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Aviation History
1968
1968 - 1766.PDF
372 MULTI-MISSION LIGHTNING . . . ing versatility of performance was the early decision that a supersonic intereepter must have ample reserve of power at altitude for acceleration and manoeuvring, and that this implied two engines. Inspired design led to the unique Lightning staggered-engine configuration—both engines being installed on the aircraft centre line, viewed from above, but with the upper engine to the rear of the lower engine, thereby giving an effective powerplant frontal area only H times that of a single powerplant. This configuration not only minimises drag but also eliminates asymmetric engine-cut effects and allows the possibility of low-altitude cruising on one engine, as well as providing the only chance of getting home to base after an engine failure. It also simplifies the duplication of essential services, allowing increased reliability. The fact that earlier Government decisions had retarded Britain's entry into the supersonic era may possibly have been an asset to the Warton team: although it had to put in a lot of basic effort, it doubtless profited by the mistakes built into earlier supersonic aircraft. Be that as it may, the result of all the aerodynamic investigations and trials was a honey of an aeroplane, responsive and sweet to handle from ground level to operating height, from low speeds of 13Okt to Mach 2 plus, and inherently stable over the whole speed range—a first-class platform for the precision-delivery of lethal weapons from high altitude or below radar cover, and equally effective in the photographic reconnaissance role. FLIGHT International, 5 September /V6B !OOOIb|HE RETARDED OR RRE BOMB MATRA 155 (|8 SNEB) MATRA 1OO (36 SNEB+ FUEL) FUEL TANK ••• TWO-INCH ROCKET PACK (44) 5 CAMERA RACK ROTATING CAMERA . POD-DAY NIGHT LINE-SCAN--CAMERA The range of stores available and their relation to the underjover wing pylons and under-fuselage bays (shown shaded) FLARE PODS ELECTRONIC RECONNAISSANCE PACK LINE-SCAN +SDEWWS LOOKING RADAR Left, general-arrangement drawing of the Lightning F.53. Right, the aircraft as it appears with a few of the many combinations of stores which may be carried FERRY TANKS RECONNAISSANCE POD REFUELLING BOOM 2 RETARDED lOOOIb BOMBS OVER WING 4 HE. OR FIRE BOMBS UNDER WING 188 ROCKETS TWO REDTOP 36 SNEB ROCKETS TWO 3O MM ADEN CANON TWO FIRESTREAK 72 SNEB ROCKETS
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