Pioneers to Partners British Aircraft since 1945 Christopher Foyle & Leo Marriott

Foreword by Marshal of the Royal Air Force, HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT

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Pioneers to Partners British Aircraft since 1945

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Christopher Foyle & Leo Marriott

CFP

CHRISTOPHF.R FOYLE Pin Glossary

First published in 2009 by namely lan Lowe and Mark Bolton, BAe AAM Air to Air Missile Christopher Foyle Publishing Systems at Warton in particular Dave Ward, ADSM Air to Surface Missile 113-119 Charing Cross Road Dave Hutton, Keith Spong and Bob AEW Airborne Early Warning London WC2H OEB Fairclough, BAe Systems at Prestwick partic­ ularly Kris Jones, Bristol Aero Collection at AFVG Anglo-French Variable Geometry © 2009 Christopher Foyle Kemble namely John Battersby and Rex Al Airborne Interception (Radar) Canton, International Auster Club in All rights reserved. No part of this particular Mick Ames and Mike Preston, AMRAAM Advanced Medium Range Air To publication may be reproduced, stored in a Hand ley Page Association namely Harry Air Missile retrieval system or transmitted in any form Fraser-Mitchell, Bombardier Aerospace in BA British Airways (formed in 1973 by or by any means, electronic, mechanical, Belfast namely Alan McKight the company merger of BEA and BOAC) photocopying, recording or otherwise, historian, Boulton Paul Association in BAC British Aircraft Corporation without the prior permission of Christopher particular Les Whitehouse, Miles Aircraft Foyle Publishing. All correspondence Collection namely Peter Amos, Agusta- BAe British Aerospace pic concerning the content of this volume Westland particularly David Gibbings, BEA British European Airways should be addressed to Christopher Foyle Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare BOAC British Overseas Airways Publishing. in particular Elfan ap Rees, Museum of Corporation Berkshire Aviation particularly Ken and Jean ISBN: 978 095488961 6 Fosterkew and Tony Vetta, Solent Aviation EAP Experimental Aircraft Programme Museum in particular Alan Jones, David ESM Electronic Surveillance Measures Printed in England by lan Allan Printing Ltd. Whatley and Alan Mansell, Museum of Army Flying particularly Susan Lindsay its ft foot (imperial unit of Design: John Shuttleworth. Curator, British Airways Museum namely measurement) Paul Jarvis and BA's agency 4-eyes's Bob FLIR Forward Looking Infra Red Acknowledgments Petrie, Strat Mastoris for the image of the FTS Flying Training School Edgley Optica, Royal Aeronautical Society in The authors would like to thank the many particular Keith Mans its Chief Executive, kg kilogramme (metric unit of weight) who have helped to make this book Bnan Riddle librarian and Chris Male, possible, by the generous provision of Ib st Pounds Static Thrust (measure of Marshall Aerospace at Cambridge partic­ advice, research, information and jet engine power output. As a rule ularly Terry Holloway, Key Publishing Group photographs. of thumb, 1 Ib st is approximately namely Richard and Adrian Cox and Paul equal to 1 hp in a piston engine) Peter Gilchrist for many months of Hamblin, RAF Museum in particular Andrew LERX Leading Edge Root Extensions indefatigable researching of the Renwick the photo librarian, Britten- photographic archive of BAe Systems Norman Group particularly Stella Work, LRMTS Laser Ranging and Market Target Heritage Centre at Farnborough and the John Faulkner, Fleet Air Arm Museum, Seeker generous contribution of both his expert Military Aircraft Photos (MAP), Wally Kahn MAD Magnetic Anomaly Detector knowledge, writing the captions for the and Francis Humblet for invaluable advice (airborne sensor system for images in the Research and Development and information regarding the list of British locating submarines) Aircraft section, liaising with and obtaining gliders and sailplanes, and Arnold Nayler, information and images from at least Mike Rentell and Per Lindstrand in respect MDAP Mutual Defence Assistance Pact seventeen museums, collections and BAe of the list of British airships. mph miles per hour Heritage Centres and generously providing We owe particular thanks to Leo McKinstry, NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation images from his own collection, Tim renowned author, journalist and friend, for Spearman for many hours, under extreme NVG Night Vision Goggles coming up with the title "Pioneers to time pressure, of the scanning and collation Partners", denoting the evolution from the OCU Operational Conversion Unit of the entire collection of photographs, and extraordinary independently national of the generous provision of some from his OR Operational Requirement innovation of the 40s, 50s and 60s to the own collection, Dick Foster for many hours RAF Royal Air Force international cooperative designs of to-day, of research and Hugh Newall Chairman of resulting in the British aerospace industry RN Royal Navy the North East Aircraft Museum for remaining the second largest in the world, research and frequently providing transport RNAS Royal Naval Air Station and to Simon Forty of Compendium, our for Peter Gilchrist in his endeavours, BAe packager, for many months of essential RWR Radar Warning Receiver Heritage Centre at Farnborough namely editorial and production advice and coordi­ SACEUR Strategic Air Command Europe Mike Fielding who was most intimately and nation of the project. energetically involved in seeking out material SBAC Society of British Aircraft and who, sadly, passed away not long We are most indebted to His Royal Constructors (now Society of afterwards, Barry Guest, Trevor Friend and Highness Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh British Aerospace Companies) his secretary Wendy Ayling for retrieving for so generously writing the Foreword. STOVL Short Take Off and Vertical Landing many of the older photographs and guiding Peter Gilchrist through high mountains of T&C Thunder and Colt boxes, BAe Heritage Centre at Brough in TWU Tactical Weapons Unit particular Eric Barker and Paul Lawson, UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Avro Heritage Centre at Woodford partic­ ularly George Jenks and Harry Holmes, USMC United States Marine Corps BAe Systems MR4 Programme at Woodford VTOL Vertical Take Off and Landing Contents

Foreword 6 by HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Introduction 8 A brief history of the British aircraft industry.

