B
bomber/multi-role aircraft. For some time,
however, progress on the Canberra replace-
ment proved to be quite slow, principally
because of the effort needed to create the V-Force
to provide a strategic deterrent. Acceleration
came in November 1956 when a new Operational
Requirement, GOR.339, was laid down for a
tactical strike and reconnaissance aircraft. This
specified, in order of priority, the following roles:
n tactical nuclear weapon delivery from low
altitudes up to the maximum range, by day or
night, with minimum consideration of weather
conditions;
n photographic reconnaissance, medium and
low level in day, low level at night;
n all-weather electronic reconnaissance without
compromising the nuclear delivery role;
n effective delivery of tactical nuclear weapons
by day or night from medium altitudes under
visual conditions or with blind bombing;
n effective delivery of high-explosive bombs or
rockets under visual conditions.
The primary specified store for this new aircraft
was the Red Beard Target Marker nuclear bomb,
and the bomb-delivery technique would involve
either a “lofting” manœuvre made at low level or
a dive-toss attack at medium altitude. The aircraft
would have no defensive armament.
Most of the mission would have to be
flown at a height of 1,000ft (300m) or
less and the aircraft would operate from
3,000ft (900m)-long runways. The radius
of action was to be 1,000 miles (1,850km),
with the final 200 miles (370km) to and the
first 200 miles from the target to be flown at
low level, although the first draft of GOR.339
had requested a 600-mile (1,100km) radius of
action, which was still the limit when the design
competition started. The aircraft’s penetration
speed at sea level needed to be at least Mach
0·95, although an additional supersonic dash
capability was preferred, and the ferry range was
given as 2,000 miles (3,700km) with the aircraft
having in-flight refuelling capability. The crew’s
comfort during flight was critical and some form
of gust-alleviation would be necessary to ensure
and maintain tolerable conditions during a long
sortie made at high speed and low level.
By March 1958 further issues of GOR.339 had
introduced more extreme requirements, most
significantly low-altitude flight now being set at
150ft (45m), or 500ft (150m) in blind conditions,
and the required minimum speed at the tropo-
pause had to be at least Mach 1·7. Indeed, part
of the sortie profile now included a total of 100
miles (185km) flown at Mach 1·7 or faster. This
most capable aeroplane had to be in service in
1964 or as soon thereafter as possible.
As an aside to the description of the Hawker
proposal which forms the main part of this
article, it should be remembered that GOR.339Issue No 22 THE AVIATION HISTORIAN 29
Most of the mission would have to be
flown at a height of 1,000ft (300m) or
less and the aircraft would operate from
3,000ft (900m)-long runways. The radius
of action was to be 1,000 miles (1,850km),
with the final 200 miles (370km) to and theB
Y 1953 THE British Air Staff
was considering a supersonic
replacement for its already
successful (and still relatively
new) English Electric Canberra
bomber/multi-role aircraft. For some time,
ABOVE All that remains of Hawker’s P.1129 project in terms of hardware is a^111 ⁄⁄⁄⁄ 24 24 th-scale display model of the
penultimate development version kept in storage at Brooklands Museum in Surreypenultimate development version kept in storage at Brooklands Museum in Surreypenultimate development version kept in storage at Brooklands Museum in Surrey. Note the later larger intakes,. Note the later larger intakes,
which replaced the semicircular conical intakes with half-coneswhich replaced the semicircular conical intakes with half-coneswhich replaced the semicircular conical intakes with half-cones originally incorporated on the early P.1129 design. originally incorporated on the early P.1129 design.
however, progress on the Canberra replace- first 200 miles from the target to be flown at
bomber/multi-role aircraft. For some time, with the final 200 miles (370km) to and the with the final 200 miles (370km) to and the
new) English Electric Canberra
bomber/multi-role aircraft. For some time,
new) English Electric Canberra
bomber/multi-role aircraft. For some time, with the final 200 miles (370km) to and the
MICK OAKEY