Until the advent of an adequate early-warning system, most air forces had to rely on standing air patrols to intercept enemy aircraft. As the bombers became faster and capable of flying higher, designers and air strategists looked for alternatives, and one approach was the development of the 'jockey' fighter.
The 'jockey' fighter was intended to be a point-defence weapon, and was designed to be light-weight and fast so that it could be rapidly deployed to deal with waves of attacking enemy bombers. To meet this need, the Air Ministry issued specification F.20/27. This did not stipulate the design's configuration (i.e. biplane or monoplane designs were acceptable) or the power unit to be used.
In response, Vickers submitted the Type 151 Jockey. This was an experimental low-wing monoplane interceptor fighter powered by a Bristol Mercury IIA nine-cylinder radial engine. During flight testing, the design exhibited vibration towards the tail, but this was cured by the redesign of the rear bracing by Vickers' famous aircraft designer, Barnes Wallis.
Subsequently, the aircraft was re-engined with the Bristol Jupiter VIIF and re designated Type 171 Jockey II.
This was a more streamlined design (the engine was enclosed in a Townend Ring and the wheels were enclosed in spats), and proved to be a promising design. The prototype was lost when it crashed in July 1932, but Vickers were suitable impressed by its performance, and it formed the basis of the Vickers Type 279 Venom.
This was a low-wing monoplane single-seat, single-engined, eight-gun fighter, which proved to be fast and manoeuvrable ... but by the time it came onto the scene, the Air Ministry favoured Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered designs such as the Hurricane and Spitfire. Along with its competitors, the Bristol Type 146, ...
... Gloster F.5/34, ...
... and Martin-Baker MB 2, ...
... the Vickers Venom was rejected and never went into production, even though it was certainly as manoeuvrable as the much higher-powered Spitfire and Hurricane.
The light-weight fighter concept has been re-visited many times since the interwar period, and the Northrop F-5 is probably the best-known and most successful of these. It first came into service in 1959, and is still being flown in newer versions.
The 'jockey' fighter was intended to be a point-defence weapon, and was designed to be light-weight and fast so that it could be rapidly deployed to deal with waves of attacking enemy bombers. To meet this need, the Air Ministry issued specification F.20/27. This did not stipulate the design's configuration (i.e. biplane or monoplane designs were acceptable) or the power unit to be used.
In response, Vickers submitted the Type 151 Jockey. This was an experimental low-wing monoplane interceptor fighter powered by a Bristol Mercury IIA nine-cylinder radial engine. During flight testing, the design exhibited vibration towards the tail, but this was cured by the redesign of the rear bracing by Vickers' famous aircraft designer, Barnes Wallis.
Subsequently, the aircraft was re-engined with the Bristol Jupiter VIIF and re designated Type 171 Jockey II.
This was a more streamlined design (the engine was enclosed in a Townend Ring and the wheels were enclosed in spats), and proved to be a promising design. The prototype was lost when it crashed in July 1932, but Vickers were suitable impressed by its performance, and it formed the basis of the Vickers Type 279 Venom.
This was a low-wing monoplane single-seat, single-engined, eight-gun fighter, which proved to be fast and manoeuvrable ... but by the time it came onto the scene, the Air Ministry favoured Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered designs such as the Hurricane and Spitfire. Along with its competitors, the Bristol Type 146, ...
... Gloster F.5/34, ...
... and Martin-Baker MB 2, ...
... the Vickers Venom was rejected and never went into production, even though it was certainly as manoeuvrable as the much higher-powered Spitfire and Hurricane.
The light-weight fighter concept has been re-visited many times since the interwar period, and the Northrop F-5 is probably the best-known and most successful of these. It first came into service in 1959, and is still being flown in newer versions.
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with these craft. The second last photo looks very similar to a Hawker 'Sea Fury'. My all time favorite WW2 Plane is the US Navy 'Corsair'- something about it is very appealing. Enjoy your day. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteThe Gloster F.5/34 is very similar in size to the Mitsubishi Zero, and there are rumours that Mitsubishi may have seen copies of the plans because the two companies had long-standing links that went back to the Semple Mission from the UK to Japan.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
DeleteYes, I can see the resemblance to the 'Zero' now that you've mentioned it - makes you wonder sometimes how these designs can be/were copied by other Nations. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteFor some reason, my spellchecker changed Sempill to Semple!
The Sempill Mission went to Japan after the First World War to help the Japanese Navy to develop its naval air arm. They took examples of British aircraft with them, Including several manufactured by Gloster aircraft, Several of these were licence-built and then further developed and used by the Japanese.
It’s interesting to note that the leader of the Mission, Lord Sempill, began giving military secrets to the Japanese when he returned to the UK. His activities were uncovered by MI5, but he was not prosecuted for spying. He was forced to retire from the Royal Navy 1941 after being discovered passing on secret material to the Japanese (including the Mitsubishi company) just before the attack on Pearl Harbour.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
DeleteMost interesting information -even involving MI5- so it would seem that the Japanese 'Zero' is British inspired- Thanks for the splendid quality of your reply.Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI understand that the files regarding this affair are still sealed, and will not be released for publication for at least another nineteen years!
All the best,
Bob
These late Interbellum prototypes give you an idea how the Battle of Britain could have been very different ...
ReplyDeleteMark, Man of TIN,
DeleteThere were some wonderful aircraft prototypes around at the time that didn’t make it into full-scale production. For example, the Hawker Henley light bomber that used Hurricane fighter components, which ended up as a target tug, and the Heinkel He 112 fighter.
All the best,
Bob
PS. Tomorrow, I will be reviewing a book about the ‘panic’ fighters built by various nations during Second World War. It includes some very interesting designs.
Always been very interested in the various Martin Baker designs- the MB5 wass a fantastic looking beast.
ReplyDeleteThe F16 began life as a lightweight fighter too, but has kind of moved away from the concept as it's gone on
Landlubber66,
DeleteThe MB.5 was the equal of or better than its contempoaries, and had the jet engine not been introduced, it would have been a great addition to the RAF’s inventory.
The trouble with almost every lightweight fighter project is the inability of air forces to resist adding ‘chrome’ during the design process. Far too often, perfect is the enemy of good enough.
All the best,
Bob