FBK Gnat X.2 - In Search of Space. Finished Pics pg.4

[zenrat]

Patience Kit.  When finished I will provide photographic images with the S-Foils in a number of positions.

[Dizzyfugu]

Next the Death Star diorama to display it in action! 

[NARSES2]

That's terrific mate 

[Old Wombat]

Woh!

Very cool!

[scooter]

Well my one week GB build is nearly finished.

I may have bitten off a bit more than I could chew this year...

Still a few small details to finish but this is basically it.  Wing hinges still work.
Gnat X WIP14-07-22 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

https://movie-sounds.org/sci-fi-movie-samples/quotes-with-sound-clips-from-star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope/lock-s-foils-in-attack-position

[63cpe]

Oh wooooow that's looking good mate!

Congrats ! it's a masterpiece!

David aka 63cpe

[Wardukw]

Ok i cant use the words i used when i first saw your build Fred on here so ill use a nicer version.
Golly that looks jolly awesome   

[Flyer]

 

[zenrat]

Glad you'all like it.
One thing left to finish.   See the flat fronts of the orange hinge blocks?  I have to put something on there to streamline them.  I have painted them silver and today tried applying PVA glue to create lenses.  I forgot it would shrink an appreciable amount as it dried so I think it will not work.
Tomorrow I'll pick it off (one of the reasons I tried PVA first) and try again with blobs of epoxy.
But not before I have flown it round the shed.

[Wardukw]

Glad you'all like it.
One thing left to finish.   See the flat fronts of the orange hinge blocks?  I have to put something on there to streamline them.  I have painted them silver and today tried applying PVA glue to create lenses.  I forgot it would shrink an appreciable amount as it dried so I think it will not work.
Tomorrow I'll pick it off (one of the reasons I tried PVA first) and try again with blobs of epoxy.
But not before I have flown it round the shed.

The epoxy should work well Fred as shrinkage is not really a problem..that just comes from old age 
But yeah right in front of the hinges does need something there ..stream lining that area will make it look a heap better ...and for flying it around the shed   

[zenrat]

A rummage in one of my parts boxes provided four 1/25 car light lenses of a perfect size so I glued them on.
After all, it's dark on the edge of space isn't it...

She flies well, with wings in either position.

Working on the back story.

[zenrat]

Finished.
Pics taken.
But the backstory is fighting me.  I know what I am going to say it's just that how I say it isn't coming out right.
I've written it all down and hopefully i'll be satisfied with it after rearranging the words.

[scooter]

Finished.
Pics taken.
But the backstory is fighting me.  I know what I am going to say it's just that how I say it isn't coming out right.
I've written it all down and hopefully i'll be satisfied with it after rearranging the words.

Just remember what the great American satirist said about writing

Writing is easy.  All you have to do is cross out the wrong words

[Wardukw]

Same problem i have Fred..coming up with a story is easish but putting it down on paper..a right pain..still cant wait to read yours mate 

[zenrat]

Here you go, one week build is finally finished...

FBK (Folland-Brock-Killminster) Gnat X.2  RAAF ARDU January 1964.

FBK Gnat X - 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Royal Australian Air Force's Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) plans, conducts and analyses the results of ground and flight testing of existing and new Air Force aircraft.  ARDU consists of three test and evaluation flights (TEFs) located at RAAF Bases Edinburgh, Amberley, Williamstown, and Dadswell Bridge, staffed by qualified test pilots, flight test engineers (engineer graduates of test pilot school) and flight test system specialists (air combat officer graduates of test pilot school).
In addition to the above, during the 1960's ARDU also carried out ultra-high altitude (U-HA) research pushing manned aircraft higher and further into the stratosphere.  These flights, and all associated engineer and support works were carried out at Dadswell Bridge Field.

