
Fairey Delta 2 | |
|---|---|
| Paese | Regno unito |
| Ruolo | Aerei da ricerca ad alta velocità |
| Prima mosca | 6 ottobre 1954 |
| Costruito | 2 |
Le Delta di Fairey 2 O FD2 (designazione interna Type V all'interno di Fairey) era un aereo da ricerca supersonico britannico prodotto dalla Fairey Aviation Company in risposta a una specifica del Ministero delle Forniture per un aereo specializzato per condurre indagini sul volo e il controllo a velocità transoniche e supersoniche. Le caratteristiche principali del tipo includono l'adozione di un'ala delta e un naso a droop. Il 6 ottobre 1954, il Delta 2 condusse il suo primo volo, pilotato dal pilota collaudatore di Fairey Peter Twiss; sarebbero stati prodotti in totale due aerei. Il Delta 2 fu l'ultimo aereo prodotto da Fairey come produzione indipendente.
fonte: Fairey Delta 2 su Wikipedia
| BAC 221 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Howard Mason |
| Localizzazione | Fleet Air Arm Museum |
| Foto | 61 |
Vedi anche:
| Fairey Delta FD2 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Meindert de Vreeze |
| Localizzazione | Inconsapevole |
| Foto | 25 |
General Characteristics and Role
The BAC 221 was a highly specialized British research aircraft developed to support the Concorde supersonic transport program. It was not a “new” airframe from scratch, but rather a total reconstruction of the record-breaking Fairey Delta 2 (WG774). The primary objective of the BAC 221 was to investigate the aerodynamic behavior of the ogival (ogee) slender delta wing at high speeds. This specific wing shape was critical for Concorde’s success, balancing high-speed efficiency with manageable low-speed handling. The aircraft featured a significantly lengthened fuselage and a much taller landing gear to accommodate the high angles of attack required during landing.
| Property | Typical Value (BAC 221) |
|---|---|
| digitare | Experimental Supersonic Research Aircraft |
| National Origin | Regno Unito |
| Produttore | British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) |
| First Flight (Rebuilt) | May 1, 1964 |
| Equipaggio | 1 (Pilot) |
| Lunghezza | 17.56 m (57 ft 7 in) |
| Apertura alare | 7.62 m (25 ft 0 in) |
| Velocità massima | Mach 1.65 (Approx. 1,700 km/h) |
Powerplant and Wing Design
- Engine: 1 x Rolls-Royce Avon RA.28R afterburning turbojet.
- Engine Thrust: 10,000 lbf dry / 14,000 lbf with reheat.
- Ogival Wing: The centerpiece of the modification, this “ogee” wing replaced the straight-tapered delta of the FD2 to mimic the planned planform for Concorde.
- Landing Gear: To handle the nose-high landing attitude of the slender delta, a completely new, taller undercarriage was fitted, utilizing components from the English Electric Lightning.
- Droop Nose: Retained and refined from the Fairey Delta 2, the entire cockpit and nose section could be tilted downwards to allow the pilot to see the runway during approach.
- Instrumentation: Equipped with extensive flight-test sensors and a camera mounted in a fin-tip fairing to record airflow patterns over the wing using wool tufts.
Service History and Preservation
- RAE Bedford: Following its maiden flight, the aircraft was delivered to the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) at Bedford, where it conducted nearly a decade of high-speed trials.
- Flight Research: While the Handley Page HP.115 tested the low-speed characteristics of the delta wing, the BAC 221 provided the vital supersonic data needed to finalize the Concorde’s flight control systems.
- Retirement: The aircraft was retired in 1973 after the Concorde prototypes had already begun their own successful test flights.
- Current Status: Today, the BAC 221 is preserved and on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, Somerset. It is positioned directly alongside the British Concorde prototype (G-BSST), allowing visitors to see the direct evolution of the wing design.
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