What Cockpit ?
The N3N-3 was No.73 in my logbook, a huge ungainly pussycat of an aeroplane with absolutely no forward view during anything except for level cruise. But, it was a lovely comfortable and truly classic way of getting airborne. Better still, I was being paid for flying it - trying to obtain data to get one onto a (UK) Public Transport CofA (in which we succeeded).
I'm temporarily away from my photo library, so maybe somebody else could jump in whilst I dig something out?
G
I'm temporarily away from my photo library, so maybe somebody else could jump in whilst I dig something out?
G
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Southern UK
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Cringe you are correct with the Lympne trials DH53 Humming bird
Don't know who is in the chair now as Genghis has a credit as does Gas path
So I suggest whomever is quickest on the draw for the challenge.
W
Don't know who is in the chair now as Genghis has a credit as does Gas path
So I suggest whomever is quickest on the draw for the challenge.
W
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
Looks like a jet trainer - tandem - with some test instrumentation on board.
Is it an Aermacchi MB326M Impala?
Or a WSK TS 11 bis DF Iskra
It looks a bit like an L29 (that's Aero L-29 Delfin)
Even looks a bit like a prototype / research Gnat!
Is it an Aermacchi MB326M Impala?
Or a WSK TS 11 bis DF Iskra
It looks a bit like an L29 (that's Aero L-29 Delfin)
Even looks a bit like a prototype / research Gnat!
Last edited by Saab Dastard; 2nd Mar 2006 at 23:47.
My money is on Saab, I reckon he's got it, but not with the Gnat. Don't the instruments look Soviet bloc type? Also, is that an accelerometer just below the glareshield which registers -4 to +12? That would be fun!
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Originally Posted by jabberwok
Wasn't the prototype Gnat called the Midge?
With compliments to www.fags.org.
"The Gnat was the creation of W.E.W. "Teddy" Petter, a British aircraft designer who had gained wide recognition for his design of the English Electric Canberra bomber and other aircraft. Petter had grown suspicious of the trend towards bigger and more expensive combat aircraft, and he felt that a small, simple fighter would offer the advantages of low purchase and operational costs. New lightweight turbojet engines were being developed that would be able to power such small fighters.
W E W Petter the designer of the Canberra bomber was unable to pursue this vision at English Electric, so he left to become managing director of Folland Aircraft. In 1951, using company funds, he began work on his lightweight fighter concept, which he designated the "Fo-141 Gnat". The Gnat was to be powered by a Bristol BE-22 Saturn turbojet with 16.9 kN (1,724 kg / 3,800 lb) thrust.
However, the Saturn was cancelled, and so Petter's unarmed proof-of-concept prototype for the Gnat was powered by the less powerful Armstrong Siddeley Viper 101 with 7.3 kN (744 kg / 1,640 lb) thrust. A prototype was designated the "Fo-139 Midge". The Midge first flew on 11 August 1954 with Teddy Tennant at the controls, and proved to be an excellent aircraft.
The Midge was evaluated by pilots from Canada, India, Jordan, New Zealand, and the US Air Force, and was almost universally praised. The Midge had performed a total of 220 flights when it was destroyed in a fatal crash on 26 September 1955, with a Swiss pilot at the controls.
However, the Midge had demonstrated that Petter's lightweight fighter concept had much going for it. Folland went on to develop a full-scale Gnat prototype, also using company funds.
The full-scale aircraft, designated the "Fo-145 Gnat", performed its initial flight on 18 July 1955, again with Tennant at the controls. It was very similar to the Midge, but had a maximum takeoff weight about twice as large. It was powered by a preproduction Bristol Orpheus turbojet with 14.6 kN (1,490 kg / 3,285 lb) thrust."
The / A Midge is there to be seen in the Hall of Aviation in Southampton, one of my favourite museums.
The Gnat design was eventually sold to Hindustan Aeronautics who developed it into the Ajeet, which starred in "Hot-Shots", the Top-Gun lampoon.
G
The Gnat design was eventually sold to Hindustan Aeronautics who developed it into the Ajeet, which starred in "Hot-Shots", the Top-Gun lampoon.
G
