Manned models

Although the United Kingdom was well served by research establishments there were limits to which laboratory tests could simulate performance of aircraft with novel power and design configurations. Through the first decade or so after the end of the war it was not uncommon for manned 'models' to be secured in order to assess aspects of performance. In addition to the types descibed below models were built for the DH.110 (DH.108 above), Vulcan (Avro 707 above) and Concorde (H.P.115 and BAC 221above).

Short SB.5

n 1948 English Electric was contracted to design a supersonic aircraft with highly swept wings. Wind tunnel tests were conducted and in 1949 specification F.23/49 was issued for a day fighter with supersonic performance. The original design incorporated highly swept wings and a low-set tailplane, about which characteristics there was some official concern. Apart from investment in a new wind-tunnel by English Electric, it was also decided to build a flying model to test wing-sweep and tailplane setting, especially at low speeds. Thus the Short SB.5 (WG768) with fixed undercarriage and powered by a Derwent engine flew on 2 December 1952. The wings could be swept (on the ground) to 50°, 60° and 69° and the tailplane position could be moved from fintip to lower fuselage. As a result of tests on the SB.5 the design was set with 60° wing sweep and with a low-set tailplane. Three prototype P1A aircraft were ordered and the first (WG760) flew on 4 August 1954. On its third flight on 11 August 1954 WG760 became the first British aircraft to exceed Mach 1 in level flight. In 1958 the SB.5 was fitted with an Orpheus B.Or.3 of 4,850 lbs thrust for further research at Bedford with the wing set at 69° sweep. It was retired in 1968 and is preserved at Cosford.

Handley Page H.P.88/Supermarine 521/Blackburn YB.2

The Handley Page H.P.80 (later Victor) response to specification B.35/46 incorporated wings of an unusual crescent design and it was decided to test the shape and the horizontal tail surfaces on a 2/5 scale model. An existing fuselage was used, that of the Supermarine Attacker with some Swift elements and the wings were designed under sub-contract by Blackburn. The resulting aircraft was unusual if not unique in having three designations: Handley Page H.P.88, Supermarine Type 521 and Blackburn YB.2! Two aircraft were ordered with serials VX330 and 337 but only the first was built. It flew on 21 June 1951 from Carnaby and had made several dozen flights when it crashed on 26 August 1951 killing the Handley Page test pilot Douglas Broomfield. The H.P.88 had contributed to the Victor programme and its loss had no negative effect on it.

Vickers Wild Goose and Swallow

Dr Barnes Wallis had been a foremost proponent of variable sweep wings for aircraft needing to fly fast. Thus the wings could be extended to provide optimal configuration for take-off or landing and swept for high-speed flight. Barnes Wallis tested several models at Brooklands and a manned aircraft was under construction by Heston Aircraft Company when the project as stopped in favour of unmanned models. A contract was secured by Vickers for twelve variable sweep Wild Goose models with serials XA197-202 and XA947-952. These were radio-controlled and of unusual design with the wings set well back and no tailplane, being powered by a single HTP rocket. It was flown by the RAE from the unused airfield at Predannack in Cornwall, being launched at about 100mph from a trolley. These tests were extremely successful and a supersonic model followed in the form of the Swallow. The design was quite different being a slender delta from nose to tail - rather like and arrow-head but with the wing break at about half the length. Span was 30ft and the Swallow was powered by two HTP engines. Ten were ordered with serials XK831-835 and XK850-854 and the first flight, on which the model was lost, took place on 18 November 1955 at Predannack. The programme was terminated in 1957.12.4