Talking picture 4pm 1965 evaluation of jumping jets
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Talking picture 4pm 1965 evaluation of jumping jets
It’s only a 10 min show, but focuses on the evaluation of probably the Kestrel or Harrier.
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"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Having just found a quote, excuse two postings.
Prior to the first flight, Hooker is claimed to have asked of Camm "I suppose you are going to do some conventional flying first Sydney?" and Camm replied "What for?" Hooker said "Well you know, just to make sure the aeroplane is a nice aeroplane, and everything under control." Camm replied, "Oh, Hawker aeroplanes are always beautiful, nothing wrong with a Hawker aeroplane, not going to bother with that. Vertical first time".
Prior to the first flight, Hooker is claimed to have asked of Camm "I suppose you are going to do some conventional flying first Sydney?" and Camm replied "What for?" Hooker said "Well you know, just to make sure the aeroplane is a nice aeroplane, and everything under control." Camm replied, "Oh, Hawker aeroplanes are always beautiful, nothing wrong with a Hawker aeroplane, not going to bother with that. Vertical first time".
I was on 54 Sqn ( Hunters) at West Raynham when these trials were carried out. Living in MQ's at Bircham Newton meant that I met and socialised with many of the development pilots during their evaluation training.
It was a real example of international association in a project that would produce an amazing VTOL fighter that was the Harrier .
It was a real example of international association in a project that would produce an amazing VTOL fighter that was the Harrier .
the USAF went for the A-10
US ARMY went for (eventually) Apache
and the Luftwaffe went for the armed Alpha Jet.
No other Air Force apart from the RAF bought the Harrier
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This may amuse you. From Wiki
Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn (20 March 1919 – 11 January 1983) was a German military aviator who was a renowned wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was the second most successful fighter pilot of all time after fellow pilot Erich Hartmann. Other than Hartmann, Barkhorn is the only fighter ace to ever exceed 300 claimed victories.[1] Following World War II, he became a high-ranking officer in the German Air Force of the Federal Republic of Germany
In 1964, Barkhorn was posted to the staff of Luftwaffen-Erprobungskommando (Air Force Test Command).[6] From October 1964 until November 1965, Barkhorn headed the six-man Bundesluftwaffe contingent of the Tripartite Kestrel Evaluation Squadron at RAF West Raynham, Norfolk, England. The squadron's mission was to evaluate the military capabilities of the V/STOL Kestrel, the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 and forerunner of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier V/STOL aircraft. The squadron consisted of military pilots and ground staff from three nations: Britain, USA and West Germany. In addition to being one of the squadron pilots, Barkhorn also served as one of the squadron's two deputy commanders. During one mission on 13 October 1963, he crash-landed a Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1, XS689, No. 9, at RAF West Raynham, when he apparently cut thrust one meter above ground, wiping out the undercarriage. A Luftwaffe Experte with 301 aerial victories, he is said to have commented, "Drei hundert und zwei [302]!" as he was helped from the jet. At the conclusion of the evaluation, Barkhorn then accompanied the American contingent to the U.S., where he assisted in that nation's continuing trials of six of the Kestrels that had been shipped to the U.S. and renamed the XV-6A.[112]
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Camera or laser?
there was plans for a supersonic Harrier version but the plenum burning reheat hadn’t been fully solved iirc before they dropped the version
there was plans for a supersonic Harrier version but the plenum burning reheat hadn’t been fully solved iirc before they dropped the version
This may amuse you. From Wiki
During one mission on 13 October 1963, he crash-landed a Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1, XS689, No. 9, at RAF West Raynham, when he apparently cut thrust one meter above ground, wiping out the undercarriage. A Luftwaffe Experte with 301 aerial victories, he is said to have commented, "Drei hundert und zwei [302]!" as he was helped from the jet.
PS In the U-tyoob version the film for the camera is shown being loaded at c. 1:45
I spent some time in a transonic wind tunnel in the 60s working with the team persuading underwing stores to depart downwards rather than up and over the wing. That meant loose articles heading downstream, where dwelt some vanes and a mighty wooden fan.
Rumour had it that pilots took a dim view bombs and such formating with their head while the little propeller wound up the internal gubbins
Rumour had it that pilots took a dim view bombs and such formating with their head while the little propeller wound up the internal gubbins
there was plans for a supersonic Harrier version but the plenum burning reheat hadn’t been fully solved iirc before they dropped the version
I believe the US Army not taking the Kestrel/Harrier project any further was as much a function of US inter-service politics as anything else. Around that time the US Army's ambitions to fly fixed-wing aircraft operationally were firmly quashed.
Yes, the P.1150. However, Hawker thought that it was too small to meet the NATO spec requirements, so developed it further into the P.1154 proposal. RN and RAF bickering delayed that until it was eventually binned by the Wilson government along with the HS681 (good riddance) and tragically the TSR-2.
For comparison the
Kestrel v P1154 -
wing span 23 ft v 36 ft
length 42.5 ft v 58.5 ft
auw 14,000lb v 48,000lb
By 1965 some small progress had been made in constructing the first P1154 prototype however the Phantom had been in service with the US Navy for 4 years so the P1154 was binned and Phantoms bought instead..
