Bristol RA6 pathfinder

blackkite

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https://www.key.aero/article/v-force-pathfinder-story-unique-black-valiant-b2
"The Bristol RA6 was to be powered by a pair of scaled-down Bristol Olympus engines rated at 4,400lbf, mounted in underwing nacelles under the swept, high-aspect ratio wings, with a wing sweep of 45°. The wing loading was computed at 96lb per sq ft, which was high, and at the all-up weight of 54,000lb would require rocket-assisted take-off (RATO). This took the form of eight solid rocket motors in vertically stacked pairs, with four rockets on each side of the fuselage just aft of the wing root trailing edge. The stores were to comprise 1,000lb of target markers and 200lb of flares and photo-flashes. To meet the range requirement the RA6 could be fitted with two drop tanks, carried at the four and eight o’clock positions on the fuselage at the centre of gravity. The Air Staff’s desire for marking in a dive was more easily met by Bristol, which fitted the RA6 with large dive brakes on the rear fuselage, while the cockpit afforded an excellent view of the target.

Bristol also suggested a version that used an existing engine, the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire rated at 7,300lbf, but this would be a larger aircraft with an all-up weight of 73,000lb. This would have a higher cruising altitude of 44,000ft and a higher payload, carrying 2,700lb of stores. The manufacturer further described a slightly smaller version, the RA4, with an even higher wing loading of 108lb per sq ft and less equipment, for an all-up weight of 51,400lb."
 

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Hi! Valiant pass finder.

'Work began on what became known as the Vickers Type 673. To cope with the stress of the lowaltitude environment the Valiant would require modification. The most obvious change was to the wing, which gained a large trailingedge sponson just outboard of the engines to house a new, rearwards-retracting, four-wheel bogie undercarriage. The reason for changing the undercarriage from an outwards-retracting tandem pair to the bogie was to avoid potential weaknesses in the wing structure such as the undercarriage wells outboard of the engine bays on the B1’s wing. By moving the undercarriage into a trailing-edge sponson, the aircraft’s centre of gravity moved aft, countered by a 4ft 6in extension forward of the wing, which provided space for additional equipment.'
 

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Based on the provided search results, the Handley Page H.P.98 is identified as a project designation associated with a target marker variant of the Handley Page H.P.80, which was the prototype for the Handley Page Victor bomber.
  • Project Context: The H.P.98 was part of the development and project history related to the Handley Page Victor crescent-wing bomber.
  • Purpose: It was designed as a "Target Marker Project".
  • Connection to Victor: The Handley Page Victor (of which 86 were built) was a Cold War-era, four-engine jet bomber that served with the Royal Air Force.
Note: The results also mention the H.P.99 "Daisy Cutter" Low-Level Bomber in the same context. (AI)

HP.98Proposed pathfinder version with remotely operated tail guns and powered by Conway engines. Rejected in favour of Valiant B.2.(wikipedia)
 
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Handley Page estimated that, with Conway or Olympus engines, the HP98 could achieve a cruise speed of 500kt, at altitudes of up to 47,000ft with Conways. At low altitude it calculated that the aircraft could reach 580kt during the 30 minutes of target search at 5,000ft. This was the ‘economic’ speed as Handley Page advised that the HP98 was good for 600kt at low level. As with the RA6, the HP98 did not progress.
 
Based on the provided search results, the Handley Page H.P.98 is identified as a project designation associated with a target marker variant of the Handley Page H.P.80, which was the prototype for the Handley Page Victor bomber.
  • Project Context: The H.P.98 was part of the development and project history related to the Handley Page Victor crescent-wing bomber.
  • Purpose: It was designed as a "Target Marker Project".
  • Connection to Victor: The Handley Page Victor (of which 86 were built) was a Cold War-era, four-engine jet bomber that served with the Royal Air Force.
Note: The results also mention the H.P.99 "Daisy Cutter" Low-Level Bomber in the same context. (AI)

HP.98Proposed pathfinder version with remotely operated tail guns and powered by Conway engines. Rejected in favour of Valiant B.2.(wikipedia)
Why are you posting AI search results when we already have covered these types on the forum?
Such as H.P.98 here: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...-development-projects.6066/page-2#post-282586
 

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