1 Military Aircraft 13 Aircraft designed or produced for combat and training.

2 Transport Aircraft 82 Military and civil jet, turboprop, and piston-engined transport aircraft.

3 Research & Development Aircraft 154 Aircraft designed or modified for research and test purposes.

4 General Aviation 182 Other production-run aircraft.

5 Rotorcraft 204 All rotary-winged aircraft.

Appendices

1 Airships and dirigibles 218

2 Home-built and replicas One-off, short-run, home- and kit-built aircraft. 218

3 Gliders and sailplanes 219

Photo Credits 222

Index 223 Pioneers to Partners Foreword

By Marshal of the Royal Air Force, HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

Before the arrival of the electronic age, aviation was probably the last flowering of the industrial revolution. Stimulated by two world wars, the British aviation industry attracted a remarkable generation of pioneering designers and constructors. They followed in the footsteps of the great British engineers and manufacturers of the 19th and 20th centuries. The first generation of civil airliners came into service between the wars before immense strides were made in the performance of British military aircraft of all kinds during the second world war. There followed a period of intense development of both military and civil aircraft until the escalating costs of research and development, and the sheer complexities of design and manufacture dictated, first, greater integration of the British aviation industry and then ever wider international partnerships. This book tells the story of the evolution of the British aviation industry from the immense contribution of the individual pioneers to the invaluable work of the designers and manufacturers of the highly specialised components of contemporary civil and military aircraft. The authors of this book have attempted to illustrate the progress of British aircraft construction since 1945, including the smaller end of the market, where resourceful individuals have made particular contributions. The result is a reminder to everyone of the great pool of engineering and scientific talent which this country possesses. I was fortunate enough to live through this period, and to have had an unusual opportunity to get to know many of the leaders, and also to fly many of their products. I hope this book will be a reminder of one of the great ages of British engineering initiative, and, hopefully, an inspiration for future engineers. Foreword

RIGHT: The Duke of Edinburgh in the cockpit of a Harvard trainer at RAF White Waltham, Berkshire, where he was training for his 'wings'. Prince Philip gained his RAF wings in 1953, his helicopter wings in 1956 and his private pilot's licence in 1959.

BELOW: Prince Philip has been Marshal of the Royal Air Force since 1953.

BOTTOM: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arriving in Kuwait in February 1979 by Concorde accompanied by then Foreign Secretary Or David Owen.

itish Introduction

lthough it is only just over 100 years not continue to expand and satisfy the and efforts to deny airspace to an A since the Weight Brothers made the basic need and instinct for human travel opposing force resulted in the first aerial first successful flight in a powered aircraft, and communication. combats and the subsequent development the aviation industry today plays a vital As well as people, a great proportion of specialised fighters. As aircraft role in the modern world. The most of the movement of goods and materials performance improved they were able to obvious facet, and the one that impinges around the world is also carried out by air. carry increasingly significant loads of most on the ordinary person, is the Commercial airliners carry a considerable military ordnance in the form of bombs, aircraft as a form of travel. Apart from amount of general freight in their rockets, torpedoes and other devices. This relatively short distances, anyone contem­ capacious holds but even so there are trend culminated in the dropping of two plating a journey will almost certainly many specialist cargo airlines that carry atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945, consider an airline flight as their first, and loads of all descriptions, from small, making the aeroplane the most destructive in many cases, only option. This is partic­ individual parcels to bulk loads of weapon ever devised by man. ularly true in this age of low-cost air fares agricultural or commercial goods. Other Since 1945 the pace of aeronautical where even the longest flights, circling half aviation activities that benefit all of us at development has increased exponentially the globe, are within the reach of many one time or another include emergency as scientific and technical advances have people. On the whole, this is a relief and evacuation, fire-fighting, air been incorporated at an unbelievable rate. tremendous force for good with people of ambulances, aerial surveys, law Perhaps the greatest innovation was the all races, creeds and nationalities being enforcement, and weather-monitoring, to jet engine, which became a practical able to move, meet and mix freely and name but a few. proposition during World War II and was understand each other better as a Inevitably, the aeroplane was also seen, subsequently applied to both military and consequence. Inevitably, expansion of the from its earliest days, as a weapon of war. civil aircraft producing an unimaginable air travel industry on such a scale has led As early aircraft were capable of carrying level of improvement in performance. to drawbacks and today environmental little more than a pilot and perhaps an Increasingly, as aerodynamic improvement concerns are being voiced. Regrettably, observer, its offensive capabilities were became incremental by nature, the pace of the high profile of the aviation industry has necessarily limited and the most important change was driven by new electronic and made it a target for those who would application was reconnaissance. This digital technologies, which have automated impose their ideals by force and threat enabled commanders to discover much of the task of actually flying the rather than by negotiation, and ironically accurately and quickly the disposition of aircraft and are now involved in their such people are able to communicate enemy forces and, subsequently, keep overall operation and interaction with better and refine their plans because of them under continuous observation. other aircraft and organisations, both on their ability to travel freely. Nevertheless, Obviously, a potential enemy was not the ground and in the air. Today, it would it is difficult to imagine that air travel will going to allow this to happen unhindered be entirely possible to produce a pilotless airliner capable of flying efficiently and safely between any two points in the world with its progress tracked and controlled by ground-based and airborne computers (although whether any passenger would be happy with such a set-up is an entirely different question). In terms of technology, another great advance that has been developed since 1945 is the helicopter and other vertical take off aircraft, and these are fulfilling an increasing number of roles in today's world. Finally, of course, aviation technology has been applied to the exploration and exploitation of space outside the world's atmosphere. Increasingly, the benefits of this work is

