Unsuccessful contenders

Until the early 1950s it was common to order protypes to meet military aircraft specifications from at least two competitors. Unsuccesful types are noted below.

Auster Type N, Type S and Heston JC.6

The Auster AOP Mark 8 designation was not used and may have been intended for one of two aircraft designed and flown before the Mk 9. The Type N was produced to specification A.2/45 which called for an aircraft capable of taking more equipment than the AOP Mk 6 and which could be easily dismantled. Two machines were completed and the first (VL522) flew on 28 April 1948. The type served as a hack with 227 OCU. The Type S was a light observation project powered by the Blackburn Bombardier engine, the prototype of which, WJ316, flew in September 1950. It was not taken into service but after much development flying led to the AOP Mk 9.

The Heston JC.6 was built to specification A.2/45 as an air observation platform. It was a twin-boom, two-seat design powered by a single Giopsy Queen 33 engine driving a pusher propellor. The prototype, VL529, flew in 1947 abut after trials with A&AEE the type was dropped, like the Auster Type N, in favour of the Auster AOP Mk 9.

Blackburn Firecrest

The Blackburn B-48 strike aircraft was designed to specification S.28/43 as a Firebrand replacement. The design was clearly based on the Firebrand fuselage but with a completely new inverted gull wing. No guns were fitted to the prototypes but there was provision for a single torpedo plus underwing bombs or rocket projectiles. Given the SBAC designation YA-1 the prototype, RT651, flew on 1 April 1947 and two further airframes followed. In the event the type was not ordered, the need being met by the Wyvern, but the third prototype was used for a range of trials at the A&AEE.

Blackburn YA7, YA8 and YB1

In common with Short Brothers (SB3) and Fairey Aviation (Gannet) Blackburn responded to specification GR.17/45 for a two seat anti-submarine aircraft capable of operating from small carriers. Their design, given the SBAC designation YA7, was broadly similar to that of the Gannet but through initial shortage of the intended engine, the Double Mamba, the type was fitted temporarily with a Griffon 56 driving contra-rotating propellors. In this form the prototype, WB781, flew on 20 September 1949. The second prototype, designated YA8, was WB788 and it flew on 3 May 1950. It incorporated a number of changes including provision for a crew of three, slight sweepback of the wing and an enlarged fin and rudder to improve directional stability. The first Double Mamba powered prototype was WB797 which, as the YB1, flew on 19 July 1950. Although slightly faster than the Gannet the Blackburn design was not selected for production although it was used as a trials aircraft by 703 NAS.

Handley Page HPR.2

The HPR.2 was built to specification T.16/48 which sought a two-seat, side-by-side, basic trainer capable of operating across the world. After numerous expressions of interest three protoypes from Handley Page and Percival were ordered. In the event the Percival design, later to become the Provost, won and only two HPR.2s were completed. The first, WE496, was fitted with a Cheetah engine while WE505, with a revised fin and rudder, was fitted with the Leonides.

Miles M.100 Student 2

The Miles M.100 Student was built as a lightweight trainer building on the Company's experience with the M.77 Sparrowjet. The sole aircraft G-APLK was allocated XS941 when developed in the Mark 2 version as a prospective COIN type.

Short SB.3

The final Sturgeon variant was the grotesque SB.3 anti-submarine prototype built to the same specification (M.6/49) that the Gannet met. The nose profile was changed to accommodate a deep radar. The sole SB.3 (WF632) employed twin Mamba turbo-prop engines but unlike the Gannet, whose engines were coupled, the SB.3 could not fly on a single engine for any period.