|
Post by flyboy on Jan 26, 2016 17:48:17 GMT
AVRO LINCOLN
Four engine heavy bomber.
Example: 8.9.46, RF484 'Excalibar'. Departure to New Zealand.
Lincoln B.II also known as the Lancaster V.
Produced towards the end of WWII the Lincoln B Mk.1 was another aircraft developed from the Avro Lancaster line, the B MkIV. Further development followed with the Lancaster B Mk V becoming the Lincoln B Mk.II. Main changes from earlier Lancaster models was the new improved high aspect ratio wing, lengthened fuselage and new nose accommodating a Bolton Paul powered gun turret. The first prototype flew on the 9th June 1944. Avro were unable to meet the urgent requirement for the RAF and agreed that Armstrong Whitworth and A.V Roe could license build the aircraft. Built at the Coventry plant of Armstrong Whitworth, RF484 was a long range bomber version for the RAF and carried a crew of seven. There were 604 airframes in total constructed.
Engines: 4x Packard-Merlin 68A inline piston engines developing 1680hp Wingspan 120 feet Length 78 feet 4 inches Height 17 feet 4 inches Speed 290 mph Ceiling 22500 feet Weight empty 44188 lb Weight Max 82000 lb Range 2930 miles.
Armament 6x guns in total 2x .50 caliber Browning heavy machine guns in nose turret 2x .50 caliber Browning heavy machine guns in tail turret 2x .50 calibre Browning heavy machine guns OR 2x Hispano 20mm cannon in dorsal turret.
Bomb load 14000 lb.
|
|
|
Post by flyboy on Jan 26, 2016 22:15:58 GMT
WESTLAND LYSANDER
Single engine high wing aircraft
Example: There are no records of the aircraft type being used at Hartford Bridge. However, 16Sqn arrived at the airfield on 29th June 1943 with Spitfires and Mustangs in the photo reconnaissance role having previously flown Lysander IIIA's. Having recently become part of the Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force it is believed that for some operations they may have used other units Lysanders. Crew was one pilot with room for one passenger or observer. Often used to insert and retrieve special agents from fields behind enemy lines. Total built 1786.
Lysander Mk.III
Engine: 1x Bristol Mercury XX radial engine developing 870hp. Wingspan 50 feet Length 30 feet 6 inches Height 14 feet 6 inches Weight empty 4365 lb Weight max 6330 lb Speed Max 212 mph at 5000 feet. Range 600 miles Ceiling 21500 feet Climb to 10000 feet 8 minutes Take off run to 50 feet 305 yards
Armament 4x guns in total 2x .303inch forward firing Browning machine guns in wheel fairings. 2x .303 Lewis guns for the observer.
Bomb load 4x 20 lb bombs under fuselage 500 lb of bombs on stub wings if fitted.
|
|
|
Post by flyboy on Jan 26, 2016 22:27:05 GMT
AIRSPEED OXFORD
Royal Air Force first twin engine monoplane advanced trainer.
Example: 23.9.44, AB 696 Oxford II, station hack.
Oxford II
The prototype Airspeed Oxford was first flown in June 1937 as a development of the companies Envoy, small airliner, which was built to carry eight passengers. It was destined to develop into the backbone of RAF Training Command and was fitted with a retractable undercarriage. Airspeed themselves built 4960, DeHavilland 1515, Percival 1525 and Standard Motor Group 750. Large numbers of crew members were needed for the Whitley, Wellington and Hampden bombers being produced and the Oxford, or 'Oxbox' as it was commonly known, served the purpose of trainer for pilots, navigators, radio operators, camera operators and flight engineers. It was destined to be used world wide. Early models were even equipped with a gun turret but this was dispensed with in the Oxford II which was a pilot trainer. The aircraft in addition to it's flying school use was used for communications, air ambulances in the Middle East, anti-submarine duties and generally as a station hack. AB696 was built by Percival Aircraft and was used on general duties at RAF Hartford Bridge.