The English Electric Canberra was one of the best of British postwar designs. It was produced in many variants and remained in RAF service until 2006 - some 57 years after its first flight. There were many export sales and it was built as the 6-57 by Martin in the United States. Introduction seen in our everyday lives in the form of national defence and for commerce. Its versions. This engine went on to power satellite communication systems, which are warnings were heeded just in time for almost all the famous British wartime now becoming indispensable, while the 1914. It changed its name to the Air aircraft such as the Spitfire, Hurricane, miracle of a car-based satellite navigation League in 1920 and it campaigned in the Mosquito and Lancaster. A scaled-up system is taken totally for granted. 1930s for rearmament and also raised version known as the Griffon produced From the earliest days the British money for young men to fly. This was a over 2,000 hp and was used in many post­ aircraft industry has played a central role in forerunner of the RAF's Volunteer war designs. While Rolls-Royce concen­ all aspects of the advance of aeronautical Reserve Scheme, which was to stand the trated on the Merlin and its derivatives, the technology. Although the Wright brothers nation in such good stead when war broke Bristol Aero Engine Company held faith are credited with the first successful out again in 1939. The Air League founded with the air-cooled radial engine resulting powered flight, there were British the Air Defence Cadet Corps in 1938, in the Hercules, which notably powered pioneers who got close and, some would adopted by the RAF as the Air Training the Bristol Beaufighter and Handley Page claim, were actually successful. These Corps in 1941. Halifax. Subsequently they produced the included George Cayley, the so-called The outbreak of war in 1914 proved to Centaurus, which produced over 2,500 hp father of aeronautics, and John be a watershed for aviation and in the and powered the last generations of Stringfellow, who flew what is claimed to next four years aircraft became much British piston-engined fighters, the Hawker be the first self-powered flying machine at more sophisticated and were produced in Tempest II and Sea Fury. Chard, Somerset, in 1848. Admittedly, this their thousands. Many of the famous The resurgence of the British aircraft was only a model powered by a small British aircraft companies were formed at industry began in the mid-1930s when the steam engine, but the principle was this time and in 1916 their status was threat posed by Nazi Germany could no proved. It was the coming of the internal underlined by the formation of the Society longer be ignored and preparations for combustion engine at the closing stages of of British Aircraft Constructors (SBAC) to war began in earnest. The sudden demand the 19th century, which was eventually to represent their interests. This organisation for large numbers of aircraft meant that produce power plants that led ultimately remains in existence today although the individual aircraft companies could not to the Wright brothers' success. title has been slightly changed to the fulfil orders from their own resources and Surprisingly, they initially failed to interest Society of British Aerospace Companies to it was often necessary to arrange subcon­ the military in their invention and the reflect today's interests. tractors. This inevitably led to some centre of aviation progress moved to After the armistice in November 1918 degree of rationalisation and although Europe where French pioneers made the market for military aircraft evaporated individual company names and design many advances. This is reflected in the fact virtually overnight and it would take many bureaux were retained, they were often that many of the words used to describe years for civil aviation to reach the stage part of a greater organisation. Typical of the basic parts of an aeroplane (e.g. where it would support the manufacture this was the Hawker Siddeley merger, fuselage, aileron, nacelle) are of French of aircraft on any significant scale, which itself came about by the merging of origin. The first powered flight in Britain especially as the civil demand that did exist Hawker Aircraft and the Armstrong was made by American-born Samuel could be catered for by the thousands of Siddeley group in 1935. Prior to that, Cody in his Aeroplane No.1 at surplus military aircraft. Inevitably, many of Hawkers had already taken over the Farnborough on 16 October 1908 and the the smaller aircraft constructors went out Gloster Aircraft Company in 1935 and the first all-British flight was by the great of business and others were absorbed Armstrong Siddeley group had taken over pioneer Alliott Verdon Roe in a triplane of into some of the larger companies, which A.V. Roe in 1928. The other big players his own design on 23 July 1909. The themselves were struggling to stay in were the Bristol Aeroplane Company with crossing of the English Channel in the business. The formation of an its Bristol Aero Engine subsidiary, and same year by Frenchman Louis Bleriot independent Royal Air Force (RAF) in Vickers, which had taken over the provided both a warning and a stimulus to 1918 provided at least a trickle of orders engineering interests of Armstrong Britain's fledgling aircraft industry and, as and in the 1920s and 1930s steady Whitworth and had also acquired well as Roe, other pioneers such as progress was made so that on the eve of Southampton-based Supermarine Geoffrey de Havilland, Tommy Sopwith World War II most new aircraft were of Aviation, both in 1928. There was also de and Frederick Hand ley Page designed and all-metal construction and were equipped Havilland, which, like Bristol, had its own flew their own flying machines. Also, in with devices such as a retractable substantial aero engine division. Other 1909, the famous Short brothers met the undercarriage, variable pitch propellers major independent companies included Wright brothers on the Isle of Sheppey and trailing edge wing flaps. Pilots and Handley Page, Short Brothers and and concluded an agreement to crew were accommodated in enclosed Westland. Even so, the demands of war manufacture the Wright biplanes under cockpits or flight decks. On the whole, the production led to the creation of licence. British Air Ministry preferred the use of numerous shadow factories that drew In the face of aircraft development in liquid cooled in-line engines and their management and labour force from many other countries, the Aerial League of experience with the Schneider Trophy other sectors, notably the motor and the British Empire was founded in 1909 by seaplane races was incorporated by Rolls- furniture industries. Colonel H. C. Massey and Mr Steven Royce into their new PV-12 engine, better When peace came in 1945, there was Marples, who saw the need to stimulate known as the Merlin. Initially rated at obviously a massive contraction of the the government and the country at large around 1,000 hp, this was progressively British aircraft industry but, for various to the emerging