Folland Fo.108
| Fo.108 |
| Role |
Engine testbed |
| Manufacturer |
Folland |
| First flight |
1940 |
| Introduction |
1940 |
| Number built |
12 |
The Folland Fo.108 also known as the Folland 43/37 and by the nickname Folland Frightful was a large monoplane engine testbed aircraft of the 1940s.
Design and development
The Fo.108 was Folland's response to Air Ministry Specification 43/37 for an engine testbed. It was Folland's first design to be accepted by the Air Ministry for production. The Fo.108 was a large low-wing cantilever monoplane with a conventional cantilever tailplane. It had a fixed tailwheel landing gear. It had a glazed cockpit for the pilot and a cabin for two observers behind and below the pilot fitted out so they could make detailed measurements of the engine performance during flight.
To enable the aircraft to be delivered and ferried they were normally fitted with a Bristol Hercules radial engine. In service, the Frightful was fitted with a number of other engines including the inline Napier Sabre, Bristol Centaurus radial and Rolls-Royce Griffon V-engine.
Specifications (Centaurus engine)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 2 observers
- Length: 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m)
- Wingspan: 58 ft (17.68 m)
- Height: 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m)
- Wing area: 588 sq ft (54.7 m2)
- Loaded weight: 16,000 lb (7,260 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × various radial or inline engine, ()
Performance
See also
- Related lists
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
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