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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 1193.PDF
FLIGHT, 31 August 1961 295 FOLLAND AIRCRAFT LTD (Member of Hawker Siddeley Aviation) Hamble. Southampton. Telephone: Hamble 3371 Gnat A development of the single-seat Gnat fighter/bomber, renowned for its per- formance and manoeuvrability though of relatively low thrust, the Gnat trainer has been adopted by the Royal Air Force as the standard aircraft of its class, in replacement of the Vampire T.11. Powered with a Bristol Siddeley Orpheus 101 turbojet developed with trainer requirements specifically in mind, the Gnat trainer has all-weather capabilities and can carry a variety of external stores enabling it to be used for armament training or for tactical fighter operations. Transonic in level flight, it easily becomes supersonic in a shallow dive over a wide height band. This, the makers remark, affords experience of supersonic flight without the complications and expense of reheat. They further claim that the high performance attained, together with the excellent low-speed handling quali- ties and exceptional economy, make the aircraft ideal as a lead-in to the modern super- sonic fighter. They point out that the airframe is designed for a minimum life of 5,000 flying hours, and this confers without any difficulty a utilization factor of 3O-35hr per month —or, indeed, a far higher figure if desired in a training programme. Possible alternative armament loads are as follows: two 5001b bombs, two 1,0001b bombs—slipper tanks removed, eighteen 3in RPs (251b warheads)—slipper tanks removed, twelve 3in RPs (251b warheads), twelve 3in RPs (601b warheads)—slipper tanks removed, eight 3in RPs (601b warheads), twelve T10 RPs—slipper tanks removed, eight T10 RPs, two guided bombs, Matra 2in rocket pods, two rocket pods each containing twenty-four 2in British rockets or eighteen 68mm SNEB rockets, Matra 2in rocket pods, two 30mm Aden guns in slipper tanks (112 rounds each gun), two 0.5in Browning guns in slipper tanks (110 rounds each gun), two slipper tanks (59 gal each) plus stores on inboard pylons. HAMPSHIRE AEROPLANE CO LTD Southampton (Eastleigh) Airport, Southampton. Telephone: Eastleigh 2368 Currie Wot With experimental development of the turbine-powered version of the Currie Wot completed, using a Rover TP.90 single-shaft gas turbine delivering approxi- mately 70 s.h.p., a 60 h.p. Walter Mikron has been re-installed as the powerplant of this small and attractive biplane. Several aircraft are being built by amateur constructors to Hampshire plans, and the development of the type has included an experimental floatplane version. Span of the Wot is only 22ft lin, and normal loaded weight is 7001b. The Mikron- powered version has a maximum speed of 98 m.p.h., a maximum cruise of 85 m.p.h. and a stalling speed of 38 m.p.h. Halcyon Construction of the twin-engined four-seat Halcyon should be complete in about two months' time. Initially powered by 100 h.p. Walter Minors, the aircraft will subsequently be fitted with full-power versons of the 120 h.p. Rover TP.90 gas turbine. Aerodynamic work on the project has been carried out by Southampton University, where wind-tunnel tests have indicated a highly promising performance. With a span of 30ft 5in and loaded weight of 1,7001b, the Halcyon should cruise at 130 m.p.h., stall at 40 m.p.h. an3 have a maximum speed of 140 m.p.h. Gnat trainer Currie Wot with Rover gas turbine
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