british single engine strike fighter royal_navy designed world war originally intended serve pure fighter performance allocation engine typhoon caused redesigned strike fighter advantage load carrying capability development slow production aircraft delivered end war built withdrawn line service development general required fighters capable navigating long ranges sea speed differential attackers critical defence british naval bases raf commitment provision admiralty accepted duty needed fighter experience early shown high performance carrier based single seat fighter advantage design sabre cylinder type engine accepted june proposal order drawing board meaning prototypes stating minimum speed knots mph raised cover design order placed january prototypes given service july low winged metal aft cockpit fuselage oval shaped stressed skin semi forward circular section tubular steel frame housed imperial gal main fuel tank imperial gal auxiliary fuel tank engine sabre engine housed wing root extensions large wing consisted centre section manually folded outer panels degrees allow compact storage hangar decks aircraft carriers increase lift reduce landing speed wing fitted large powered flaps extended edges fixed armament fitted outer wing panels rounds gun vertical rudder positioned forward horizontal ensure spin recovery rudder retain effectiveness conventional landing gear mounted ends centre wing section retracted unusual gauge mounted outside cockpit landing pilot look cockpit instrument readings development modern heads display unarmed prototype flew february sabre armed prototypes following july initial flight trials disappointment aircraft reach mph estimated maximum speed mph replacement sabre iii engine built specifically improved speed mph second prototype conducted deck landing trials commander controls aboard fleet carrier february sabre engine typhoon fighter production map decided typhoon priority sabre sabre experiencing production problems new engine needed necessary airframe improvements accommodate abandon time effort invested design map decided convert interim strike fighter meet fleet air arm requirement single seat torpedo bomber capable carrying bombs rockets engaging air air combat production aircraft built original specifications retained trials development work badly damaged emergency landing converted prototype strike variant company designation flew march adaptation wing centre section widened foot inches room torpedo like saw limited production run aircraft allocated development work including assigned shore based trials unit proposed versions sabre powered aircraft including raf version high lift wing accepted development new specification issued cover development horsepower vii radial engine prototypes converted incomplete additional aircraft delivered completing batch aircraft prototype flew december construction new aircraft slow flight november changes related installation larger diameter engine including air oil cooler wing root extensions housed engine spring loaded trim fitted control surfaces production aircraft fitted improved engine found unsuitable carrier operations variety reasons new engine produced sabre rudder control insufficient takeoff flaps needed carrier use visibility landing poor attachment airframe weak aircraft tendency drop wing stall landing development continued issues new development designated featured larger tail surfaces better low speed control enlarged rudder horn balanced vertical offset degrees port counteract bladed propeller wings featured operated dive brakes upper lower surfaces aircraft wings stressed carry pound bomb wing imperial gal drop tank rockets frame held torpedo connected nose downward increase ground clearance landing gear extended upward reduce drag flight imperial gal fuel tank fitted lieu torpedo flew version enter mass production built aircraft cancelled later featured minor aerodynamic improvements converted final version boosted increase aircraft rate roll converted standard operational history action world war issued september squadron disbanded september deploying sea reformed flew carrier later hms attack aircraft february received december flew primarily carrier disbanded november variety second line squadrons issued marks training trials time test pilot naval aviator captain opinion aircraft short performance sadly lacking especially rate roll furthermore positioning cockpit trailing edge wing gave pilot poor view nose ability view target land aircraft aboard carrier brown called disaster deck landing aircraft variants prototypes ordered meet named july second prototype built prototype production variant order aircraft built completed iii variants completed improved variant built original production branch iii vii powered variant prototypes production aircraft original production batch improved variant ordered completed converted standard delivery modified designated improved variant modified conversions prototype modified conversions operators arm naval air squadron data baby battleship general characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area weight gross weight fuel capacity imp gal gal powerplant bristol cylinder radial engine propellers bladed diameter performance maximum speed mph cruise speed mph range nmi rate climb min armament guns rockets bombs torpedo bombs
Blackburn Firebrand