Gloster Javelin
In early 1947 a
specification for a two-seat prototype RAF Night-Fighter was issued. It
was supposed to be capable of intercepting aircraft up to 40,000 feet,
carrying four forward-firing 30-mm machine guns, reaching around 970 km/h
at medium altitude and pulling at least 4g in high speed manoeuvres at low
level. Gloster submitted two designs it was working on, both of which
were similar, sporting delta wings and slightly different attitudes, one
for day and for night fighting. The day fighter ended up going to the
Hawker Hunter and the night fighter ended up going to the Gloster Javelin.
The
Javelin's first prototype was destroyed in an accident which rushed the
production of the second prototype so it could be shown to the public in
the 1952 Farnborough air show, where it was limited to low-speed
manoeuvres because of insufficient flying time to test everything out.
Further developments were made to mate suitable radomes to the nose of the
Javelin which sported rounded more bulbous versions on earlier aircraft,
changing to a more elongated one on production Javelins. The fourth
prototype was able to reach supersonic speeds, a feat which non-supporters
of the Javelin argued it could not do. But it was the fifth prototype
which most closely resembled the production Javelin, with the most notable
difference from other prototypes being the whole cockpit Perspex canopy
(compared to the rear seater having only port holes to look out!). The
Javelin was the first all weather fighter to be developed for the RAF as
an all weather fighter (or night fighter) from scratch.
The T
Mk.3 version of the Javelin is of course the pilot training variant
featuring dual controls and a 1.12 metre insert in the forward fuselage to
offset some movement caused by the removal of the radar gear, but little
else that is different from the initial FAW.1 production version. The
main unit that the T.3 served with was the No.228 OCU (Operational
Conversion Unit) at RAF Leeming which was responsible for Javelin crew
training. Initially equipped with FAW.5's the unit took on the dual
controlled T.3's when they became available in 1959. Most operational
units also operated at least a single T.3 until 1968, especially after No.
228 OCU was disbanded in 1961 (although it was reformed briefly mid 60's,
probably due to the South East Asian conflict).
PROPULSION: |
Powerplant
|
(Javelin F(AW).1)
two Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire ASSa.6 turbojets
(Javelin F(AW).7) two Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire ASSa.7 turbojets
(Javelin F(AW).8) two Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire ASSa.7R turbojets
|
Thrust
|
(ASSa.6) 16,000
lb (71.17 kN)
(ASSa.7) 22,000 lb (97.86 kN)
(ASSa.7R) 24,600 lb (109.43 kN) above 20,000 ft (6,095 m)
|
PERFORMANCE: |
Max Level Speed
|
at altitude:
(Javelin F(AW).1) Mach 0.94
(Javelin F(AW).4) Mach 0.96
(Javelin F(AW).5) Mach 0.93
(Javelin F(AW).7) Mach 0.95
(Javelin F(AW).8) Mach 0.93
at sea level: 710 mph (1,140 km/h) |
Initial Climb Rate
|
unknown
|
Service Ceiling
|
(Javelin F(AW).1)
52,500 ft (16,015 m)
(Javelin F(AW).4) 50,700 ft (15,470 m)
(Javelin F(AW).5) 50,100 ft (15,285 m)
(Javelin F(AW).7) 52,800 ft (16,110 m)
(Javelin F(AW).8) 52,000 ft (15,865 m) |
Range
|
unknown
|
g-Limits
|
unknown
|
ARMAMENT: |
Gun
|
two 30-mm ADEN
cannons |
Stations
|
five external
hardpoints |
Air-to-Air Missile
|
up to four
Firestreak |
Air-to-Surface
Missile |
none |
Bomb
|
none |
Other
|
none |
|