importance of aviation for increased to around 1,800 hp in later reasons, it was not as severe as that Pioneers to Partners experienced in 1918. For a start, much of specifications for each type. Their work contenders but eventually formed the basis the surplus manufacturing capacity was lost was to have a far-reaching effect on the of work that led to the Bristol Britannia. by closing down the shadow factories or types of aircraft produced by the British The Type IV specification resulted in converting them to production of other aircraft industry, not all of it beneficial, and the airliner that promised to give Britain essential goods in the post-war era it is relevant to consider the Committee's an unassailable lead in the production of (prefabricated housing being a typical recommendations outlining five basic civil airliners. This was the revolutionary example). Also it was only three years aircraft types: de Havilland Comet, the world's first jet airliner, which flew in July 1949 and initially before the onset of the Cold War, • Brabazon Type I was to be a large proved to be an outstanding success with heralded by the Soviet blockade of Berlin airliner capable of operating non-stop in passengers. So much so that orders began and the subsequent successful allied airlift. both directions on the important to pour in from airlines around the world This led ultimately to the formation of the London-New York route and carrying but the early promise was shattered by a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation passengers in considerable luxury. (NATO) but this was preceded by the series of fatal crashes that led to the • Type II was seen as a feeder liner that United States (US)-financed Marshall Plan Comet being grounded while extensive de and the Mutual Defence Assistance Pact would supplant the DC-3 and tests were carried out to determine the Havilland Dragon Rapide. However, (MDAP), which provided funds for the cause and to allow the necessary redesign later rebuilding of the European nations input from BEA resulted in two to take place. By the time the definitive specifications, a Type IIA for a larger devastated by war and allowed them to Comet IV was ready for service, Boeing MB, re-equip their air forces. The demand for piston-engined airliner and Type had caught up with their 707 jet airliner be powered military aircraft was heightened by the fact which was similar but would based on the original Model 387-80 that that the jet engine had made piston- by the new turboprop engines. had flown in 1954. Although the British engined combat aircraft obsolete virtually • Type III called for a 32-seat transport Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) overnight and, consequently, even the capable of covering 2,500 miles at a Comets gained the distinction of RAF, which had substantial numbers of cruising speed of 300mph. operating the first jet transatlantic scheduled flights in 1958, the Boeing 707, conventional aircraft available, was forced • Type IV was a more revolutionary swept into an expensive re-equipment concept, calling for a jet-powered airliner together with the Douglas DC-8 V specifi­ programme. These efforts received a and this was included mainly at the the market. Finally the Type VA and VB, massive boost with the outbreak of the instigation of Geoffrey de Havilland. cation was split into a Type Korean War in 1951 and a number of the former resulting in the four-engined aircraft such as the Hawker Hunter, • Type V was a revised specification for a Miles Marathon and the latter led to the Supermarine Swift and English Electric small feeder liner to replace the de twin-engined de Havilland Dove. Canberra were rushed into production Havilland Rapide after the original Type II What might have been achieved if the under a 'Super Priority' programme. specification had been altered to produce aircraft manufacturers had been left to Even on the civil side, prospects were much larger aircraft. produce aircraft based solely on their own much brighter than in 1918. In the years The first of these led to the mighty Bristol commercial instincts is illustrated by the immediately preceding World War II, civil Brabazon, the largest airliner ever built at highly successful Avro 748 (later to aviation was just beginning to establish the time of its maiden flight in September become the Hawker Siddeley/ BAe 748). itself as a reliable means of transport with 1949 and a distinction it maintained until This rugged twin-engined turboprop the introduction of new all metal twin- or the Boeing 747 flew some 20 years later. airliner flew in 1960 and over 380 were four-engined airliners led, of course, by Unfortunately, a combination of technical eventually produced, including 160 built the American Douglas DC-3. However, difficulties and political attitudes meant under licence in India. A rival design was the outbreak of war in 1939 led to an that only the prototype was flown and the the Aviation Traders Accountant. This almost total cessation of the development Brabazon never entered service. More actually pre-dated the Avro 748, having of British civil transport aircraft so that by successful was the Type II specification flown in prototype form in 1957 but no 1945 the Americans had achieved a that led to the graceful twin-engined production orders were forthcoming. commanding lead with modern types of Airspeed Ambassador. However this was a Although superficially similar, the Avro 748 aircraft such as the Douglas DC-4 and the conventional piston-engined aircraft but an was a much more advanced aircraft from a Lockheed Constellation already in service offshoot from the Type II specification technical point of view (it was the first and derivatives such as the DC-6, Super indirectly led to the Vickers Viscount, one airliner designed with a fail-safe structure) Constellation and Boeing Stratocruiser all of the great success stories of the post­ and, crucially, it carried twice as many just around the corner. Faced with this war aircraft industry. Although in its initial passengers. situation, the British had already had production form seating capacity started at Inevitably aircraft, both military and recourse to their favourite reaction to any around 40-50 seats, this rose to 70-80 in civil, grew more complex and expensive crisis - they set up a committee! This was later variants, much in excess of the 24 as the decades passed. The end of the the eponymous Brabazon Committee, passengers originally envisaged. The rival Korean War slowed down the demand for which was set up in 1943 under the Armstrong Whitworth Apollo powered by military aircraft and the notorious 1957 chairmanship of Lord Brabazon with a four Mamba turboprops was less Defence White Paper, forecasting the end directive to investigate the types of civil successful and only two prototypes were of manned military aircraft, was not aircraft that would be required in the completed. In the meantime the Type III helpful. In fact, as a concept, it was not post-war years and to frame outline specification produced few viable perhaps as extreme as it seemed at the

