British Aerospace P.1216

Last updated

P.1216
British Aerospace P.1216 concept.jpg
Artist rendering of the British Aerospace P.1216 project
RoleSupersonic advanced short take-off/vertical landing
National originUnited Kingdom
Manufacturer British Aerospace

The British Aerospace (BAe) P.1216 was a planned Advanced Short Take Off/Vertical Landing (ASTOVL) supersonic aircraft from the 1980s. It was designed by the former Hawker design team at Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England that created the Harrier family of aircraft.

Contents

The P.1216 was planned to be powered by a plenum chamber burning (PCB) equipped vectored thrust engine. This used three swivelling engine nozzles rather than the four used in the Harrier. The project was most notable for its use of a twin boom layout in place of a single rear fuselage.

Background

Beginning in 1957 with the P.1127 the former Hawker design team at Kingston upon Thames undertook numerous studies into V/STOL aircraft. these studies identified that the best option was thrust vectoring using rotating engine nozzles. To obtain supersonic flight the design team concluded that plenum chamber burning (PCB) was the most thermodynamically efficient means of obtaining the necessary thrust augmentation. [1] PCB was developed for the vectored thrust Bristol Siddeley BS100 engine for the Hawker Siddeley P.1154 and obtained the additional thrust by burning additional fuel in a turbofan's cold bypass air, instead of the combined cold and hot gas flows as in a conventional afterburning engine.

Design and development

The problem with using PCB was that its thrust developed considerably more heat, noise and thrust induced vibrations compared with that produced in the Harrier. [1] As a result, the rear fuselage configuration employed on the Harrier was not suitable.

Beginning in 1980 the design team began investigating possible solutions. [1] By removing as much of the rear of the airframe as proposed in the preceding P.1212 and P.1214 designs they developed a small short fuselage with twin booms which removed the tailplanes from being directly in the path of the engine's exhaust. A similar solution to the three-nozzle problem was adopted in the later Yakovlev Yak-141 prototype supersonic VTOL interceptor.

The configuration allowed for two nozzles at the front and a single 90-degree rotating rear exhaust which was more efficient than having to split it into the twin rear nozzles used on the Harrier. [2] The booms provided a low drag location for the carrying of cannons in the front as well as missiles and avionics, while also shielding the jet exhausts from heat seeking missiles. [2] Instead of the Pegasus engine whose design dated back to the 1950s the design used the Rolls-Royce RB.422.48 with PCB fitted only on the front nozzles. [2] The design allowed the engine to be removed without needing to remove the wing as on the Harrier. To reduce weight the airframe was to use lithium-based aluminium alloys, superplastic-formed diffusion-bonded titanium and carbon-fibre composites. [3] The booms had all-moving fins and differential tailplanes.

The P.1216 was extensively tested in model form during the 1980s, and a full-scale mock-up was viewed by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during a visit to BAe's Kingston factory in December 1982.

In 1984 they assembled in a test rig at Shoeburyness a Harrier airframe created from the damaged remains of T.Mk.2 XW264 and GR.Mk.1 XV798 to assist in their investigations in the effects of PCB. [1]

The project was extant from 1980 to 1988 and showed promise with only some hot gas recirculation issues having been identified. [3] It was identified that the design offered the possibility of vectoring in forward flight (VIFF) which would allow large longitudinal decelerations thus making it a superior air combat fighter. [3] However issues with the use of PCB, jet nozzle to airframe interference and control of the jet nozzles needed further investigation. [3]

The P.1216 was intended to meet Royal Air Force and Royal Navy requirements for an ASTOVL aircraft, as well as a possible sale to the United States Marine Corps. All these customers subsequently developed the F-35B.

Specifications (P.1216-6)

Plan-view silhouettes the P.1214 and P.1216 concepts BAe P1214 and P1216.png
Plan-view silhouettes the P.1214 and P.1216 concepts

Data from British Secret Projects : Jet Fighters since 1950 ( 2nd edition) [3]

General characteristics

Performance

Mach 1.7 at 36,090 ft (11,000 m)
Mach 0.9 to 1.38 in 90 seconds at 36,090 ft (11,000 m)

Armament

or

or

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Buttler. page 289
  2. 1 2 3 Buttler. page 290
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Buttler. page 291

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawker Siddeley Harrier</span> British ground attack aircraft

The Hawker Siddeley Harrier is a jet-powered attack aircraft designed and produced by the British aerospace company Hawker Siddeley. It was the first operational ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft with vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) capabilities and the only truly successful V/STOL design of that era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STOVL</span> Short takeoff and landing aircraft

A short take-off and vertical landing aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft that is able to take off from a short runway and land vertically. The formal NATO definition is:

A Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of clearing a 15 m obstacle within 450 m of commencing take-off run, and capable of landing vertically.

