P.130
This was a group of proposals formulated in late 1954/early 1955, and designated Mk 1 to Mk 12, for VTOL aircraft having fanlift. Details of only two of them survive. The Mk 6 was a fairly conventional delta-wing aircraft with a centrally-mounted 54 in diameter contra-rotating fan, and powered by five Rolls-Royce RB.108 engines. The Mk 8 was a more radical delta powered by two Bristol Orpheus engines, and featuring a 75 in diameter contra-rotating fan, with three smaller balancing fans in the wings and the nose. The twin fins were underslung and supported the mainwheels of the tricycle undercarriage. This layout was to give adequate ground clearance for the large mass airflow from the fans. The Mk 8 design had folding wings and a cannon mounted in each wing inboard of the balancing fan, and outboard of an underwing pylon.