Hawker Hooker and Percival Pimp: the infamous Specification F.27/32

[loupgarou]

An ambiguous Specification, still unresolved between biplanes and monoplanes, leaving uncertainty among industries and designers, produced notwithstanding 2 prototypes:

Percival Aircraft Co. formed in Gravesend in 1933 by Edgar Percival, hadn't yet any projects of its own, but wanted to start with an ambitious aircraft. It happened that one of Dewoitine's most important collaborators had to fly France, after a dark history involving being chased by Emil Dewoitine with a gun for having seduced Dewoitine's young daughter. In his flight, it so happened he "forgot" the D 500 drawings in his suitcase, and took the opportunity of offering them to Percival (a remote relation by way of his aunt's ex-husband that had married Percival's sister-in-law).
So Percival could quickly build an "original" prototype (note the slightly altered rudder shape) for the Specification.

Hawker wanted to present a new version of its High Speed Fury, but the prototype was involved in a curious accident.  The usual way of moving aircraft to the airfield was by lorry, see photo, courtesy of Putnam' Hawker aircraft since 1920, F.K.Mason 1971.




The lorry driver, in the night before the official tests, used the wrong door, too low, and the upper wing was torn away. There was no time for repairs, so the aircraft was presented as the VHWL Fury (very high wing loading).
The new configuration resulted in an unacceptable take-off length, approaching infinity, while the french ambassador menaced retaliations if the Percival Pimp was accepted for production. So both planes were condemned to oblivion, even the most serious references rarely mention them.

[Knightflyer]

  I like 

[PR19_Kit]

The new configuration resulted in an unacceptable take-off length, approaching infinity,

Love the look of the models though. 

[Rheged]

Now THAT is an unexpected and impressively whiffed backstory (and a well built pair  of flying machines)

Wasn't it spec. F.27/32 that produced the "tarted up" offerings from other manufacturers?......all sorts of unnecessary frills, furbelows and garish nick-nacks.  They became known by the staff at Martlesham Heath as:-

Bristol Bordello
Handley Page Harlot
Comper Cathouse
Supermarine Seraglio
and what they nicknamed the Westland offering I can't repeat here!!

[Captain Canada]

Those do look great ! !

[NARSES2]

 

I like that and can almost see the movie version in my minds eye at this moment 

[PR19_Kit]

I like that and can almost see the movie version in my minds eye at this moment 

.......as the VHWL Fury vanishes over the horizon trailing dust and smoke, and STILL on the ground! 

[loupgarou]

Thanks for the appreciations.It was just meant to be an humorous entry. 

[PR19_Kit]

Thanks for the appreciations.It was just meant to be an humorous entry. 

It is, but it works too. 

[The Rat]

 

[kitbasher]

Now THAT is an unexpected and impressively whiffed backstory (and a well built pair  of flying machines)

Wasn't it spec. F.27/32 that produced the "tarted up" offerings from other manufacturers?......all sorts of unnecessary frills, furbelows and garish nick-nacks.  They became known by the staff at Martlesham Heath as:-

Bristol Bordello
Handley Page Harlot
Comper Cathouse
Supermarine Seraglio
and what they nicknamed the Westland offering I can't repeat here!!

Don't mention the Vickers offering.

[Weaver]

Splendid - 

I'm a sucker for
I'm easily seduced by
I like to pick up
You don't need to solicit

I like it.