Supermarine Nighthawk
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The P.B.31E Night Hawk, the first project of the Pemberton-Billing operation after it became Supermarine Aviation Works Ltd., was a prototype anti-Zeppelin fighter with a crew of three to five and an intended endurance of 9 to 18 hours. It was first flown in February 1917 with Clifford Prodger at the controls.
It had six-bay swept quadriplane wings, the fuselage filled the gap between the second and third wings, and a biplane tailplane with twin fins and rudders. The cockpit was enclosed and heated.
For armament, it had a trainable nose-mounted searchlight, a 2-pounder (40mm) Davis gun mounted above the top wing with 20 shells, and two .303-inch Lewis guns. Power for the searchlight was provided by an independent petrol engine-driven generator set made by ABC- possibly the first instance of a recognisable airborne APU.
It was advertised as being able to reach 75 mph, but the prototype only managed 60 mph at 6500 ft and took an hour to climb to 10,000 ft, totally inadequate for intercepting Zeppelins. Given the Anzani's reputation for unreliability and overheating, it is unlikely that the airplane would have delivered the advertised endurance either.
[edit] Specifications (Prototype)
Data from The British Fighter since 1912[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: Five (2 pilots, 3 gunners)
- Length: 37 ft (11.4 m)
- Wingspan: 60 ft (18.5 m)
- Height: 17 ft 8.5 in (5.5 m)
- Wing area: 962 ft² (89.4 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,677 lb (1,672 kg)
- Loaded weight: 6,146 lb (2,795 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Anzani 9 cylinder radial engine with four blade propellers, 100 hp (75 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 65 knots (75 mph, 121 km/h)
- Time to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 60 min
- Endurance: 9 - 18 hours
Armament
One 2 pdr Davis gun and one Lewis gun above upper wing, and one Lewis gun in the nose
[edit] References
- ^ Mason, Francis K (1992). The British Fighter since 1912. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.
[edit] External links
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