Engines: 2x Armstrong-Siddeley Cheetah X, 9 cylinder 370hp radial engines. Wingspan 53 feet 4 inches Length 35 feet 6 inches Height 11 feet 1 inch Speed Max 202 mph Ceiling 21000 feet Range 700 miles. Weight empty 5670 lb Weight max 7207 lb
nb After the war 152 surplus Oxfords were converted to small 6-seater commercial airliners known as the
AIRSPEED CONSUL ( See 16.9.44 and Battle of Britain airshow pleasure flights ).
|
|
|
Post by flyboy on Jan 27, 2016 13:22:17 GMT
de HAVILLAND DOMINIE / RAPIDE
Twin engine short haul transport biplane with distinctive pointed wings and of rugged construction.
Example: Visited 7.12.44
Of plywood construction the prototype DH.89 Dragon Rapide first flew as far back as 17th April 1934. By the time WWII broke out 200 plus of the Gipsy 6 engine aircraft had been sold to private owners and airlines. Having been modified with flaps and a nose mounted landing light it was re-designated the DH.89A. At the start of WWII many of these machines were impressed and a further 500 were new build for military use with improved Gipsy Queen 2 engines and were to be known as the de Havilland Dominie. They were mainly used by the RAF and Royal Navy as radio and navigation trainers. The DH 89B Dominie Mk I was the radio and navigation trainer version while the Mk II version was for use as a communications and transport aircraft. Many were used as civilian DH Rapides after the war and the Royal Navy continued to use them as Air Station 'Flights' communication aircraft.
Engines: 2x de Havilland Gypsy 6 inline engines of 200 hp each. Later versions had Gypsy Queen engines. crew 1 pilot / 8 passengers Wingspan 48 feet Length 34 feet 6 inches Height 10 feet 3 inches Speed Max 157mph at 1000 feet Range 573 miles Ceiling 16700 feet Weight empty 3230 lb Weight loaded 5500 lb
No armament carried.
|
|
|
Post by flyboy on Jan 27, 2016 21:51:48 GMT
BAYNES BAT / BAYNES WING BAT / SLINGSBY WING BAT
Experimental flying wing glider.
Example: 5.2.44, RA809 Wing Bat glider, RAE Trial.
The Army was looking for means of moving heavy vehicals by air to support front line troops on the ground. There were in those days no aircraft suitable of transporting vehicles as internal loads. Plans were therefore put in hand to possibly tow tanks as gliders by fitting wings to them. In 1941 L.E Baynes, AFRAeS designed this 100 foot swept wing, with stabalizers on the tips, and a 1/3rd scale wooden prototype was built by Slingsby Sailplanes at their Kirkbymoorside plant in Yorkshire. It made it's first flight in July 1943. The only problem was that there was no suitable tank currently available to fit onto the wing and the project was abandoned! However, the one Bat that had been built was moved to RAE Farnborough, following successful trials at RAF Sherburn in Elmet, Yorkshire, and extensive research flights were conducted to test the flying characteristics, stability and control of this the first tailless aircraft with flaps. It was on one such trial flight that the aircraft was towed over to RAF Hartford Bridge in February 1944.
Wingspan: 33 feet 4 inches.
|
|
|
Post by flyboy on Jan 28, 2016 11:58:53 GMT
AVRO TUTOR
Selected as a basic trainer biplane to replace the Avro 504 in 1933.
Example: 5.2.44, K3234 was used by RAE Farnborough as a glider tug for the Baynes Bat.
A two seat basic biplane trainer, which was designed by Roy Chadwick the Avro designer. The first Avro 504 replacement flew in 1929 as a mainly metal construction private venture. The Armstrong Siddeley Mongoose powered version was known as the 621 Trainer, while the Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IV and IVC powered models were known as the Tutor. Around 200 Tutors and 5 Sea Tutor,float equipped versions, remained in service at the outset of WWII. The Tutors were mainly retired in 1941 but a few were retained on 'other' duties and a small number sold for civilian use. Crew 2.
Engine 1x Armstrong Siddeley Lynx 1VC of 240 hp. Wingspan 34 feet Length 26 feet 4 inches Height 9 feet 7 inches Weight empty 1844 lb Weight loaded 2493 lb Speed Max 120 mph Cruise 97 mph Range 250 miles. Ceiling 16000 feet.
Armament Nil.
|
|
|
Post by flyboy on Jan 28, 2016 16:57:31 GMT
PERCIVAL PROCTOR
This was a single engine,low wing, tail wheeled aircraft used by the RAF and Fleet Air Arm. First flown October 1939. Example:14.3.44, Proctor (Mk. unknown), experience flights for Wellington College Cadets.
