Folland Midge: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|1950s British fighter aircraft prototype}} |
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The ''' |
The '''Folland Midge''' was a small, [[swept-wing]] [[United Kingdom|British]] [[subsonic aircraft|subsonic]] light [[fighter aircraft]] prototype originally developed as a concept demonstrator for the successful [[Folland Gnat]]. |
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==Design and development== |
==Design and development== |
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The Midge and Gnat were the creation of [[W.E.W. Petter|W.E.W. "Teddy" Petter]], a British aircraft designer who had gained wide recognition for his design of the [[English Electric Canberra]] bomber and [[English Electric Lightning|Lightning]] supersonic interceptor. Petter had grown suspicious of the trend towards bigger and more expensive combat aircraft, and he felt that a small, simple fighter would offer the advantages of low purchase and operational costs. New lightweight turbojet engines were being developed that would be able to power such small fighters |
The Midge and Gnat were the creation of [[W.E.W. Petter|W.E.W. "Teddy" Petter]], a British aircraft designer who had gained wide recognition for his design of the [[English Electric Canberra]] bomber and [[English Electric Lightning|Lightning]] supersonic interceptor. Petter had grown suspicious of the trend towards bigger and more expensive combat aircraft, and he felt that a small, simple fighter would offer the advantages of low purchase and operational costs. New lightweight turbojet engines were being developed that would be able to power such small fighters.<ref name="Vectorsite">[http://www.vectorsite.net/avgnat.html The Folland Gnat / HAL Ajeet] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612133807/http://www.vectorsite.net/avgnat.html |date=12 June 2010 }}, Greg Goebel's Vectorsite.</ref> |
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Petter was unable to pursue this vision at [[English Electric]], so he left to become managing director of [[Folland Aircraft]]. In 1951, using company funds, he began work on his lightweight fighter concept, which was designated the [[Folland Gnat|"Fo-141 Gnat"]]. The Gnat was to be powered by a [[Bristol |
Petter was unable to pursue this vision at [[English Electric]], so he left to become managing director and chief designer of [[Folland Aircraft]]. In 1951, using company funds, he began work on his lightweight fighter concept, which was designated the [[Folland Gnat|"Fo-141 Gnat"]]. The Gnat was to be powered by a [[Bristol BE.22 Saturn]] turbojet with {{convert|3800|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} thrust. However, the Saturn was cancelled, and so Petter's unarmed proof-of-concept demonstrator for the Gnat was powered by the less powerful [[Armstrong Siddeley Viper]] 101 with {{convert|1,640|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} thrust. The demonstrator was designated Fo-139 "Midge". The Midge, [[United Kingdom aircraft test serials|serial number]] ''G-39-1'', first flew on 11 August 1954 from [[MOD Boscombe Down|Boscombe Down]], Wiltshire, with [[Edward Tennant (pilot)|Teddy Tennant]] at the controls, and proved to be an excellent aircraft.<ref name="Vectorsite"/> |
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The Midge had a number of advanced features, such as hydraulically powered "flaperons", main gear that could be used as airbrakes, and a one-piece canopy that hinged over an inner armoured windscreen. Despite the low |
The Midge had a number of advanced features, such as hydraulically powered "flaperons", main landing gear that could be used as airbrakes, and a one-piece canopy that hinged over an inner armoured windscreen. Despite the low-powered engine, the little jet could break Mach 1 in a dive and was very agile.<ref name="Vectorsite"/> |
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The Midge was evaluated by pilots from Canada, India, Jordan, New Zealand, and the US Air Force, and was almost universally praised. The Midge had performed a total of 220 flights when it was destroyed in a fatal crash on 26 September 1955, with a Swiss pilot at the controls.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1955/1955%20-%201464.html "The Midge Accident] ''Flight''7 October 1955 |
The Midge was evaluated by pilots from Canada, India, Jordan, New Zealand, and the US Air Force, and was almost universally praised. The Midge had performed a total of 220 flights when it was destroyed in a fatal crash on 26 September 1955, with a Swiss pilot at the controls.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130601034712/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1955/1955%20-%201464.html "The Midge Accident"] ''Flight'' 7 October 1955</ref> However, the Midge had demonstrated that Petter's lightweight fighter concept had much going for it. Folland went on to develop a full-scale Gnat prototype, also using company funds.<ref name="Vectorsite"/> |
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Original film footage of the Midge can be seen in the 1956 British science fiction film |
Original film footage of the Midge can be seen in the 1956 British science fiction film ''[[Satellite in the Sky]]''. The Midge portrays a fictional jet fighter used to test an experimental rocket fuel. |
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==Specifications== |
==Specifications== |
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{{Aircraft specifications |
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|ref=The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft<ref>General Editor: David Donald. ''The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft''. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books, 1998. {{ISBN|1-894102-24-X}}.</ref> |
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|crew=1 |
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|length |
|length ft=28 |
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|length |
|length in=9 |
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|span main=20 ft 8 in |
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|span |
|span ft=20 |
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|span in=8 |
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|height main=9 ft 3 in |
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|height alt=2.82 m |
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|height ft=9 |
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|area main=125 ft² |
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|height in=3 |
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|area alt=11.61 m² |
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|wing area sqft=125 |
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|loaded weight main= |
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|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |
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|airfoil=RAE 102<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |accessdate=16 April 2019}}</ref> |
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|max takeoff weight main=4,500 lb |
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|engine (jet)=[[Armstrong Siddeley Viper]] 101 |
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|gross weight lb=4500 |
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|type of jet=[[turbojet]] |
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|number of jets=1 |
