Originally Posted by
POBJOY
It so happens that i have just re read an excellent book by a former Hunter pilot who only flew the T7 after he finished the Chivenor course.He makes the point that the 'climb' performance of the T7 was considerably less than the single seat version in use at the same time. !!!
You have put 'climb' in inverted commas so it is not clear to precisely what you are referring. But, with respect to T7 performance at the density altitude and mass that G-BXFI had at pull up at Shoreham, an entry at 350 KIAS with full power gives an apex height and airspeed that both are significantly greater than the minima required to complete the second half of a loop safely. The fact that a big engine single seat version has more thrust and so, for the same entry conditions, will apex higher and faster is totally irrelevant. If full T7 power is maintained throughout a looping manoeuvre entered at 350 KIAS at the accident atmospheric and mass conditions and the exit height is the same as entry height then the exit airspeed will be greater than that at entry ie. the aircraft will have gained energy overall. Therefore, as stated in the AAIB report, a Hunter T7 can fly a bent loop perfectly safely if it is entered at 350 KIAS with full power.