sealordlawrence said:
Ken, I agree entirely, I merely seek to establish the exact intended role for the type.
It is very apparent the immediate UK strategy was a typically expensive one, strategic nuclear deterrance, a Navy able to engage Soviet naval bases and massed armoured formations supported by army nuclear weapons. Simultaneous with the reduction in overseas commitments we see a withdrawal from the European ones too. The RN retreats to the GIUK line and the RAF slowly gives up its strategic role. Economic reality is a hard one.
Hi Sealordlawrence,
At what period of time? It changed.
Note it was the Handley Page which was the First choice for the RAF, best performance!
Two variants then Three variants for certain plus proposed enlarged fuselage version to carry the UK LRBM.
Tanker/Transport / Radio Warfare
Transport as support aircraft for Empire Deployment of Canberra force to Singapore.
The Radio Warfare version was to be flown in support of the main Bomber Force with similar performance capability. Any alleged shortcomings Contrived to justify cancellation
Role split to separate Tanker and Transport roles but all aircraft types to retain receiver capability,
Transport has priority and receives initial order for six aircraft, second batch of six at cheaper rate if order confirmed... Very much cheaper than Boeing KC135 despite advantage of huge order in fact even the Canadair aircraft was consider as a better choice for USAF transport role but politics intervened
It was a Government inspired nonsense that the V1000 was unaffordable.
For given task this was internally admitted it was the cheaper option.
It is also admitted that it could not be faulted on technical grounds.
It appears that its field performance was superior to its eventual replacement the Britannia and about 6,000ft shorter than the Boeing KC 135 in the worst possible case.
In fact similar to the latest American piston job at the time.
It could have used just about any Civil International Airport of the period and World Wide the projected B707 only two. The Americans did not build long runways for fun.
V1000 had a 50% greater capacity and ceiling than the equivalent Boeing and needed only half the runway and more Stealthy.
Objectively it should have replaced the Boeing and been produced like the Canberra under license, possibly by Boeing in the States. At that time there was a congressman/ senator from California? Who is stated as saying what can we do about the British? Aeroplane or Flight can not remember which. Can anyone Help please?
But it was our own people who put the Knife in!