10 Introduction time given the progress of today's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) but in 1957 the technology was not in place. Also, despite the success of the Viscount, the British industry was struggling to compete with American manufacturers and it was obvious that some form of consolidation was inevitable. This came about in 1960 when the Hawker Siddeley Group finally brought all of its constituent aircraft manufacturing companies under one organisation, Hawker Siddeley Aircraft Ltd. This spelt the end of many famous names such as Avro whose Vulcan bomber now became the Hawker Siddeley Vulcan, and Armstrong Whitworth, whose Argosy transport was now the Hawker Siddeley Argosy. At the same time the de Havilland Company was absorbed into the Hawker Siddeley Group and lost its own identity. The other major aircraft construction group was the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), which officially came into being in 1963 following earlier amalgamations among its constituent companies starting with Vickers, the Bristol Aircraft Company and in April 1965. The government was so Another market leader! The Vickers Viscount English Electric in 1960. This group then determined that the project should never was the world's first turboprop airliner to fly and absorbed Hunting Aircraft Ltd, which itself be re-instated at a later date that it entered service in 1950. It was retired by British had been formed by the take over of ordered all the production jigs to be Airways in 1985 but continued in service in Percival Aircraft. Other consolidations broken up. The third cancelled project small numbers well into the 21st century. included Fairey Aviation, producers of was the vertical take off Armstrong naval aircraft and helicopters, who were Whitworth 681 four-engined tactical The ultimate airliner was the taken over by Westland in 1958, while as transport. supersonic Concorde, whose develop­ far back as 1948 Hand ley Page took over On the civil side Vickers had already ment was initiated by the same Labour the assets of Miles Aircraft at Wood ley. produced the graceful VC-10, probably Government that had cancelled the round The new conglomerates had to fight the best looking jet airliner ever built and of military aircraft. The Concorde was, of hard for what few military orders were one that in its Super VC-10 version was course, an international Anglo-French available. The Hawker Siddeley Group had superior to the Boeing 707 on several project and the British prototype flew in inherited the revolutionary P.1127 vertical counts. Nevertheless, it was very late to 1969. Although a great technical success, take off project, which had first flown in the market and sales were disappointing Concorde did not achieve any true 1960 and was eventually developed into although it did have a second life as a commercial success. Very few were built the famous Harrier and Sea Harrier military transport and tanker. BAC on the but it did show that the way forward for STOVL (Short Take Off and Vertical other hand had more success with the the British aircraft industry was in interna­ Landing) fighters. A more ambitious One Eleven, a jet airliner, with twin rear- tional collaboration and this resulted in the project was the supersonic P.1154 but this mounted engines and a T-tail. abortive Anglo-French Variable Geometry was cancelled in 1964 by the incoming Unfortunately, it fell victim to the usual (AFVG) strike aircraft project. However, Wilson Government, one of three major British problem of being in advance of this led in turn to the Panavia Tornado, projects axed at that time in what was other nations and the prototype crashed which was built by a tri-nation consortium something of a watershed for the British after experiencing the hitherto from Britain, Germany and Italy. Anglo- aircraft industry. One of these was the unrecognised phenomena of a super stall. French relations thrived on the Jaguar BAC TSR.2 supersonic strike bomber, The problem was diagnosed quickly and twin-jet fighter and resulted in a helicopter which had first flown on 27 September remedial modifications were incorporated deal, whereby British and French armed 1964 and, subsequently, had demonstrated in the second prototype. Subsequently, forces received Puma, Gazelle and Lynx great promise. In terms of performance, it over 200 One Elevens were sold - a helicopters, the latter designed and built was potentially a world beater and significant achievement by British by Westland. certainly the Americans had nothing to standards but not so against the almost All this was accomplished against a match it at the time. Nevertheless, the 1,000 Douglas DC-9s that flew after the further consolidation and contraction of TSR.2 was sacrificed at the altar of political BAC-111, and that were able to benefit the industry. One of the great names, dogma and the programme was cancelled from the British experience. Handley Page, went into receivership in

