Fairey Delta 2 Inside Out

[BEagle]

But only a year later, Duncan Sandys and his infamous Defence White Paper effectively killed off the once-Great British aircraft industry, as far as manned fighters were concerned.

The Harrier, for all its V/STOL capability, was little more than a clever Hunter with shorter range.

But the Mirage family are all descended from the FD2.

[WG774]

Thanks for filling us in Pob. Alas I couldn’t be there…

Beagle - Somewhere in a parallel universe, HM Forces would’ve operated these: FD III

The artist’s impression comes from This Page

Note the translate button in the top left.

I understand the link is from a commercial site, but it’s offering Russian goods and services, so I hope the moderators can make an exception.

[IcePaq]

No mention of the TSR2?

[Conan the Librarian]

BEagle, as so often, raises an interesting point. Memory again and possibly dodgy at that, but weren't quite a lot of FD2 flights done from Cazaux? Was there a formal exchange of data with our garlic munching brethren?

Conan

PS BEags, you should try that descripion of Harrier on the Mil forum... Still sniggering at the thought of the likely results. Could make the Herc K and J series of rants like a tea party.

[green granite]

I remember sitting near the QRA pans entrance to RAE Bedford (excuse me while I wipe away a tear) with several BOAC 707s using the airfield for crew training
when they were told that there would be a 1/2 hr delay on all movements & they could either get airborn or stay on the ground. A few minutes later the Fred
came troting down the runway and took off, it came back about 20mins later low
on fuel as usual a truly wonderful sight

PS: I think it was being flown J.F. but I might be wrong on that

[POBJOY]

fFD 2 IN FRANCE

THE FRENCH GOT A GOOD LOOK AT THE DELTA BECAUSE THE UK GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT PERMIT LOW LEVEL TESTING OVER HERE.PLUS OUR PEOPLE HAD NO INTENTION TO DEVELOP THE PROJECT IN TO A MILITARY APPLICATION,ALTHOUGH FAIREYS HAD DESIGNED A POTENTIAL WORLD BEATER. (WHOOPS)

ALSO A FRENCH COMPANY INSURED THE LOW LEVEL TESTING FOR A TOKEN AMOUNT WHEN THE UK MARKET WANTED THOUSANDS.(THE FRENCH NEW A GOOD THING WHEN THEY SAW IT)

[Bre901]

BEagle

But the Mirage family are all descended from the FD2

The 1st Mirage flew on June 25th 1954 (more inspired by the Convair Delta, initially), whereas the FD2 flew in October 1954. No doubt that Dassault learnt a lot from the FD2 test flights at Cazaux (the Mirage III's first fligh was indeed after the Cazaux test flights), but after all, it was the English government who prohibited supersonic flights over Great Britain

[chevvron]

Supersonic flights were still authorised overland up to 1974/75 according the RAE Bedford flying order book of that period. They used the Bedford Levels as a supersonic corridor; presumably it wasn't too heavily inhabited in those days (can't swear to that though).
This was originally to accomodate the BAC 221 (aka FD2 Mk 2) but was retained 'just in case' after that project ended.

[POBJOY]

FD2 PERFORMANCE

WE ALL KNOW FAST THE FD2 WENT, BUT HOW HIGH DID IT GET UP TO!!

[Conan the Librarian]

No expert here, but I would imagine the tropopause for FD2, though Gawd knows where the 221 was aimed. (I suspect not that high, actually)


Conan