FBK Gnat X - 8 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Search for Space (as it was known by those involved) reached its zenith with the flights of the Gnat X.
The Gnat X was based on the radical aerodynamic theories of Prof. Dettmar who proposed varying the di/anhedral of an aircraft's wings as it climbed to increase stable lift in an environment of reducing gaseous density.  Folland shipped bare Gnat fuselages to Killminster Aeronautics in Melbourne where they were completed with flying surfaces designed to Dettmar's specifications and a Bristol-Siddeley Orpheus comprehensively re-engineered by Brock Industries.  The work carried out on the engines enabled them to continue operating at greater altitudes than standard by means of a liquid oxygen (LOx) injection system.  The LOx required being stored in tanks mounted to the lower wings.

FBK Gnat X - 4 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Additional thrust was provided by a pair of liquid fuelled boosters mounted either side of the vertical tail.  These were developed in house by ARDU as part of a project simply named Propulsion.  This project was subdivided into a number of different classes the names of which were used to identify the motive unit produced  The aircraft pictured here carries the fifth generation experimental rocket, hence Propulsion - eXperimental Rocket – fifth generation, or PXR-5.
Any remaining available space within the Gnat X was stuffed with test and recording equipment manufactured by bespoke electronics developers Davies Turner.

FBK Gnat X - 12 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The crew of two "Stratonauts" wore heavy duty stratosuits with enclosed helmets designed to protect them from the extreme cold and sudden pressure drop should they be forced to eject at altitude.
The flight profile of the U-HA tests was simple.  The aircraft took off from Dadswell Bridge and headed due South.  Once over the Southern Ocean they opened the throttle to the maximum and climbed at an angle of between 45 and 75 (nominated climb angle varied with test specifications).  As the atmosphere thinned the flight engineer in the rear seat, monitoring conditions on his instruments, would adjust the di/anhedral of the wings and when appropriate start LOx injection into the engine.  When LOx reserves reached a predetermined critical point the flight engineer would inform the pilot who would fire the boosters to provide the final thrust to push the aircraft to its apogee.  The main engine would be cut once both boosters achieved full thrust.
The aircraft would continue its climb under rocket thrust until fuel ran out after which it would slow until it stalled and began its descent.  Safety protocols required sufficient LOx to be retained to enable the Orpheus to be restarted as soon as the descent began (although it was not unknown for this requirement to be ignored in order to gain just a little more altitude – in which case the aircraft would fall unpowered until atmospheric oxygen was sufficient).
The X-Wing layout gave the Gnat X, provided the wings were spread, very gentle stall characteristics at altitude with almost no loss of control.  With no input from the pilot it would naturally drop into a nose down attitude as it fell.
Provided the Orpheus restarted the aircraft would then return to Dadswell Bridge for debriefing.

FBK Gnat X - 14 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The U-Ha test program was classified at the time and remains .so due to an incident in December '67 about which little is known except that for a time diplomatic relations with New Zealand were suspended.  Because of the Top Secret classification it is not public knowledge how many U-Ha flights were made although it is thought to number in three figures.  The ultimate altitude achieved is also secret.

FBK Gnat X - 10 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The aircraft pictured is an X.2 in a relatively early configuration.  As the program advanced the LOx tanks increased in volume and the boosters in size (and power).  Airframe number 8 is shown here as it was when crewed by Wing Commander Lloyd-Langton and Flying Officer House during the Summer of '64 bearing the inscription "...in search of space..." on the port fuselage below the cockpit.
Proposals to develop the Gnat X for military use were studied but ultimately rejected due to the unreliability and relative fragility of the wing root hinge mechanisms.  Repeated failures of their locking mechanisms were encountered even after manoeuvring limits were introduced following the loss of an aircraft and the death of two crew members whilst attempting to land "one wing down".

FBK Gnat X - 22 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

All Gnat X airframes were broken up.  The work of "Propulsion" continued.

FBK Gnat X - 9 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Model.
Airfix Gnat Trainer.
Hasegawa MiG 23 and MiG 27 wings.
Hasegawa MiG 23 or MiG 27 stabilisers.
Gundam thruster nozzles.
Boosters built from 1/48 or large missiles.

FBK Gnat X - 7 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr