Supermarine Swift and Attacker

[P1127]

Buttler's British Fighters Projects book makes a very brief mention of this design, which was briefly ordered in 1952 as an 'interim' fighter to replace the Seahawk while waiting for the advanced designs (Sea Vixen/Scimitar).

I've got a Testors Swift started, but wondered if anyone had any thoughts on design changes to the Swift to Navalise it - initial idea was to add a hook and leave it!

Failing that, what US fighter was in production 1954-55 time? Panther? Cougar? Cutlass? Or follow the RAF and buy FJ-3 Furies?

[Davey B]

From what I could gather, the Swift was going to be easier to navalise than the Hunter.

Although why they'd bother when, as Lee says, they could've ordered P.1052 conversions on existing Sea Hawks beats me...

[Captain Canada]

Or follow the RAF and buy FJ-3 Furies?

FJ-3s would look lovely in RN colours. Such a neat looking bird, like a Sabre on steroids !

I've got a half finished Fury for my RCN, that I'll eventually finish !

 

[elmayerle]

Or follow the RAF and buy FJ-3 Furies?

FJ-3s would look lovely in RN colours. Such a neat looking bird, like a Sabre on steroids !

I've got a half finished Fury for my RCN, that I'll eventually finish !

It's too bad there's very little, if any, info out there on the Fury that was going to be offered the RCN for the same requirement they bought Banshee's for.  I've been given to understand, by a co-worker, who was in AD at NAA-Columbus at the time, that it would've been a blend of FJ-4 and F-86K (in order to keep the guns).

[GTX]

Hi folks,

Something I just found - a model of the proposed Attacker Trainer:



Regards,

Greg

[Maverick]

Interesting find Greg,

Odd that they'd retain the guns tho.

Regards,

Mav

[BadersBusCompany]

Very very nice! i can see that in 2Sqn(AC) RAF, Ground Attack!

Dont suppose you have a line drawing??  

[Excalibur]

Makes the front part look so much like a Prowler. Nice.

[dy031101]

I too think that the canopy makes the forward fuselage look like that of the Prowler.  The trainer seats two, right? (I have to be sure- I have an awful sense of scale   )

And you know, I've always figured that since Supermarine Attacker is a straight wing aircraft based on a prop-driven plane design, fitting a float set similar to those of Rufe and Kyofu would be very likely to look good.  

[Old Paul]

Just found my way onto this site.

One of my favourite aviation films is The Bridges at Toko-ri – but what if the Supermarine Attacker had been in service earlier and a success? Comparable performance to the F2H Panther required, flying from a task group of two Colossus class light fleet carriers and replacing the Sea Fury? (And any ideas on just what a CAG for a Colossus was?)

What timing and design changes would be needed? Apart from earlier or quicker development, I'm thinking of an extended nose and tricycle undercarriage, drop tanks or wing tip tanks perhaps to replace the belly tank, changes to the tailplane and relocate the existing wings further back?* Any other changes required?

After 40 years without doing any modelling (mmmmmm...Airfix kits for 2/6d!) I may have to get a 1/72 Attacker, if still available, and a Sea Hawk to kit bash something together. Any thoughts?

Paul.

*And is it just me, or does the back end look as if it must be dragged aloft by brute force? Just where is the c.g. on an Attacker? Almost looks as if the lift from the tailplane is needed just to get it in the air?

[The Rat]

Hmmm... Got one in the stash, been wondering what to do with it. Tricycle gear was one thing I mulled over, but you're right, that rear end is all out of proportion, the nose would need to be lengthened.

And welcome aboard! (Don't feed or encourage the Canadians, except me, and Captain Canada, aka 'Toad',  must be kept away from the beer)

[GTX]

I'm pretty sure (though I can't find them right now) that htere have been somne USN or USMC Attacker profiles posted here already - might help with the inspiration.

The Colossus class CAG was around 48 aircraft (depending upon operator/type).

To have a tricycle landing gear you would need to do some CG moving.  Tip tanks like those on a P-80 would look cool.

Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

I would have thought a Fouga Magister canopy would be a useful start to do the trainer proposal (with some work of course):



Of course, that also raises the possibility of a V-tailed Attacker!

Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Here you go - a pair that Glanini did back in 2006:




I'm sure there are a few others around too.

Regards,

Greg

[Old Paul]

Hmmmmm...Supermarine Type 508, anyone?