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| The Delta 2 was built to investigate the characteristics of flight and control at transonic and supersonic speeds. Two examples were built powered by a Rolls-Royce Avon RA.5 or RA.28 afterburning turbojet engine of 53.4kN and 57.8kN respectively. The first made its maiden flight on 6 October 1954. On 10 March 1956 the RA.5-powered aircraft (flown by Peter Twiss) became the first aircraft to set an over-1,000mph world speed record, with an average of two flights of 1,821km/h. The first aircraft was eventually converted into the BAC 221.
 | A three-view drawing (1318 x 1016) |
| MODEL | Fairey F.D.2 |
| CREW | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 x Rolls-Royce "Avon" 200 turbo-jet, 44.5kN |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 6298 kg | 13885 lb |
| Empty weight | 4990 kg | 11001 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 8.18 m | 27 ft 10 in |
| Length | 15.74 m | 52 ft 8 in |
| Height | 3.35 m | 11 ft 0 in |
| Wing area | 33.44 m2 | 359.94 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 2092 km/h | 1300 mph |
| Range | 1336 km | 830 miles |
| barry flewitt, e-mail, 22.08.2017 18:39 Good old British government. Determined to scupper our aero industry. M52 could have been the first Mach1 aeroplane This could have become the first bi-sonic aircraft with a bit more development. reply | | Frank Parker, e-mail, 23.06.2014 21:07 This aircraft had a suppressed slot antenna for the com radio in the droop snoot so as to reduce drag. It was designed by the Fairey electronics group at Heston Airport, led by Dr. Paul Williams, an antenna guru. I remember the nose section being tested in the lab as a young engineer. This was the first time that I had encountered this technology. reply | | ian seeley, e-mail, 10.04.2014 05:40 As a small boy I snuck onto the apron at RAF West Raynham and touched the aircraft. The most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
Then a geezer with a handle-bar moustache and MG ran me off. reply | | bombardier, e-mail, 03.12.2011 21:15 Put two Aden cannons and two missiles at it and you have a Mach 2 fighter much better than the Lightning. reply | |
| | steve, e-mail, 04.05.2011 21:16 The "1300 MPH" speed may be a reasonable estimate. Reportedly, at the end of each record run the aircraft was still accelerating, but had hit bingo fuel. reply | | Ron Carliell, e-mail, 10.09.2010 12:18 I WORKED IN THE EXPERIMENTAL DEPT AT FAIREYS WHEN THIS AIRCRAFT WAS PRODUCED AND NEVER CEASE TO WONDER HOW ADVANCED IT WAS WITH ITS DROOP SNOOT, OBVIOUSLY A TESTBED FOR THE LATER CONCORDE. reply | | Zane Clark, e-mail, 12.02.2010 04:22 While stationed at RAF Bentwaters, as a control tower operator, 56 - 59 I saw this aircraft on the parking apron at Martlesham Heath one day. What a beautiful aircraft. Would loved to have seen it fly. reply | | Geoff Alcock, e-mail, 06.02.2010 20:39 As an apprentice in the Electrical Laboratory at Rolls-Royce I was given the job of testing the igniter for the re-heat in this aircraft's engine in preparation for it's world speed record attempt. reply | | paul scott, e-mail, 19.10.2009 02:16 Why, Barry, that's a very cynical outlook - but one that's completely true, nonetheless! reply | | Barry, 17.09.2009 14:33 You bet Marcel got the Mirage from the FD2. The plane was based at Toulouse for some time and the French would not be all over it with a fine tooth combe, now would they? reply | | Barry, 17.09.2009 13:41 You bet that is where Marcel got the idea of the Mirage from. The FD2 was based at Toulouse for some time and I do not suppose that the "frogs" took any detailed interest in it whatsoever! reply | | paul scott, e-mail, 20.08.2009 15:44 Thanks for that Leo - didn't even know that it was flown over /by Dassault's factory - now I know where they definitely got the Mirage from!!! reply | | Leo Rudnicki, e-mail, 18.08.2009 21:27 Confirmed 1,132 mph average over two-way course at 38,000 feet. The British Government were shocked to learn that Britain still had an aircraft industry and banned future supersonic flight over jolly old to help prevent future development, so further tests were done over the Dassault factory and Norway. Everybody lists maximum speed at 1300 mph but it was not told to the Government to prevent embarassing success. Marcel knew. Rafale's great grampa. reply | | paul scott, e-mail, 18.08.2009 19:00 Was this speed definitely confirmed? I had it from sources elsewhere that it 'only' reached 1,136 mph??? reply |
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