Hawker P.1072

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P.1072

Type	experimental aircraft
Manufacturer	Hawker
Maiden flight	20 November 1950 under rocket power
Number built	1
Developed from	Hawker Sea Hawk

The Hawker P.1072 was a 1949 experimental British aircraft with hybrid turbojet and rocket propulsion.

1 Development
2 Specifications (P.1072)
3 References
4 Related content

[edit] Development

After World War II Hawker was working on a new fighter P.1040 which would later become Hawker Sea Hawk. To investigate the feasibility of rocket-powered fighter aircraft, the original Sea Hawk prototype, VP401, was converted into the P.1072 with a Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet and an Armstrong Siddeley Snarler rocket motor. Installation of the rocket motor required considerable reinforcement of the fuselage as well as completely revised pneumatic and fuel systems. Jet engine fuel capacity was reduced from 395 to 175 gallons (1,520 to 675 l) and two tanks for rocket fuel were installed. The spherical liquid oxygen tank in the forward fuselage had a capacity of 75 gallons (288 l), and the water-methanol tank in the rear fuselage had a capacity of 120 gallons (460 l). External differences were limited to a slight bulge in the rear fuselage under the rudder.

The Rolls-Royce Nene 103 with 5,180 lbf (23.1 kN) of thrust was used for the ferry flights and for takeoff and initial climb. The Snarler rocket which only developed 2,000 lbf (8.9 kN) of thrust was first used in flight on 20 November, 1950. Half a dozen flights were made using the rocket motor before a minor explosion damaged the aircraft. Soon after, the British government decided that turbojets with reheat (afterburner) would be used instead of rocket power.

[edit] Specifications (P.1072)

Data from British Aircraft Directory

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 37 ft 7 in (11.46 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 6 in (11.13 m)
Height: 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
Wing area: 264.7 ft² (24.6 m²)
Empty weight: 11,050 lb (approx. 5,000 kg)
Loaded weight: 14,500 lb ()
Powerplant:
- 1× Rolls-Royce Nene 103 turbojet, 5,180 lbf (23.1 kN)
- 1× Armstrong Siddeley Snarler ASSn.1 rocket, 2,000 lbf (8.9 kN)

Performance

Maximum speed: 553 mph (890 km/h)
Cruise speed: 447 mph (720 km/h)
Range: 350 miles (560 km)
Service ceiling: 44,500 ft ()
Rate of climb: 5,000 ft/min (25 m/s)
Wing loading: 53 lb/ft² (258 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight (jet): 0.51
Rocket Endurance: 2 minutes 45 seconds

[edit] References

Personal experience in HAL Design Office 1948-52
Mason, FK (1991) "Hawker aircraft since 1920." Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 1-55750-351-6
British Aircraft Directory[1]