Supermarine Scimitar
| Supermarine Scimitar | |
|---|---|
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| Type: | twin-engined fighter |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
January 19, 1956 |
| Commissioning: |
January 1957 |
| Number of pieces: |
76 |
The Supermarine Scimitar was a twin-engine fighter aircraft of the time of the Cold War, from British production. It was intended for use as an interceptor or fighter-bomber . The first prototype started in 1951, the machines were put into service from January 1957 and were used until 1965. The name is derived from the English term scimitar for a scimitar .
Development and history
The Scimitar was specially designed and developed for the British Naval Air Force . It was the first naval aircraft with swept wings. The machine was designed for use at subsonic speed. The first prototype from 1951 had swept wings, the second prototype that followed in 1954 had swept wings. The near-series prototype (Type 544) was presented in January 1956. The machines, which were put into service from January 1957, could be equipped with special cameras on the bow as well as with air refueling tanks. The machine's armament was extremely modern. In addition to the four 30 mm cannons permanently installed in the fuselage, air-to-air missiles of the Sidewinder type , air-to-surface missiles of the AGM-12B Bullpup type , conventional bombs or even a single tactical atomic bomb could be used on the four external load carriers under the wings attached.
operator
Incidents
Of the 76 Scimitar in service, 39 (51%) were lost due to accidents.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| length | 16.87 m |
| span | 11.33 m |
| height | 4.65 m |
| Wing area | 45.06 m² |
| Total mass | 18,144 kg |
| Top speed | 1142 km / h at sea level |
| normal range | approx. 960 km |
| Engines | two Rolls-Royce-Avon Mk202 jet engines, each with 5103 kp static thrust |
| Armament | four 30 mm ADEN cannons , plus either unguided rockets on four external load carriers under the wings, up to four air-to-air or air-to-surface missiles, bombs or a single tactical atomic bomb |
