Folland FO.108
The Folland FO.108 (also Folland 43/37 ) was a three-seat, single-engine test aircraft for engine testing by the British manufacturer Folland Aircraft . Engines up to around 3000 HP (2200 kW) could be tested. The low-wing aircraft had a rigid landing gear and a conventional tail unit. The self-supporting wing was made of wood and covered with plywood. The fuselage was made of light metal in a half-shell construction. It was Folland's first own development.
Henry Folland designed this test vehicle in accordance with specification 43/37 of DTD / AM (Director of Technical Development / Air Ministry ) under contract no. 953635/38 from October 5, 1938. In 1940 a total of twelve copies with the RAF serial numbers P1774 to P1785 were built. In order to make it easy to change the engine, there was an adapter plate in front of the cockpit to which the required additional units could also be attached. Seats were provided behind the pilot for two observers to record the engine performance values. Numerous test flights were carried out with the machines up to 1945. For installation it came Bristol Hercules , Bristol Centaurus , Napier Saber and Rolls-Royce Griffon .
Whereabouts
- P1774 with a Napier Saber II or with a Britol Centaurus IV: The prototype made its maiden flight on August 9, 1942 with the Napier Saber engine No, p. 944 together with a new cooling regulation system, which was intended for installation in the Blackburn Firebrand . On September 14, 1944 the test vehicle broke, and the test was canceled on September 18, 1944 without further requests after a total of 287 flight hours.
- P1775 with the Bristol Hercules VIII or Centaurus IV engines: The prototype first flew on May 4, 1942 and was primarily intended for tests with the Bristol Hercules III engine. This engine should be built into the Vickers Wellington Mk.V for great heights . After Bristol stopped developing the Hercules VIII, it was checked whether the installation of a Bristol Centaurus would be possible. However, this project is not documented. However, between August 15, 1943 and July 20, 1944, a total of 47.5 flight hours with a Centaurus engine and a Rotol propeller were carried out at the RAE (Royal Aircraft Establishment). This test vehicle broke on September 18, 1944 and was removed from the program on September 21, 1944 without any further demands from the DTD.
- P 1776 with Napier Saber I or Bristol Centaurus I: The test vehicle was sold to Napier & Son Ltd. on March 29, 1942 . delivered in Luton and equipped there with a Bristol Hercules, but was shortly afterwards replaced by a Napier Saber I with a de Havilland propeller. The tests were completed in June 1943. The prototype was badly damaged by fire during ground test runs on March 1, 1944. The request was canceled on August 28, 1944.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| length | 13.26 m |
| height | 4.95 m |
| span | 17.68 m |
| Wing area | 54.65 m² |
| Takeoff mass (typical) | 6810 kg |
The flight performance data depended on the engine used.
| Engine | Top speed | Cruising speed |
|---|---|---|
| Napier Saber I | 428 km / h at an altitude of 4755 m | 394 km / h at an altitude of 1220 m |
| Bristol Hercules III | 407 km / h at an altitude of 3355 m | 381 km / h at an altitude of 4265 m |
| Bristol Centaurus IV | 470 km / h at an altitude of 4570 m | 430 km / h at an altitude of 3960 m |
Individual evidence
- ^ Air Britain Military Aviation Historical Quarterly. Volume 32, Issue 127, 2006, pp. 117–121, ISSN 0262-8791 .
- ↑ Bruce Robertson: British Military Aircraft Serials 1911-71. 4th, revised edition. Ian Allan, London 1971, ISBN 0-7110-0247-9 , p. 164.
- ^ Phil Butler: Air Britain Military Aviation Historical Quarterly. Volume 32, Issue 127, 2006, pp. 117–121.
- ↑ Aero. Illustrated compilation of aviation. Aerospace Publishing, No. 82, London 1985, p. 2296.