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is one that can take off and land vertically without relying on a runway. This classification can include a variety of types of aircraft including helicopters as well as thrust-vectoring fixed-wing aircraft and other hybrid aircraft with powered rotors such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and gyrodynes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BAC TSR-2</span> British reconnaissance strike aircraft prototype

The British Aircraft Corporation TSR-2 is a cancelled Cold War strike and reconnaissance aircraft developed by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The TSR-2 was designed around both conventional and nuclear weapons delivery: it was to penetrate well-defended frontline areas at low altitudes and very high speeds, and then attack high-value targets in rear areas. Another intended combat role was to provide high-altitude, high-speed stand-off, side-looking radar and photographic imagery and signals intelligence, aerial reconnaissance. Only one airframe flew and test flights and weight-rise during design indicated that the aircraft would be unable to meet its original stringent design specifications. The design specifications were reduced as the result of flight testing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrier jump jet</span> Multirole combat aircraft family by Hawker Siddeley, later British Aerospace

The Harrier, informally referred to as the Harrier jump jet, is a family of jet-powered attack aircraft capable of vertical/short takeoff and landing operations (V/STOL). Named after a bird of prey, it was originally developed by British manufacturer Hawker Siddeley in the 1960s. The Harrier emerged as the only truly successful V/STOL design of the many attempted during that era. It was conceived to operate from improvised bases, such as car parks or forest clearings, without requiring large and vulnerable air bases. Later, the design was adapted for use from aircraft carriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V/STOL</span> Aircraft takeoff and landing class

A vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL) aircraft is an airplane able to take-off or land vertically or on short runways. Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft are a subset of V/STOL craft that do not require runways at all. Generally, a V/STOL aircraft needs to be able to hover. Helicopters are not considered under the V/STOL classification as the classification is only used for aeroplanes, aircraft that achieve lift (force) in forward flight by planing the air, thereby achieving speed and fuel efficiency that is typically greater than the capability of helicopters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afterburner</span> Adds additional thrust to an engine at the cost of increased fuel consumption

An afterburner is an additional combustion component used on some jet engines, mostly those on military supersonic aircraft. Its purpose is to increase thrust, usually for supersonic flight, takeoff, and combat. The afterburning process injects additional fuel into a combustor in the jet pipe behind the turbine, "reheating" the exhaust gas. Afterburning significantly increases thrust as an alternative to using a bigger engine with its attendant weight penalty, but at the cost of increased fuel consumption which limits its use to short periods. This aircraft application of "reheat" contrasts with the meaning and implementation of "reheat" applicable to gas turbines driving electrical generators and which reduces fuel consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolls-Royce Pegasus</span> 1950s British turbofan aircraft engine

The Rolls-Royce Pegasus, formerly the Bristol Siddeley Pegasus, is a British turbofan engine originally designed by Bristol Siddeley. It was manufactured by Rolls-Royce plc. The engine is not only able to power a jet aircraft forward, but also to direct thrust downwards via swivelling nozzles. Lightly loaded aircraft equipped with this engine can manoeuvre like a helicopter. In particular, they can perform vertical takeoffs and landings. In US service, the engine is designated F402.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrust vectoring</span> Facet of ballistics and aeronautics


Thrust vectoring, also known as thrust vector control (TVC), is the ability of an aircraft, rocket, or other vehicle to manipulate the direction of the thrust from its engine(s) or motor(s) to control the attitude or angular velocity of the vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yakovlev Yak-38</span> VTOL strike fighter aircraft; only operational VTOL strike aircraft of the Soviet Navy

The Yakovlev Yak-38 was Soviet Naval Aviation's only operational VTOL strike fighter aircraft in addition to being its first operational carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft. It was developed specifically for, and served almost exclusively on, the Kiev-class aircraft carriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yakovlev Yak-36</span> Soviet experimental VSTOL aircraft

The Yakovlev Yak-36, also known as Izdeliye V, is a Soviet technology demonstrator for a VTOL combat aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawker Siddeley P.1127</span> British experimental V/STOL aircraft

The Hawker P.1127 and the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1 are the British experimental and development aircraft that led to the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL) jet fighter-bomber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dassault Mirage IIIV</span> French vertical take-off and landing prototype fighter aircraft

The Dassault Mirage IIIV, also spelled Mirage III V, was a French vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) prototype fighter aircraft of the mid-1960s developed and produced by Dassault Aviation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol Siddeley BS.100</span> 1960s British turbofan aircraft engine

The Bristol Siddeley BS.100 is a British twin-spool, vectored thrust, turbofan aero engine that first ran in 1960. The engine was designed and built in limited numbers by Bristol Siddeley Engines Limited. The project was cancelled in early 1965.

The Hawker Siddeley P.1154 was a planned supersonic vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) fighter aircraft designed by Hawker Siddeley Aviation (HSA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EWR VJ 101</span> Experimental aircraft by Entwicklungsring Süd

The EWR VJ 101 was an experimental German jet fighter vertical takeoff/landing (VTOL) tiltjet aircraft. VJ stood for Versuchsjäger,. The 101 was one of the first V/STOL designs to have the potential for eventual Mach 2 flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockwell XFV-12</span> American VTOL fighter prototype

The Rockwell XFV-12 was a prototype supersonic United States Navy fighter which was built in 1977. The XFV-12 design attempted to combine the Mach 2 speed and AIM-7 Sparrow armament of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in a VTOL fighter for the small Sea Control Ship which was under study at the time. On paper, it looked superior to the subsonic Hawker Siddeley Harrier attack fighter. However it was unable to demonstrate an untethered vertical takeoff and its inability to meet performance requirements terminated the program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawker P.1121</span> Type of aircraft

The Hawker P.1121 was a British supersonic fighter aircraft designed, but never fully completed, by Hawker Siddeley during the mid-1950s. It was designed by a team headed by Sir Sydney Camm.

Ralph Spenser Hooper, OBE, FREng, FRAeS was an English aeronautical engineer, recognised mostly for his work on the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, specifically in relation to the marriage between the Pegasus engine and the layout of the aircraft, allowing it to safely hover with margins of stability.

References