Airmanship KnowledgeLearning Outcome 3

Part 7Historic Aircraft

Revision 2.00

Uncontrolled copy not subject to amendment

Airmanship KnowledgeLearning Outcome 3

Know the aircraft in service with the Royal Air Force

Contents

Historic Aircraft- Lancaster- Spitfire- Hurricane- Dakota- Lightning- Vulcan- Buccaneer- Phantom

Lancaster

Reporting Name Lancaster

Role Letters & Marks B1

Role BBMF

Lancaster

Lancaster

Lancaster

• The Avro Lancaster first flew in January 1941.• Altogether, 7,377 Lancasters were built in the UK and

Canada, with a peak of 293 made in one month, August 1944.

• Famous operational changes to the Lancaster included structural alterations to accommodate the massive 9,979kg Grand Slam bomb, and the Barnes Wallis “bouncing” bomb as used by No 617 “Dambusters” Squadron

Lancaster Technical Data

WING SPAN 31M

LENGTH 21M

CREW 7

MAXIMUM SPEED 238kts (442km/h) at sea level

ENGINES Four Rolls-Royce

Merlin Piston Engines

Spitfire

Reporting Name Spitfire

Role BBMF

Spitfire

Spitfire

• The Supermarine Spitfire was a development of a famous Schneider trophy racing aircraft designed by R.J. Mitchell.

• It was vital to the defence of the United Kingdom, and ultimately victory, in the Second World War.

• It is a tribute to R.J. Mitchell’s design, that over 22,000 Spitfires were produced in 36 separate Marks.

• Distinctive because of the elliptical shaped wing and the roar from the powerful piston engine.

Spitfire Technical Data

WING SPAN 11.2M

LENGTH 9.1M

CREW 1

MAXIMUM SPEED 378kts (700km/h) at sea level

ENGINES 1 Rolls-Royce Merlin

Hurricane

Reporting Name Hurricane

Role BBMF

Hurricane

Hurricane

• The Hawker Hurricane stands alongside the Spitfire in the halls of fame.

• In fact, the Hurricane predates the Spitfire by some two years, being designed in 1934, by Sydney Camm who later designed the Hunter and Harrier aircraft.

• The Hurricane was the first monoplane fighter in RAF service and also the first to exceed 260 kts (482 km/h) in level flight.

• Although perhaps not quite as well known as the Spitfire, it contributed more to the Battle of Britain, by destroying a greater number of enemy aircraft.

• This was due partly to its better turning performance, and partly to its the more rugged and more damage-tolerant construction.

Hurricane Technical Data

WING SPAN 12.2M

LENGTH 9.75M

CREW 1

MAXIMUM SPEED 328kts (609km/h) at sea level

ENGINES 1 Rolls-Royce

Merlin piston engine

Dakota

Reporting Name Dakota

Role Letters & Marks DC3

Role BBMF

Dakota

Dakota

• One of the most famous American-built transport aircraft ever produced.

• Nearly 13,000 where made by the Douglas Corporation since the first aircraft flew in 1935. Several hundreds are still flying and working today.

• Renowned for its rugged construction, Dakotas have transported passengers and freight around the world.

• The fin and rudder appear large and the tail wheel juts out below the fin. On the ground the nose of this tail dragger sits high in the air, supported on the balloon tyres of the retractable main under- carriage. Another good feature is the rectangular window shape.

Dakota Technical Data

WING SPAN 28.9M

LENGTH 19.5M

CREW 2

MAXIMUM SPEED 240kts (448km/h) at sea level

ENGINES Two Pratt & Whitney

R1830-90D piston engines

Lightning

Reporting Name Lightning

Role Interceptor

Lightning

Lightning

• The English Electric Lightning was the first and last all-British supersonic fighter

• Over 300 were built and the Lightning served with RAF Air Defence squadrons from 1959 until 1988

• The Lightning could climb at 50,000 feet per minute and fly at speeds of up to Mach 2.

Lightning Technical Data

WING SPAN 10.6M

LENGTH 16.8M

CREW 1

MAXIMUM SPEED Mach 2 at 36,000ft

ENGINES Two Rolls-Royce Avon Reheated Turbojets

Vulcan

Reporting Name Vulcan

Role Letters & Marks B2

Role Strategic Bomber

Vulcan

Vulcan

Vulcan

• Built by Avro, the Vulcan formed part of the RAF’s V-Force of nuclear bombers along with the Valiant and the Victor

• 136 were built between 1956 and 1965, and the Vulcan remained in RAF service until 1984

• The Vulcan was the RAF’s final purpose-built strategic bomber and saw action in the 1982 Falklands War

• The Vulcan remains the largest delta-winged aircraft ever to fly

Vulcan Technical Data

WING SPAN 33.8M

LENGTH 32.2M

CREW 5

MAXIMUM SPEED Mach 0.92 at 45,000ft

ENGINES 4 Rolls-Royce Olympus Turbojet engines

Buccaneer

Reporting Name Buccaneer

Role Letters & Marks S2B

Role Strike

Buccaneer

Buccaneer

• Manufactured by Blackburn, the Buccaneer was initially a carrier-based strike aircraft later adopted by the RAF

• The Buccaneer was designed as a low-level, high speed anti-shipping and nuclear strike aircraft

• The Buccaneer served with the Royal Navy from 1962 until the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal in 1978 when the Fleet Air Arm’s remaining Buccaneers were transferred to the RAF.

• The Buccaneer entered RAF service in 1969 and continued in service until 1993

• Buccaneers saw service in the 1991 Gulf War performing laser designation for Tornado GR1s

Buccaneer Technical Data

WING SPAN 13.4M

LENGTH 19.3M

CREW 2

MAXIMUM SPEED 580kts (1,074km/h) at 200ft

ENGINES Two Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans

Phantom

Reporting Name Phantom

Role Letters & Marks FG1 / FGR2

Role Air Defence / Ground Attack

Phantom

Phantom

Phantom

• Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, the Phantom FG1 was a carrier-based interceptor for the Royal Navy and the Phantom FGR2 a ground-attack aircraft for the RAF

• UK Phantoms were developed from the US Navy’s F-4J Phantom II, re-engined with Rolls-Royce Spey engines.

• The Phantom FG1 served with the Royal Navy from 1968 until the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal in 1978 when the Fleet Air Arm’s remaining Phantom FG1s were transferred to the RAF.

• The Phantom FGR2 entered RAF service in 1969 and continued in service until 1989

Phantom Technical Data

WING SPAN 11.7M

LENGTH 19.2M

CREW 2

MAXIMUM SPEED Mach 2 (2,370km/h) at 40,000ft

ENGINES Two reheated Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans

Questions?