de Havilland Hornet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Hornet

The de Havilland DH.103 Hornet was a twin-piston engined fighter aircraft that
further exploited the wooden construction techniques pioneered by de Havilland's
earlier Mosquito. Entering service at the end of the Second World War, the
Hornet equipped postwar RAF Fighter Command day fighter units in the UK and was
later used successfully as a strike fighter in Malaya. The Sea Hornet was a
carrier-capable version.

Designed under a team led by R. E. Bishop with C. T. Wilkins assisting[1] as a
private venture for a long-range fighter destined for the Pacific Theatre in the
war against Japan, Specification F.12/43 was written around the type. From an
early stage it was also envisaged that the Hornet could be adapted for naval
use, operating from aircraft carriers. As a result, priority was given to ease
of control, especially at low speeds and good pilot visibility. Construction was
of mixed balsa/plywood similar to the Mosquito but the Hornet differed in
incorporating stressed Alclad lower-wing skins bonded to the wooden upper wing
structure using the new adhesive Redux. The two wing spars were redesigned to
withstand a higher load factor of 10 versus 8

Role Land and naval-based fighter aircraft
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer de Havilland
First flight 19 April 1944
Introduction 1946
Retired 1956
Primary users Royal Air Force
Royal Navy
Produced 1945 to 1950
Number built 383

Fuselage construction was identical to the earlier Mosquito; a balsa wood "pith"
sandwiched between plywood sheets which were laid in diagonal panels. Aerolite
formaldehyde cement was the bonding agent. The fuselage halves were built on
large concrete or wood patterns, equipment was fitted in each half and they were
then joined along the top and bottom centre lines using wooden reinforcing
strips. The entire fuselage was then tightly wrapped in fine aviation fabric
which was doped in place.

The Hornet entered service in 1946 with 64 Squadron based at RAF Horsham St
Faith. Next to convert to the Hornet was 19 Squadron at RAF Wittering, followed
by 41 Squadron and 65 Squadron, both based at RAF Church Fenton. No. 65 Sqn was
to participate in one of the first official overseas visits by an RAF unit when
they visited Sweden in May 1948. Pilot conversion to the Hornet was provided by
No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit (O.C.U.) which was based at RAF
Molesworth.[9][N 3]

During their relatively short operational service Hornets participated in
several record attempts and air races; for example, on 15 September 1949 Flight
Lieutenant H. Peebles flew from RAF Bovingdon to Gibraltar at an average speed
of 357.565 mph (574.445 km/h), setting a new British point-to-point record, only
to see it broken three days later when Group Captain A.P.C. Carver flew back to
Bovingdon, averaging 435.871 mph (701.466 km/h).

Specifications (Hornet F.1)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 35 ft, 6 in (10.82 m)
Wingspan: 45 ft (13.72 m)
Height: 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
Wing area: 361 ft² (33.54 m²)
Empty weight: 11,292 lb (5,122 kg)
Loaded weight: 15,820 lb (7,176 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 18,250 lb (2 x 200 gal drop tanks) (8,278 kg)
Powerplant: Four blade, 12-foot (3.7 m) diameter "handed" de Havilland
propellers: Two × Rolls-Royce Merlin 130/131 12-cylinder engines, 2,070 hp
(1,544 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 475 mph at 21,000 ft (764 km/h at 6,400 m)
Cruise speed: 270 mph (20,000 ft)
Range: 1,480 mi (2,600 mi max) (2,382 km (4,184 km max))
Service ceiling: 41,500 ft (12,650 m)
Rate of climb: 4 minutes to 20,000 ft. Average 5,000 ft/min (25.4 m/s)
Wing loading: 43.82 lb/ft² (213.9 kg/m²)

Armament
4 × 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk. V cannons (with 190 rpg) in lower fuselage nose
2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs under wing, outboard of engines
8 × "60 lb" (27 kg) RP-3 unguided rockets (Hornet F.3)

Avionics
ASH radar fitted in Sea Hornet NF Mk 21.




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