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|thrust main=1,640 lbf |
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|thrust alt=7,295 N |
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|max speed main=600 mph |
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|max speed alt=966 km/h |
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|ceiling main=40,000 ft |
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|ceiling alt=12,191 m |
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|eng1 name=[[Armstrong Siddeley Viper 101]] |
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|eng1 type=[[turbojet]] engine |
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|max speed mph=600 |
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|ceiling ft=40000 |
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|g limits=<!-- aerobatic --> |
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|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic --> |
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|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |
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|sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes --> |
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* [[HAL Ajeet]] |
* [[HAL Ajeet]] |
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|similar aircraft= |
|similar aircraft= |
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* [[Lockheed T-33]] |
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* [[Northrop F-5]] |
* [[Northrop F-5]] |
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* [[T- |
* [[Northrop T-38 Talon]] |
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* [[T-38 Talon]] |
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|lists= |
|lists= |
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|see also= |
|see also= |
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}} |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{commonscat|Folland Aircraft}} |
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*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%202281.html Folland Midge] |
*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%202281.html Folland Midge] |
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*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1957/1957%20-%201710.html Gnat Mk 1] |
*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1957/1957%20-%201710.html Gnat Mk 1] |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%202417.html Flightglobal 1954 (pdf) Image of Folland Midge, ''Flight'' magazine, 1954] |
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{{:Portal:British aircraft since World War II}} |
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{{Folland aircraft}} |
{{Folland aircraft}} |
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{{British military aircraft since World War II}} |
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{{Aviation lists}} |
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[[Category:British experimental aircraft |
[[Category:1950s British experimental aircraft]] |
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[[Category:Folland aircraft|Midge]] |
[[Category:Folland aircraft|Midge]] |
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[[Category:Single-engined jet aircraft]] |
[[Category:Single-engined jet aircraft]] |
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[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1954]] |
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[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]] |
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[[Category:Shoulder-wing aircraft]] |
Latest revision as of 01:04, 27 November 2024
Midge | |
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Role | Fighter |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Folland Aircraft |
Designer | W.E.W. Petter |
First flight | 11 August 1954 |
Number built | 1 |
Developed into | Folland Gnat |
The Folland Midge was a small, swept-wing British subsonic light fighter aircraft prototype originally developed as a concept demonstrator for the successful Folland Gnat.
Design and development
[edit]The Midge and Gnat were the creation of W.E.W. "Teddy" Petter, a British aircraft designer who had gained wide recognition for his design of the English Electric Canberra bomber and Lightning supersonic interceptor. Petter had grown suspicious of the trend towards bigger and more expensive combat aircraft, and he felt that a small, simple fighter would offer the advantages of low purchase and operational costs. New lightweight turbojet engines were being developed that would be able to power such small fighters.[1]
Petter was unable to pursue this vision at English Electric, so he left to become managing director and chief designer of Folland Aircraft. In 1951, using company funds, he began work on his lightweight fighter concept, which was designated the "Fo-141 Gnat". The Gnat was to be powered by a Bristol BE.22 Saturn turbojet with 3,800 lbf (17 kN) thrust. However, the Saturn was cancelled, and so Petter's unarmed proof-of-concept demonstrator for the Gnat was powered by the less powerful Armstrong Siddeley Viper 101 with 1,640 lbf (7.3 kN) thrust. The demonstrator was designated Fo-139 "Midge". The Midge, serial number G-39-1, first flew on 11 August 1954 from Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, with Teddy Tennant at the controls, and proved to be an excellent aircraft.[1]
The Midge had a number of advanced features, such as hydraulically powered "flaperons", main landing gear that could be used as airbrakes, and a one-piece canopy that hinged over an inner armoured windscreen. Despite the low-powered engine, the little jet could break Mach 1 in a dive and was very agile.[1]
The Midge was evaluated by pilots from Canada, India, Jordan, New Zealand, and the US Air Force, and was almost universally praised. The Midge had performed a total of 220 flights when it was destroyed in a fatal crash on 26 September 1955, with a Swiss pilot at the controls.[2] However, the Midge had demonstrated that Petter's lightweight fighter concept had much going for it. Folland went on to develop a full-scale Gnat prototype, also using company funds.[1]
Original film footage of the Midge can be seen in the 1956 British science fiction film Satellite in the Sky. The Midge portrays a fictional jet fighter used to test an experimental rocket fuel.
Specifications
[edit]Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 28 ft 9 in (8.76 m)
- Wingspan: 20 ft 8 in (6.30 m)
- Height: 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
- Wing area: 125 sq ft (11.6 m2)
- Airfoil: RAE 102[4]
- Gross weight: 4,500 lb (2,041 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley Viper 101 turbojet engine, 1,640 lbf (7.3 kN) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: 600 mph (970 km/h, 520 kn)
- Service ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
See also
[edit]Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Notes
[edit]- ^ Jump up to: a b c d The Folland Gnat / HAL Ajeet Archived 12 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Greg Goebel's Vectorsite.
- ^ "The Midge Accident" Flight 7 October 1955
- ^ General Editor: David Donald. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books, 1998. ISBN 1-894102-24-X.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
References
[edit]The initial version of this article was based on a public domain article from Greg Goebel's Vectorsite.