Fairey Target Pilotless Aircraft

hesham

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Hi,

here is a 60-degree supersonic pilotless aircraft project,it was intended as a part
of Fairey FD.2 Delta and supersonic airliner research.

Fairey Swordfish and Albacore by W. A. Harrison
 

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Hesham, your image shows one of several 10-ft span models, built by Fairey Research and Armament Development Division at Heston. These models had a similar delta-planform to Fairey's F.D.1. They were not used as targets, they were made to help Fairey gain some experience with delta wings.

Power was provided by an RAE-designed and Fairey-built Beta 1 bi-fuel (hydrogen peroxide and methanol hydrazine) engine with two combustion chambers - 1800 lb thrust. It also had two solid-fuel (cordite) boosters, 600 lb thrust each, to help it get off the ground.

With large amounts of cordite in steel cases alongside a fuselage with ample amounts of 80 % proof hydrogen peroxide inside, all the ingredients were present for some very satisfying fireworks. After two near-accidents, the RAE elected to no longer conduct launchings from land, but rather from the tank-landing craft HMS Suvla, which was routinely sent out on Cardigan Bay, accompanied by two tugs.

And a rescue launch.

Further deliberations caused trials to be conducted in even more distant parts of the Commonwealth, to wit the Long-range Weapons Establishment at Woomera, Australia.

This is from the Fairey-Putnam by H.A. Taylor, which shows your image with a caption that reveals it was taken at the 1952 SBAC show.
 
Hi,


here is anther picture to pilotless twin-rocket-propelled research Model.
 

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Slowly derived from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachem_Ba_349
 
This model was rather a test vehicle for the tailsitter VTOL, that later emerged into the Fairey F.D.1, I think.
 
Hot Breath said:
alertken said:
Slowly derived from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachem_Ba_349

That seems rather a long stretch.

If Nazi rocket-science roots are sought, then it appears more Me 163/Enzian-like..
 

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