The above photographs at left and right show VX272, the first P1052. They were published in September 1949 and September 1950 respectively in the AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION Journal.
I do not have any photographs of the P1071. It looked the same as the P1040 apart from the ten inch diameter rocket efflux tube at the back and the ventral oxygen pipe fairing.
The photographs above and at right show VX279, the P1081. They were published in September 1950 and December 1950 respectively in the AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION Journal.
The photographs below at left and right show VX279, the P1081. They were published in February 1951 in the AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION Journal.
Designed to meet Air Ministry specification E.38/46, the P1052 was a experimental single seat fighter, powered by a Rolls-Royce Nene centrifugal flow jet engine. It was developed from the P1040 and had a swept back wing and straight tail surfaces. The wing root thickness to chord ratio was 10%. The wing leading edge sweep angle was about 40 degrees and trailing edge sweep angle was about 15 degrees giving 35 degrees at quarter chord. It had air intakes in the wing roots and the Hawker patented split twin jet effluxes behind the wings. This enabled the total fuel capacity of 395 gallons to be carried both in front and behind the engine.
The P1072 was a single seat experimental fighter, powered by a Rolls-Royce Nene centrifugal flow jet engine and a Snarler rocket motor. It was developed from the P1040 and had a straight wing and tail surfaces. It had air intakes in the wing roots and the Hawker patented split twin jet effluxes behind the wings. This enabled 175 gallons of jet engine fuel to be carried both in front and behind the engine and 75 gallons on liquid oxygen in the forward fuselage and 120 gallons of water-methanol mixture in the rear fuselage. The advantage of rocket power is that the thrust, unlike the jet engine, decrease with altitude but actually increases as the back pressure becomes less, but the Snarler only burnt for 2.75 minutes.
The P1081 was a single seat fighter, designed to meet a specification from the Australian Government, powered by a Rolls-Royce Nene centrifugal flow jet engine. It was developed from the P1040 and had swept back wing and swept back tail surfaces. The wing root thickness to chord ratio was 10%. The wing leading edge sweep angle was about 40 degrees and trailing edge sweep angle was about 15 degrees giving 35 degrees at quarter chord. It had air intakes in the wing roots and a straight through to tail single jet efflux.The internal fuel capacity was 400 gallons.
The first of two aircraft, VX272 first flew on 19 November 1948 and the second VX279 first flew on 13 April 1949. VX272 was fitted with arrester gear and operated from aircraft carriers. VX279 was modified to become the P1081. During development the P1052 was fitted with swept tail surfaces resulting in an increase in maximum Mach Number./p>
VP401, the one and only P1040, was modified to become the one and only P1072 which first flew on jet power on 16 November 1950 and on rocket power as well on 20 November 1950. The Government lost interest in rocket powered aircraft and it only made six flights using the Snarler engine. It was grounded following a minor rocket motor explosion.
VX279, the second P1052, was modified to become the one and only P1081 which first flew on 19 June 1950. In November 1950, the Australian Government decided that they did not wish to order it. It was passed to RAE for further trial flights. The swept tail increased the Mach Number to above 0.9 providing information for the Hunter (which first flew on 20 July 1951).
On 3 April 1951, the aircraft crashed killing its pilot Sqn Ldr T.S. Wade. The exact cause of the crash was never discovered.
The P1052, P1072 and P1081 were not put into production.
The P1052, P1072 and P1081 did not go into Service.
I do not have any drawings of the P1052, so I have traced one. I apologise for the quality.
I do not have any drawings of the P1072, so I have traced one. I apologise for the quality.
The 3-view drawings above were published in November 1950 in the AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION Journal.
| Type | P1052 | P1072 | P1081 | |
Jet Engine |
Nene 2 | Nene 2 | Nene 2 | |
Rocket Motor |
None | Snarler Assn. 1 | None | |
Span ft:in |
31:6 | 36:6 | 31:6 | |
| Weights lb Empty Normal Loaded |
|
|
| |
| Speed mph at Sea Level Speed mph at Altitude : kft |
682 | 581 | 695 | |
| Altitude Performance Initial climb : fpm Minutes to kft Service Ceiling kft (500 fpm) |
|
|
| |
| Range miles With gal internal fuel |
|
Armament |
P1052 and P1071 and P1081 were all unarmed but had provision for four 20 mm cannon in nose. |
VX272 is on static display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, Somerset.
VP401 has not survived.
VX279 was destroyed in a crash.
This may be obtained from several dedicated Web Sites.
The following publications also contain information:
1) Hawker Aircraft since 1920, Francis K. Mason, Putnam, 1961, 1971 and 1991, ISBN 1 85177 839 9
By Tim Hammond, November 2009. Revised and Index added, August 2010.
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