One More In 2021?? US Navy Seafire.

[su27rules]

 

[AeroplaneDriver]

Well obviously she didn't make it as my last build of 2021 but she'll do ok as my first of 2022. 

As the Jet Age was dawning in the closing days of World War 2 more and more data was needed on high altitude and high speed flight operations.  The US Navy set up the High Altitude Research Projects Office within the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, MD to conduct high altitude and high speed test flights to inform the higher performance jet projects on the drawing board. 

Initially this program operated a mix of Corsair, Tigercat, and Bearcat aircraft, but to explore high speed operations above 40,000 feet something else was needed.  The Navy turned to a British built aircraft with a reputation for unmatched high altitude performance.  While the Bearcat ruled in the low to medium altitude flight regimes below 30,000 feet the Seafire was capable of a higher absolute ceiling, well above 40,000 feet and a higher limiting Mach number at altitude.  The US Navy purchased 3 Seafire FR.46s and two FR.47s from the Royal Navy in late 1946.  Given the limited scope and life of the aircraft in USN service it was never given a US designation, instead just going by the name "Seafire" (or sometimes even "Spitfire") in USN service. 

Modifications included the removal of the reconnaissance cameras and 20mm cannon and the installation of an instrumentation package and probe in the right wing cannon bays.  Supercharger boost was also increased.   The combination of lighter weight and higher horsepower at altitude made the Seafire an effective platform for high altitude and high speed research.  "Pushing the envelope" was risky business however, and two of the HARPO Seafire were lost in accidents, both caused by flight control issues caused by compressibility as the aircraft tried for higher and higher Mach numbers.  Anecdotal reports suggest that more than one Seafire reached Mach .98 in test flights, though in reality most of the research conducted was related more to high altitude operations than high speeds approaching Mach 1. 

[Old Wombat]

Excellent work, back story included!

[KiwiZac]

AD, that is breathtaking! What a gorgeous beast! Bravo sir!!

[Wardukw]

I definitely second what Zac said..counter rotating propellers..dark blue paint ..oh so so yummy..lovely build AD mate   

[Tophe]

Great!

[Gondor]

Wonderful! 

Gondor

[Dizzyfugu]

Pretty! 

[DogfighterZen]

  What a beauty! Excellent work! 

[NARSES2]

She is simply gorgeous 

[Hotte]

Sexy Spit 

Hotte

[perttime]

I much prefer the nose of the Seafire 47 - but this'll do