remain classified, beyond thefact that the seat is the Martin-Baker Mk 4BS, and that, as already reported, the ultimate OR.946 panel19 has not yet been achieved.Directly in front of the pilot's eyes is the Pilot Attack Sight, im- mediately to the right of which is the Al radar display. To the leftis an attention light which flashes when any of the red windows of the central warning panel illuminate (a loud fire-engine bell is alsoheard in the pilot's earphones). Upper and lower engines are con- trolled by matched power levers of curious form, immediatelybehind which are the weapon control panels and the miniature control column for the radar fire-control. The autopilot controller isto starboard, for the right hand. Lightning F. Mks 2 and 3 Earlier this year it was officially stated that these two new marksof Lightning fighter were in an advanced state of development. No details may yet be given, but the following are some of the moreobvious advances which either mark might incorporate: the engine might be the Rolls-Royce RB.146 Avon 300 series, rated at 13,2301bdry and 17,000 to 18,0001b with full reheat; in any case, the reheat system could be made fully variable; the aircraft could, with suchextra thrust, incorporate a revised wing, of the type flown on the first P. 1A; provision could be made for carrying any of a wide rangeof offensive stores, both under the fuselage or wings; the primary armament could be the Red Top missile; the OR.946 IntegratedFlight System panel could be incorporated; a liquid-oxygen system appears an obvious choice; a steerable nosewheel could well befitted; and either the internal or external fuel capacity might be increased. Lightning T. Mk 4Originally known as the P.II, and first flown on May 6, 1959, the T.4 is an operational trainer, with side-by-side seats for instruc-tor and pupil. Full dual controls are fitted, and each Lightning squadron is being allotted one or two T.4s for dual checks anddemonstrations. All operational equipment and armament is retained, flight performance is scarcely distinguishable from that ofthe F.I A and the T.4 can fly a fully operational mission if necessary. It should be emphasized that the function of the T.4 is primarily toassist pilots to become operationally proficient, although it is also serving as a pilot-conversion trainer. This concludes the members of the Lightning family which maybe mentioned at this time. Production machines have now flown well over 5,000hr, and "Bea" himself has flown Lightnings almost800 times. More than 50 pilots have flown Lightnings, other than members of RAF Fighter Command, and their eulogistic commentsjealously recorded by English Electric Aviation are a remarkable testimony from hard-bitten evaluation pilots. With this aeroplaneone can fly and fight automatically at 1,500 m.p.h.; or one can take off in a filthy downpour on a pitch-black night along a 2,000ydstandard strip; lose an engine at the most inopportune point; complete the circuit; make an approach in a strong cross-wind;touch with full fuel on board, overloaded, and lose the braking parachute (something which is virtually unheard of, as this journalrecorded after visiting the first RAF squadron). And after all this, the pilot can climb down the ladder, say "No sweat at all," andmean it. W.T.G. References 1 "Progress with the P.I." Flight. April 26, 1957. pp 541-545.2 "F.D.2," Flight. April 25. 1958. pp 571-575. 3 "Fighter Design Philosophy," by R. F. Creasey. then deputy chiefengineer, English Electric aircraft division. Flight, February 21, 1958. pp 239-243.4 "A Day with the P.I," Flight, July 19. 1957, pp 81-85. 5 "P.I Postscript," Flight, July 26, 1957, p 100.6 "Flashing Fighter," Flight, January 23, 1959, pp 131-134. 7 "Airpass," Flight, July 4, 1958, p 6.8 "Firestreak," Flight. February 26, 1960, pp 277-280. 9 Statement by the Chief of the Air Staff, October 23, 1958.10 News item. Flight, May 2, 1958, p 591. 11 "Lightning Squadron," Flight, February 24, 1961, pp 230-231.12 "Making the P.I Wing," Flight, January 10, 1958, pp 47-51. 13 "Rolls-Royce Avon 200 series." Flight, October 11, 1957,pp 569-574. 14 SBAC Review, Flight, September 16, 1960, pp 468-469.' 15 Ibid, pp 471-472. 16 Paris Salon report, Flight, June 1, 1961, p 743.17 Firestreak installation in the Lightning, de Havilland Gazette, August 1959, p 271, and February 1961, p 35.18 "Power Generation in Missiles," Flight. November 29, 1957. pp 833-834. 19 New instrument presentations. Flight. February 20, 1959, p 271.
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