11 Pioneers to Partners

reputation for building graceful and efficient light aircraft. In the post-war era the main names were Miles, Percival, Auster and de Havilland. However, financial constraints and growing American competition virtually killed off this aspect of aircraft production in the post-war decades. As already stated, Miles Aircraft was taken over by Hand ley Page in 1948 while Percival became part of the Hunting Group in 1944 forming Hunting Percival Aircraft, which itself was absorbed by BAC in 1960. Perhaps the most prolific was Auster, which survived until 1960 when it became part of Beagle (British Executive and General Aviation Ltd). Although this company produced some interesting aircraft, including the much liked Beagle Pup trainer, it went into liquidation in 1970. In the post-war years de Havilland produced the successful Dove and Heron but a successor to the famous Tiger Moth was the Canadian-designed Chipmunk. A successful enterprise was Britten Norman, which produced the twin-engined Islander The partnership between Aerospatiale and BAC capital for other investments. BAe did in 1965. Despite world wide sales success, led to the world's most beautiful aircraft - the actually produce one jet airliner, the British the company did not thrive and has been Concorde supersonic transport. It served for 27 Aerospace 146 later rebranded as the bought and sold many times although the years, regularly crossed the Atlantic in around Avro RJ series, which in terms of sales was Islander remains in production today. three hours and could always be counted on to the most successful British jet airliner This book attempts to tell the story of be a show-stopper wherever it was seen. selling over 350 aircraft. A foray into a the post-war British aircraft industry by complementary turboprop resulted in the briefly describing every aircraft designed 1969, although production of its successful BAe ATP which was based on the earlier and built in Britain since 1945. As a Jetstream light turboprop transport was Avro/BAe 748. However it failed to starting point it will include all aircraft of transferred to Scottish Aviation at achieve the sales of its predecessor and which the first prototype, or prototype of Prestwick. A much more significant event only 67 were completed. a major new variant made its first flight on was the formation of British Aerospace In joining the original Airbus consortium or after 1 January 1945. For the sake of (BAe) in 1977, which was achieved by the Hawker Siddeley ensured that British completeness it will also include the merging of BAC and the Hawker Siddeley factories at Bristol and Chester became various international programmes either Group, as well as rounding up Scottish centres of excellence in the design and where the resulting aircraft was built in the Aviation and other smaller concerns. In manufacture of wings using advanced United Kingdom (UK) (e.g. Tornado) or this form BAe became virtually the only techniques and modern composite where significant components were major airframe manufacturer, apart from materials. Despite their sale to Airbus in manufactured in the UK (e.g. Airbus or Westland, which concentrated solely on 2007, these British centres remain a vital Joint Strike Fighter). Foreign-designed helicopters. Over the years the number of part of the whole Airbus organisation (the aircraft, which were actually built and British-designed aircraft in production has Bristol centre has in turn been sold to produced in the UK (e.g. various dwindled, with the only current GKN, a British company with wide Westland helicopters) are also included. programmes being the Hawk jet trainer aerospace interests). In addition, many For ease of reference, the aircraft are dealt and the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft. Airbus aircraft are powered by Rolls- with under the categories listed in the On the other hand, BAe was a substantial Royce engines while other British contents page and within these sections partner in the design and production of concerns supply a significant proportion of aircraft are arranged by date of first flight. the Tornado multi-role aircraft and today, the myriad systems and components as BAE Systems is also a major partner in which go to make up a modern airliner. the Eurofighter Typhoon programme. In Consequently, although no Airbus final addition, it has numerous links with US assembly line has have been set up in the companies and is a major subcontractor to United Kingdom (UK), the authors have several major projects. Until 2007 it was no doubt that the various Airbus products also a major partner in Airbus, a position should feature in this book. inherited from Hawker Siddeley, but sold Apart from major military and civil out to Airbus in that year in order to raise projects, Britain also had a good

12 1 Military Aircraft

Jet Aircraft Initially, this treasure trove had little first flew in 1949 and was the best light At the end of World War II the British effect as the development of the basic bomber of the next three decades, a few aircraft industry was already deeply Meteor and Vampire designs continued examples still remaining in service today. involved in the development of jet and variants formed the front-line The Canberra was notable as being one combat aircraft with the Meteor twin jet strength of not only the Royal Air Force of the few foreign combat aircraft ever to fighter already in squadron service and but also many Commonwealth and be produced under licence in the US - a the new twin-boom Vampire just European air arms. The Meteor, originally reversal of what was to become normal beginning to reach operational units. In intended as a single-seat day fighter, procedure. However, the Canberra addition, the aero engine industry, evolved into a two-seat radar-equipped shared one feature in common with the building on the pioneering work of Sir night fighter. Dedicated trainer and Meteor and Vampire in that its design Frank Whittle, was the world leader in photographic reconnaissance versions incorporated a straight wing. Analysis of matters of jet propulsion with companies were produced. Specially prepared German experience clearly showed the such as Rolls Royce, Armstrong Siddeley examples captured the World Speed benefits of sweepback and although some and de Havilland producing engines that Record in November 1945 and again in prototypes were flown, it was the offered not only ever increasing thrust September 1946. The Vampire was also Americans and Russians who were ratings but also a degree of reliability that widely exported and was also produced quickest off the mark with the immortal did much to further the acceptance of this in two-seat trainer and night-fighter Sabre and the equally famous Mig-15 still revolutionary form of propulsion. Of versions. A new wing with a swept back (even if the latter was powered by an course, in many ways, the British aircraft leading edge resulted in the Venom, industry had not been as advanced as that which had a much improved performance of Germany but with the latter's defeat and, again, this aircraft achieved major The Gloster Meteor flew operationally from 1944 the fruits of the country's research export successes. to 1965. The first Allied jet to see action in became available as technical missions Perhaps the most outstanding British World War II, it also saw combat during the brought back priceless information and jet aircraft of the post-war era was the Korean and Arab-Israeli wars. This is the NF.11 even, sometimes, whole aircraft. twin-engined Canberra bomber, which night fighter variant - see page 38.

