given designation single engine naval strike fighter built service world war development troubled designed improved aircraft suited carrier operations prototypes ordered company designation informal actually flew development aircraft prolonged significant design changes slow deliveries components determination airframe meet requirements strike fighter doomed aircraft construction prototypes continued gain flight test data allocated strength testing flying aircraft sold disposal aircraft survived design required significant effort produce useful aircraft discussions redesign aircraft flow wing took place september new wing estimated reduce weight wing increase aircraft speed mph extent redesign increased led new fuselage improvements october design staff led started work development led specification issued february covering new aircraft specification designed radial engine rotating propellers allowed size rudder reduced new design given company designation known unofficially known specification number navy low winged single seat metal aft cockpit fuselage oval shaped stressed skin semi forward circular section tubular steel frame cockpit moved forward raised pilot position looked wing leading edge nose canopy adapted fighter rear fuselage single imperial gal fuel tank imperial gal fuel tanks centre wing section aircraft redesigned thinner inverted wing flow section wing consisted centre section degrees outer panels degrees folded places allow compact storage hangar decks aircraft carriers flaps fitted good low speed handling landing wing retractable dive brakes surfaces course redesign structure simplified reduced weight fuel capacity increased imperial gallons gal gross weight pounds work prototypes authorised november proposals alternative engines delayed progress decided adding engined prototype prototypes development sabre ministry believed enable develop knowledge aerodynamic structural design support engine development found aircraft balanced powerplant placed pilot necessary redesign pound weight increase coupled limited funds available royal_navy meant longer justified cancelled october final design engine rotating propellers cancelled january conventional horsepower substituted engine found require flexible mounts modified vertical rudder enlarged square feet counteract new engine september strength analysis conducted revealed aircraft require strengthening serve strike fighter costly redesign required bring requirements comparable weight performance flown contract placed production aircraft delayed late delivery propeller prototype rolled february taken road maiden flight april year prototypes completed end september prototype modified reduce outer wing degrees second prototypes remained ordered flying ceased work aircraft stopped later month prototype allocated tests powered controls testing prototype shown adequate cruise speed heavy low high speed second prototype allocated structural testing prototype maiden flight early pace flight testing hours minutes completed november half connected air performances testing concluded march officer charge concluded purpose tests faster gave pilot better view cockpit disappointing test pilot naval aviator captain claiming sluggish powered gave controls leading instability turbulent air operational history operational experience found strike fighter far suited carrier operations particular pilot sat near wing trailing edge looking long wide nose gave particularly poor view landing rendered obsolete arrival gas turbine engines draw proposals powered derivatives engine went orders instead going flying prototypes remained use sold later scrapped aircraft prototypes ordered january specification airframe sold air april second prototypes ordered january structural testing disposed aircraft ordered april research power boosted february airframe sold october prototypes ordered march powered engine order cancelled aircraft built operators entered service specifications data general characteristics crew pilot length wingspan height wing area weight loaded weight powerplant cylinder radial engine performance maximum speed mph knots cruise speed mph knots range nmi service ceiling rate climb min armament guns provision machine guns wing fitted prototypes rockets rocket projectiles rails bombs torpedo bombs wing lieu torpedo
Blackburn Firecrest