Originally Posted by
meleagertoo
I don't dispute your first sentences but cannot support your last.
But this unsupportable twaddle?
NO the Americans did NOT "nick" the all flying tailplane. This is a well debunked conspiracy theory/myth.
Go to the RAES lectures archive to discover the truth.
From the Horse's mouth - lecture by Capt. Eric 'Winkle' Brown.
In December 1943, a top secret contract (E.24/43) was awarded to Miles Aircraft. The contract was to build the world's first supersonic jet capable of 1000mph. The only reliable source of data on supersonic objects came from the Armament Research Dept and their wind tunnel tests on ammunition. From this, Miles developed an exceptionally thin-winged bullet shaped aircraft. The research was inexplicably passed to the Americans in 1944. By December 1945, one prototype was virtually complete. The second, destined for an attempt at the sound barrier was 80 per cent complete. In February 1946, Capt Eric Brown was confirmed as the test pilot and October 1946 was set for the supersonic trials. However, on 12 February 1946, Miles were ordered to stop production. No plausible explanation was given for the cancellation when Britain was within six months of breaking the sound barrier. Eric Brown and others directly involved including Dennis Bancroft, the Chief Aerodynamicist on the M.52, have now come together to try and finally solve the mystery
The Americans were supposed to reciprocate the exchange of information, but didn't. Quel suprise
. Noting quite like the "special relationship"
Dennis Bancroft was the Chief Aerodynamist responsible for the all moving tailplane on the M52
Read the book
Captain Eric Brown CBE DSC AFC QCVSA RN (Author), Dennis Bancroft C.Eng MRAeS - I have.
#WhenBritainRuledTheSkies