13 Pioneers to Partners

engine of British design!). Both these The 1957 setback was almost ABOVE: The Harrier GR.7 first flew in May 1990 aircraft were in service at the outbreak of insignificant compared with the damage and became the RAF's standard model. It was the Korean War but the first British swept inflicted on the British aircraft industry by deployed operationally for the first time over wing fighter, the beautiful Hawker Hunter, the Wilson Government in 1964/65 when former Yugslavia in August 1995. did not enter service until 1954. it cancelled the TSR.2 advanced strike ABOVE. RIGHT: The Hawker Sea Fury was the Fleet In the mid to late 1950s the RAF bomber and the Hawker Siddeley P.1154 Air Arm's primary fighter-bomber during the began to receive the trio of V-bombers supersonic Vertical Take Off and Landing early 1950s.. that were to provide the nuclear (VTOL) fighter. With these flagship deterrent force until this role passed to projects swept away, the industry was BELOW RIGHT: The RAF's basic trainer, the the Polaris missile submarines of the forced into the path of international Tucano, is built under license by Shorts. Royal Navy (RN) in 1967. Of these the collaboration, which today is perhaps the Vulcan was perhaps the best all rounder only way in which the continually spiralling with a fighter-like performance at high cost of producing sophisticated combat BAe Systems, and its predecessor altitudes due to its delta wing, although aircraft can be met. Thus after the Hawker Siddeley, have been responsible the contemporary Victor could carry a abortive AFVG strike aircraft, the Panavia for one of the great advances in military heavier bomb-load. The continued Tornado was born. aircraft - the successful development of development of British jet combat aircraft At the same time Anglo-French the vertical take off Harrier family. Evolved received a major setback in the misguided cooperation resulted in the Jaguar single- from the earlier P1127 and Kestrel, the 1957 Defence White Paper that forecast seat fighter, while today the multi-nation Harrier is the only successful aircraft of its the end of manned aircraft and caused the Eurofighter consortium is producing the type and, like the Canberra, has been cancellation of several promising projects. Typhoon multi-role fighter at various adopted eagerly by US forces. In fact, The only one to survive was the English establishments including BAE Systems at production of the latest Harrier versions is Electric Lightning, which was to become Warton in Lancashire. The latter company now centred in America with BAE Systems the only wholly British combat aircraft continues to produce the last indigenous being a major subcontractor. This situation capable of exceeding the speed of sound military jet in the shape of the Hawk is echoed by the next family of jet combat (Mach 1) in level flight. Conceived as a trainer, which first flew in 1974 and aircraft, the Joint Strike Fighter, which will pure interceptor it had a startling continues to sell - its success perhaps enter service during the next decade and performance but was restricted by limited influenced by its exposure as the mount assures the British aerospace industry of a endurance. of the famous Red Arrows. continuing place at the top table.

14 Military Aircraft

Propeller-driven Aircraft Despite the advent of the jet engine, there was a continued demand for propeller- driven aircraft to perform a variety of military roles. Many of these were the final iterations of famous World War II aircraft such as the Spitfire, which was still in production after 1945 with advanced versions being delivered to the RAF and RN in 1948 and 1949, respectively. Britain's last front-line piston-engined fighter was the Hawker Sea Fury, which first flew in 1945 and was in production until 1952. Its companion on carrier flight decks was the elegant Fairey Firefly, which was produced to carry out a variety of roles including fighter reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrol. The torpedo strike role was carried out by Blackburn Firebrands, which were in service from 1945 to 1953. Both the Firefly and the Firebrand were eventually replaced by turboprop aircraft, the former by the unique twin Mamba powered Fairey Gannet and the latter by the Westland Wyvern. The Wyvern was one aircraft that typified much of the British aircraft industry's problems at the time - it was many years in development with testing dogged by unreliable power-plants and was already obsolescent when it eventually entered service in 1953. For a few years after the war, twin-piston-engined aircraft such as the Mosquito, Hornet and Sea Hornet and Bristol Brigand carried out front-line roles until they too were replaced by more advanced jets. During World War II the backbone of the bomber force were the four-engined heavies such as the Halifax and Lancaster, and after 1945 the Avro Lincoln entered service. However, the future lay with the new jet bombers of which the Canberra was the outstanding example but the Lancaster heritage lived on in the Avro Shackleton maritime patrol aircraft. First flown in 1949, the final Airborne Early Warning (AEW) variant was still in service others included the Prentice, Provost and several AOP squadrons from the RAF, as late as 1991, testimony to the Bulldog for basic training and the more almost exclusively equipped with Auster protracted wrangles over the development advanced Balliol for advanced training. In AOP.6s although these were replaced by of a successor platform rather than the due course some of these were replaced the more powerful and updated AOP.9. venerable aircraft's suitability for the role by jets but today the RAF's basic trainer is Earlier attempts to produce a dedicated in the late 20th century! the turboprop Tucano, a Brazilian design spotter aircraft resulted in the Heston AOP Propeller-driven aircraft retained a role built under licence in Northern Ireland by prototype, which did not enter production. in training military aircrew even to the Shorts, and early pilot grading and There were, of course, several civil present day but in the post-war era a elementary training is carried out in light- airliners and transports that were either number of aircraft in this category were piston-engined aircraft such as the Slingsby converted or produced for military use produced. Perhaps the most successful T67 and the imported Grob Tutor. and these are described in Part 2. was the de Havilland Chipmunk In 1957 the Army Air Corps was (admittedly designed in Canada!) but formed and this organisation inherited

15 January 1945 Military Aircraft

Supermarine Spiteful 8 January 1945

Hawker Sea Fury 21 January 1945 Military Aircraft April 1945

Gloster Meteor F. Mk. 4 12 April 1945

LEFT: The Supermor/ne Type 371 Spiteful was a direct development of the Spitfire, comprising a standard Spitfire Mk. 14 fitted with a more efficient laminar-flow wing. As the design progressed, the fuselage and tail structures were also redesigned, ultimately producing a completely new aircraft. The first Spiteful made its maiden flight on 30 June 1944. Powered by a 2,035hp Griffon engine and armed with four 20mm cannon, the Spiteful had great potential - it achieved the fastest speed of any British piston-engined aircraft, 494mph, in 1947 - and a batch of 188 was ordered. The end of hostilities, and developments in jet-engine technology, led to the order being cancelled and only 19 aircraft were completed. Later versions of the Spiteful (none saw service) included the F.5 with a six-bloded contra-rotating prop.

