The Folland Fo. 108, also known as the Folland 43/47, was a engine testbed used by Great Britain during the 1940s.
Description[]
Resembling a scaled up Hawker Hurricane, the Fo. 108 was a low wing monoplane with fixed undercarriage. The large fuselage, which contained a large cabin for two observers and their instruments, was a light alloy semi-monocoque construction, while plywood was used to cover the tail assembly and the wings. The latter featured split trailing edge flaps and automatic wingtip slots,[2] and were constructed for Folland at Eastleigh by Oddie Bradbury & Cull.[3]
History[]
The first design by Folland Aircraft Ltd to reach the hardware stage, the Fo. 108 was developed in response to Specification 43/37, which called for an aircraft capable of testing a variety of aero engines. Selected ahead of designs from Percival and General Aircraft, 12 examples of the Fo. 108 were built,[2] with serials P1774 to P1785.[4]
The first aircraft was delivered in 1940, with examples remaining in service until 27th March 1945.[2]
Details of Service[]
- P1774 - Delivered 1940. Lost 14th September 1944.[2] Engines fitted: Napier Sabre I, Sabre II, Bristol Centaurus
- P1775 - Lost 18th September 1944.[2] Engines fitted: Hercules VIII, Centaurus.[4]
- P1776 - Lost 28th August 1944.[2] Engines fitted: Centaurus IV, Sabre I.[4]
- P1777 - Engines fitted: Sabre I, Centaurus.[4]
- P1778 - Struck off charge 27 March 1945 after Griffon tests. Engines fitted: Griffon,[2] Centaurus I (also used by de Havilland for propeller tests.[4]
- P1779 - Lost 14th September 1944.[2] Engines fitted: Sabre I, Hercules XI, various Sabre engines.[4]
- P1780 - Engines fitted: Hercules XI, various Napier engines
- P1781 - Lost 28th April 1944, while conducting Centaurus IV take off tests at Heston.[N 1] Engines fitted: Centaurus IV.[4]
- P1782 - Engines fitted: Hercules XI;[2] various Bristol engines.[4]
- P1783 - Engines fitted: Hercules XI;[2] various Bristol engines.[4]
- P1784 - Struck of charge 5th March 1945 after testing Hercules XI. Engines fitted: Hercules XI;[2] various Bristol engines.[4]
- P1785 - Engines fitted: Hercules XI;[2] various Bristol engines.[4]
Notes[]
Sources[]
- ↑ 1000 Aircraft photos
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 World Aircraft Information Files Aviation Partwork. Midsummer Books Ltd. File 894 Sheet 44 (A-Z of Aircraft:F - Fokker (America) O-27 and B-5 to Folland Fo. 139 Midge)
- ↑ Aviastar
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Robertson, Bruce. British Military Aircraft Serials 1912-1966. Ian Allen Ltd. 1967 Page 141