Operational Requirement F.155 & the Type 559

[Buster Hyman]

What a fascinating looking aircraft.

http://www.talkgraphics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=66245&d=1254106909

From wikipedia:

General characteristics

Crew: 2 (pilot, weapons systems/navigation)
Length: 68 ft 3 in (20.8 m)
Wingspan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingspan): 42 ft (12.8 m)
Height: 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m)
Wing area: 615 ft² (57.1 m²)
Empty weight: 41,485 lb (18,817 kg)
Loaded weight: 62,190 lb (28,209 kg)
Powerplant:
2× de Havilland Gyron PS.26/1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Gyron) turbojet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbojet), 20,000 lbf (89 kN) each
2× De Havilland Spectre Junior (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Spectre_Junior) kerosene/hydrogen peroxide rocket motor, 5,000 lbf (22 kN) eachPerformance

Maximum speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_speeds#Vno): 2.5 Mach
Service ceiling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiling_(aeronautics)): 60,000 ft (18,000 m)
Endurance: 32 minutesArmament


Missiles: 2 × Red Hebe (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_Hebe&action=edit&redlink=1) (radar guided) or Blue Jay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Firestreak) (heat-seeking) missilesIs this another TSR2 that just didn't get off the drawing board? :confused:

[green granite]

Another victim of Duncan Sandys prognosis :(

[Metman]

Endurance 32 minutes?!

[ORAC]

Looks like a competitor to the Saunders-Roe SR 53 and 177 (http://www.unrealaircraft.com/classics/sr_53_177.php). Except the SR53 actually flew.....

See also wikipedia here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saunders-Roe_SR.53) and here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saunders-Roe_SR.177)

[aviate1138]

gg

The same Duncan Sandys that stood up in the Houses of Parliament and said there would be no more revenge weapons falling on the UK [He was Chairman of a War Cabinet Committee for defence against German flying bombs and rockets]? I think a V2 landed shortly afterwards! :rolleyes:

Politicians!

Winston Churchill was his Father in Law!

[green granite]

The same Duncan Sandys that stood up in the Houses of Parliament and said there would be no more revenge weapons falling on the UK [He was Chairman of a War Cabinet Committee for defence against German flying bombs and rockets]

Strange you should say that, I'm just re-reading RV Jones' "Most Secret War" and have just finished the chapter dealing with Sandys' arrogance about the rocket intelligence.

[Buster Hyman]

32 mins...that's Wikipedia for you! :rolleyes:

Type 559 (http://www.vickerssupermarine.org.uk/559.html) Doesn't give endurance but:
Requirement F.155 defined an aircraft that could intercept an enemy aircraft at 65,000 feet, 70 miles from base within 6 minutes.
Would leave 26mins to do the business.... :ooh:

[Brian Abraham]

If you squint you could almost mistake it for a Typhoon.

[BEagle]

The expression on the pilots face as those 2 missiles went zotting past the cockpit would have been priceless!

Except that no doubt he would have been trussed up in a Taylor helmet and would therefore have been able to see very little.

[aw ditor]

See "Project Cancelled" by Derek Wood, ISBN 1 85488 020 8.

[XV277]

Or Tony Buttler's more recent book

British Secret Projects: Jet Fighters Since 1950: Amazon.co.uk: Tony Buttler: Books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Secret-Projects-Fighters-Since/dp/1857800958/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255086132&sr=8-3)

You know, there is a reason nothing like these 'unconventional' designs enetered service with other nations, and it had nothing to do with Mr Sandys.

[aviate1138]

gg
"Strange you should say that, I'm just re-reading RV Jones' "Most Secret War" and have just finished the chapter dealing with Sandys' arrogance about the rocket intelligence."

RV Jones - there was a real man! The book is a must read. I have two dog eared copies.

He must be turning in his grave at the pronouncements of the present UK Chief Scientific Officer.
I would accept Politico biased, not quite Scientific Officer!

We should have cloned RV years ago! A lateral thinker of enormous talent. A great sense of humour. Does London have a statue anywhere in his honour? 4th Plinth Trafalgar Square - permanent fixing.

[green granite]

We should have cloned RV years ago! A lateral thinker of enormous talent. A great sense of humour.

Indeed we should have done, a very clever bloke.

Does London have a statue anywhere in his honour? 4th Plinth Trafalgar Square - permanent fixing.

Don't be silly, no-one who was as talented and did so much for the country is likely to be honoured in that way, the civil service wouldn't allow it.