BELOW LEFT: The Hawker Sea Fury was the Fleet Air Arm's primary fighter-bomber during the early 1950s. Developed initially from a light fighter design for the RAF, it was destined to replace the Tempest and Typhoon. RAF interest was abandoned at the end of World War II, but the naval derivative was pursued and more than 800 Sea Furies were eventually produced and it saw action with the FAA and Australian Navy during the Korean War. The Sea Fury was one of the fastest piston-engined machines ever produced, capable of reaching speeds of480kts. ABOVE RIGHT: The Meteor F. Mk. 4 fighter De Havilland Sea Hornet 19 April 1945 entered production in 1946. Derived from earlier Meteor designs, it featured clipped-span wings, a pair of Derwent 5 engines in redesigned nacelles, a strengthened airframe, a fully pressurised cockpit and improved ailerons and rudder trim. In comparison to the original Meteor Mk. 1's top speed of415mph, the F.4 could achieve 585mph. Many of the initial deliveries went to export customers, and eventually a total of 13 RAF Squadrons re-equipped with the type, with some 535 aircraft being manufactured for the RAF. The Meteor twin-seat dual-control variant was also developed from the F.4 airframe.

RIGHT: Based on the Mosquito, de Hav/7/and's Hornet was a faster and more manoeuvrable design which took advantage of developments in laminar-flow wing design, airframe refinements and engine development. Retaining much of the Mosquito's wooden construction, the Hornet was equipped with streamlined engines and outwards-turning propellers. The Sea Hornet F.20 (of which 79 were produced) entered service with the FAA in 1947. A further 72 aircraft were produced to NF.21 night fighter standard, equipped with a second cockpit, exhaust flame dampers and radar. The Sea Hornet PR.22 was a specialised PR variant: 23 were built with three cameras installed in the rear fuselage. Although largely replaced in FAA service by the Sea Fury, the Sea Hornet remained in active use through the mid-1950s.

17 April 1945 Military Aircraft

De Havilland Vampire F. Mk. 1 20 April 1945

Auster AOP.6 1 May 1945 Military Aircraft May 1945

Blackburn Firebrand TF Mk. 4 17 May 1945

ABOVE LEFT: The de Havilland DH.100 was one of BELOW LEFT: Designed as a development of the ABOVE: The Blackburn Firebrand TF. 4 was the the two early post-war fighter designs (the other Taylorcraft Auster V, the Auster A OP. 6 featured first main production variant of Blackburn's less- was the Meteor) which Britain developed around a strengthened fuselage, external fixed aerofoil than-successful strike-fighter. Originally designed the then-new jet engine. Initially named 'Spider flaps and lengthened undercarriage struts to as a twin-seat interceptor, changing Crab', the aircraft emerged as the Vampire f. 1, accommodate a larger propeller, powered by a requirements eventually saw the aircraft emerge a simple design created around a single 145hp Gipsy Major 7 engine. Entering service in as a single-seat fighter which first flew in centrifugal-flow Goblin engine. Taking advantage the late 1940s the aircraft was used extensively February 1942. Although small numbers of ofde Havilland's expertise in metal and moulded by the RAF (who received 312 aircraft) and the Napier Sabre-engined Firebrands were plywood construction, the Vampire F. 1 featured Army Air Corps as an air observation and light produced, it was the Centaurus IX-powered a twin-boom tail design which eliminated the communications aircraft. With a useful short- Mk. 5 which became the major production need for a long engine exhaust which would field take off capability and excellent reliability, variant - some 102 aircraft being built, have reduced power output. As it was, the the AOP.6 was an invaluable part of post-war equipped with both larger tail surfaces (to Vampire F. 1 still lacked significant power and British military operations, seeing service in both counter the increased torque of the larger range. The first production aircraft took to the Korea and Malaya. More than 400 aircraft were engine) and dive brakes, enabling the Firebrand air in April 1945 and although the aircraft produced with exports being made to Australia, to deliver successfully a single fuselage-mounted would have been invaluable for combat Belgium, Burma, Canada, Hong Kong, India, torpedo. However, the Firebrand's performance operations, the type did not enter RAF service Jordan, New Zealand and South Africa, some of was unremarkable (a top speed of350mph) and until after World War II, some 244 aircraft these aircraft being dual-control variants (the with the cockpit positioned closer to the tail than being manufactured after which production AOP.7). The aircraft was gradually replaced by the nose, visibility for the pilot was poor. Perhaps shifted to the more powerful Mk. 3 and Mk. 5 the more capable AOR9 from 1955 onwards the most interesting aspect of the Firebrand's aircraft which became the RAF's main fighter- and many aircraft were refurbished for civilian design was the installation of an externally bomber type into the 1950s. A naval derivative use, some still being in regular use today. mounted airspeed gauge which enabled the pilot of the Vampire F.1 made the world's first jet to keep his eyes outside of the cockpit during launch and recovery from an aircraft carrier on deck landings - the forerunner of today's head- 3 December 1945. up displays.

19 In the ^^^^ears, British pioneers advanced aviation engineering with su the Comet, Canberra, Hunter, and the remarkable Harrier. Today, costs and globalisation mean that British companies act in partnership with others and these partnerships have led to Concorde, various Airbuses, the Tornado, Jaguar and European Fighter Programme.

Pioneers to Partners highlights these trends illustrating every British-made postwar t/pe, in first flight order, covering Military Aircraft, Transport Aircraft, Research & Development Aircraft, General Aviation and Rotorcraft before appendices detail Airships and Dirigibles, Home-built and Replica Aircraft and Gliders and Sailplanes. The Wally Kahn/British Gliding Association eBook Library is unable to obtain copyright approval to provide the reader with the complete eBook.

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