NORTH AMERICAN SABRE

The North American Sabre, star of the air war in Korea, was acquired by the RAF to equip front-line squadrons in Germany pending the arrival of Braitain's own swept-wing fighters, the Swift and the Hunter. The first of some 430 Sabres for the RAF was delivered to Abingdon on 8 Dicember  1952 and NOS 3, 67 and 71 Squardrons converted  to the aircraft between March and May 1953, forming the Wildenrath Sabre wing. The Sabre eventually equipped 10 squardrons in Germany and two homed bsed Fighter Command units, giving the RAF its first modern, transonic fighter. The Sabre delivered to the Royal Air Force were Canadair-built F-86Es, designed Sabre F.Mk 4 by the RAF and RCAF. The last were retired during June 1956, replaced by Hawker Hunters.

SPECIFICATION: Canadair Sabre F.Mk 4 single-seat day fighter
SPAN: 11.28m (37ft 1in)
LENGTH: 11.43m (37ft 6in)
POWERPLANT: General Electric J-47 GE-13, 5,200lbst
ARMAMENT: 6x0.5in machine-guns in nose
MAXIMUM SPEED: 670mph
OPERATIONAL RANGE: 520miles

 

DE HAVILLAND VENOM (fighter bomber)

The Venom was designed as a replacement for the Vampire,using the same basic design, but with a thinner section, moderately swept wing and a more powerful Ghost engined in place of the Vampire's Goblin. The Venom FB.Mk 1 entered service with No. 11 Squadron during August 1952. The FB.Mk 1 was replaced by the FB.Mk 4, with powered ailerons and large rudders, and which entered service in 1955. The Venom never served with home-based squadrons between 1952 and 1957, three squadrons in the Far East, and seven in the Middle East. The aircraft was used in action at Suez, during the Oman rebellion, and during the long war in MALAYA.The last Venom FB.Mk 4s were retired from No. 28 Squadron, at Kai Tak, Hong Kong, during July 1962.


SPECIFICATION: De Havilland Venom FB.Mk 4 single-seat fighter bomber
SPAN: 12.69m (41ft 8in)
LENGTH: 9.70m (31ft 10in)
POWERPLANT: De Havilland Ghost 103, 4,850lbst
ARMAMENT: 4X20mm cannon in nose, plus 2,000 lb of bombs or rocket underwing
MAXIMUM SPEED: 640mph at sea level
OPERATIONAL RANGE: 500miles

DE HAVILLAND VAMPIRE

The Vampire's unique twin-boom layout was chosento keep the jet pipe as short and efficient as possible. Altough the prototype first flew in September 1943, the aircraft did not enter the service until after the war. It saw limited service with Fighter Command and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, but was used more widely by squadrons based overseas until replaced by De Havilland Venoms. The later Vampire marks served as hacks, advanced trainers and target tugs after retirement from front-line units. The NF.Mk 10, a two seat, radar equipped night fighter, originally designed for export, saw limited RAF service. The Vampire T.Mk 11 was the RAF's standard advanced trainer from 1952 until the introduction of the Gnat in the early 1960s.


SPECIFICATION: De Havilland Vampire FB.Mk 9 single-seat fighter bomber
SPAN: 12.19m (40ft)
LENGTH: 9.37m (30ft 9in)
POWERPLANT: De Havilland Goblin, 3,350lbst
ARMAMENT: 4x20mm cannon in nose, plus bombs or rockets underwing
MAXIMUM SPEED: 540mph at 20,000ft
OPERATIONAL RANGE: 730 miles

GLOSTER METEOR (day fighter)

The Meteor became the RAF's first operational jet when it entered srvice with No. 616 Squadron during July 1944. It made its first flight on 5 March 1943. The Welland-powered Meteor I was followed into service by the Derwent-engined Meteor III and both saw extensive wartime service, notably against V-1s. The F.Mk 4 had uprated engines, and formed the backbone of Fighter Command during the late 1940s. from 1950, the F.Mk 4 was repalced by the much improved F.Mk 8, which had uprated engines and a lengthened fuselage which gave greater fuel capacity and much improved high-speed handling. A new tail unit was fitted and an ejector seat was standard equipment. The last front-line squadron disbanded in April 1957, but Meteors continued in use as hacks and target tugs until 1982.

SPECIFICATION: Gloster Meteor F.Mk 8 single-seat day fighter
SPAN: 11.32m (37ft 2in)
LENGTH: 13.58M (44ft 7in)
POWERPLANT: 2x Rolls-Royce Derwent 8; 3,600lbst each
ARMAMENT: 4x20mm cannon in nose, rockets or fuel tanks underwing
MAXIMUM SPEED: 590mph at sea level
OPERATIONAL RANGE: 980 miles