Jump Jet: The Secret History of the Harrier

Archibald said:
Where does the " sp.107" designation come from ? It is outside the usual Hawker numbering system. Special projects ? Asking this, wondering about hypothetical Sp.106 or Sp.108...
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Study Project.

They were things Ron Williams thought would make a good 'project after next.' He had been seconded into the Advanced Projects Group at Kingston, with other staff from the wider HSA, and thought the 'Hawker' team could try a bit harder, when he went back to work with them on the P.1154RN.

When the P.1127 and P.1154 were active, and later when the Kestrel became the P.1127(RAF), most of the team were busy with real planes, so there were fewer P. numbered projects for the 'next' aircraft, giving Ron his chance to push for longer-term projects. They ended around 1968 due to a design reorganisation. One of the last SP designs fed into the Hawk.
 
I dug out a few SP numbers:

SP.104 - faster (hotter PCB), joint service version of P.1154RN, 1964

SP.105 - STOL version of Kestrel,1964

SP.115 - Harrier with two nozzle Pegasus and 1x RB189 lift jet, became P.1175, 1967

SP.117 - Straight wing trainer, became P.1182 Hawk, 1968
 
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Some more:

SP.113 - Supersonic land/ship V/STOL aircraft. Like a P.1154/Harrier hybrid but with long span, high aspect ratio wings and u/c units in wing pods. 1965

SP.115 - Subsonic V/STOL. Harrier-like, with all the problems ironed out (e.g. raised cockpit, lowered engine nozzles). 1966

SP.114 - low cost strike aircraft. Subsonic, like an AMX but with Hunter intakes, 1965

SP.119 - VTOL subsonic ground attack, like a Hawk/Hunter mix (low-mounted wing) with various wing sizes to reduce T/O run. Late 1968
 
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I am launching Jump Jet in London at Imperial College on Thursday 22nd October at 2pm.

The event is in-person and online. All welcome to register.

There will be a discussion about the book and a Q&A.

For those physically attending, the plan is to go and look at the first Hawker P.1127 and Alan Turing's computer in the Science Museum after. Both play a big part in the book.

Further details and registration are on this Imperial College page:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/211613/jump-jet/
 

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