GB846382A - Improvements in and relating to aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

846,382. Jet propelled aircraft. ENGLISH ELECTRIC CO. Ltd. Jan. 4, 1957 [Jan. 11, 1956], No. 966/56. Class 4. A wing structure structurally combined with ducts of propulsive jet engines is arranged at the rear portion of a fuselage while an all-moving fore-plane is arranged on the front portion of the fuselage, its roots being located adjacent the crew's cockpit. As shown in Fig. 1, the all-moving fore-plane 2 is of pronounced sweep-back whilst the main wing 3 is straight with a 1 : 2 taper and a 2À4 aspect ratio, not including the jettisonable wing tip tanks 4 which have a profile adapted to sub-sonic flight velocities. Small half-delta fins 5 are mounted at the underside of the wing tips to reduce tip losses at supersonic speeds. The main wing has a structural depth of up to 15% at the root and up to 12À5% at the tip, has an aerodynamic fineness of 3%-4¢%, and its surfaces are flat except for a slight camber at the leading and trailing edges of the upper surface. The leading edge of the wing forms a ram air intake for the turbo-jet engines 10 and preferably for ram jet engines in addition; these turbo-jet engines also supply power for the auxiliary equipment of the aircraft and may continue to do so if this fuel supply is cut off and they are windmilling. The aircraft has a dorsal fin 9 provided with a rudder 8. Control of pitch is provided by the all-moving wings 2 and control of roll by differential adjustment of the ram jet nozzles and if desired by spoilers (not shown), built into the main wing surfaces. A tricycle undercarriage is provided, the front pair of wheels 7 retracting into the fuselage abaft the crews, cabin and the rear wheels retracting into the main wing. The nose portion of the fuselage may contain radar and photographic equipment that requires no pressurisation or a pressurisation no greater than that in the cockpit while radar or radio equipment requiring higher pressurisation is housed immediately behind the cockpit. The main part of the fuselage serves as the main fuel tank and contains radar aerials in its interior adjacent its bottom skin. Specification 751,000 is referred to.