Developed from the Percival Vega Gull the Mk.1 Proctor was produced for communications duties and subsequent versions as radio trainers. There were two or three seater versions and the Mk.IV had a modified four seater cabin and in some cases dual controls were fitted. More than 1140 in total were produced with a number remaining in service until the mid '50's. After the war a further 150 Proctor 5's were constructed for the civilian market.
Proctor IV, 4x seat Radio Trainer, details
Engine 1x deHavilland Gypsy Queen II, driving a two bladed propeller, 210 hp. Wingspan 39 feet 6 inches. Length 28 feet 2 inches Height 7 feet 3 inches Weight empty 2375 lb Weight max take-off 3500 lb Max speed 160 mph Cruise speed 140 mph Range 500 miles Ceiling 14000 feet
Armament Nil
|
|
|
Post by flyboy on Jan 28, 2016 17:17:02 GMT
VICKERS VIKING
Twin engine passenger transport.
Example: 28.10.46, a Viking departed RAF Blackbushe on a demonstration tour to South Africa. Further details are sadly unknown.
Following the end of the war the Vickers Viking was to become well known at Blackbushe as it was operated by a considerable number of based operators and visitors alike.
Viking production: Three prototype 491 Vikings were constructed which carried dual civil and military registrations - G-AGOK, G-AGOL and G-AGOM ( TT194, TT197 and TT181 respectively). G-AGOK was the first to fly from Wisley in the hands of test pilot 'Mutt' Summers on 22nd June 1945. The three prototypes having been ordered by the Ministry of Supply flew much of the development flying but unfortunately G-AGOK was lost in an accident due to double engine failure. Having a functional flight deck but badly furnished cabin, which was soon improved, on the 5th April 1946 an order was placed by the Ministry of Aircraft Production, later transferred to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for 50 type 1 & 1A aircraft. With a CofA being granted later in the month the first production aircraft G-AGON was airborne in late March and eventually became the first aircraft for delivery to British Overseas Airways Corporation ( BEA Divn), who having conducted trials at their Hurn development unit were to become the primary user in 1947. BOAC (BEA Divn.) had leased 19 Vikings known as the Viking 1A from the Ministry of Aircraft Production, the first of which flew in March 1946. These aircraft carried 21 passengers. The next 14 aircraft were known as Viking 1's and had stressed metal wings and tail units.
The Viking 1B, the major production variant, was 28 inches longer and carried an additional three passengers. This version had uprated Bristol Hercules engines and eventually achieved a production run of 115 aircraft. In total 163 Vikings were produced to be followed by military Valetta versions. The Vikings were mainly retired by 1974.
One of the 115 airframes was modified in 1948 to become the worlds first jet powered airliner (G-AJPR) when fitted with two Rolls-Royce Nene turbojets. It flew Heathrow to Paris a distance of 222 miles in only 34 minutes with a top speed of 415 mph. An average speed for the out and return journey was 394 mph. (In 1954 the aircraft would be converted back to Hercules 634 piston engines by Eagle Aviation). The two remaining prototypes were then passed into RAF hands for trials which led to orders for twelve Type 607 Viking C.2's, having strengthened floors, large loading doors and more powerful Hercules 230 engines which were modified to become Valetta C.1's. Often seen at Blackbushe after the war more than 250 Valetta's were produced including a navigation trainer T3 version.
The Type 648 Varsity tricycle undercarriage crew trainer, another type often seen at Blackbushe post war certainly during Farnborough Airshow weeks, was produced for the RAF with 160 being built up to the time production ended in 1954. They remained in service well into the 1970's like the Vikings.
Vickers Viking 1B
Crew 3-4. Passengers 21-38 Engines 2x Bristol Hercules 634 developing 1690 hp each. Wingspan 89 feet 3 inches Length 65 feet 2 inches Height 20 feet 6 inches Weight empty 23250 lb Weight take-off 33850 lb Cruise speed 210 mph Ceiling 23750 feet Range 520 miles.
That's it COMPLETE Stuart
|
|
|
Post by flyboy on Jan 28, 2016 23:30:04 GMT
Please leave clear.
|
|