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Avro 707
The Avro 707 (also known as Type 707) is an experimental aircraft designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Avro.
It was developed to test the tailless thick delta wing configuration chosen for the Avro 698 jet bomber, later named the Vulcan. In particular, the low-speed characteristics of such aircraft were not well known at the time. Aerodynamically, it was a one-third scale version of the Vulcan. The second prototype, VX790, was built to the 707B configuration, featuring a longer nose, alternative cockpit canopy, a modified wing with (51°) sweep, and an elongated nose wheel leg for a greater angle of incidence during both landing and take offs. The twin-seat 707C, the final variant, which had been designed to perform delta wing orientation training with the Royal Air Force; however, no production aircraft would ultimately be produced. The handful of 707s that were produced were largely used for flight testing purposes.
On 4 September 1949, the first Avro 707 performed its maiden flight from RAF Boscombe Down; low-speed testing began shortly thereafter. Higher speed testing commenced in late 1953 using the third aircraft, the first 707A. After development of the Vulcan had been completed, the four surviving 707s continued to be flown as general research aircraft. The prototype 707C was involved in various research programmes, the majority of which were unconnected to the Vulcan. Numerous tests involving the type were conducted by both the Royal Aircraft Establishment (R.A.E) and the Aeronautical Research Laboratories in Australia. During the early 1950s, the Avro 707 performed several public appearances at the Farnborough Airshows. The last flying Avro 707 was grounded during 1967; three aircraft have been preserved and placed on static display in museums.
The Avro 707 originated as a "proof-of-concept" delta wing aircraft that was principally the work of Stuart D. Davies, Avro's chief designer. It was a relatively compact aircraft that initially incorporated a wing with about 50° sweep, without a horizontal tail on a fin with trailing edge sweep. The trailing edge of this wing carried two pairs of control surfaces: inboard elevators and outboard ailerons. These flight surfaces worked in conjunction with a conventional rudder. Retractable airbrakes were also provided above and below the wings. The aircraft featured all-metal stressed-skin construction.
The prototypes were ordered by the Ministry of Supply to fulfil Specification E.15/48, which called for a low-speed research aircraft that would be a one-third scale version of Avro's B.35/46 design for a strategic bomber. Production of this aircraft was accelerated by using several components from other aircraft, such as the canopy of the first prototype being taken from a Gloster Meteor. The Avro 707 programme provided valuable insights into the Vulcan's flight characteristics, most of the information coming from the second and third prototypes which flew before the Vulcan. A half-scale aircraft, the Avro 710, was cancelled when it became clear that it would be less time-consuming to develop a high-speed variant of the Avro 707 instead.
All Avro 707s were powered by a single Rolls-Royce Derwent centrifugal turbojet engine. The air intake on the first prototype and later 707B was located on the upper rear fuselage. Some aircraft were outfitted with ejection seats. In total, five Avro 707s were completed.
On 4 September 1949, the first Avro 707, VX784, performed its maiden flight from RAF Boscombe Down, with Squadron Leader Samuel Eric Esler, DFC, AE at the controls. Two days later, it was statically displayed at the Farnborough Airshow. However, testing with the first prototype was cut shortly when, on 30 September 1949, it crashed near Blackbushe during a test flight, killing Esler. The loss of the first prototype led to the construction of the second prototype being temporarily halted while the design was re-examined, leading to several refinements being implemented.
The next prototype, VX790, renamed the 707B, had a longer nose, different cockpit canopy, a wing of different (51°) sweep and a longer nose wheel leg to provide the high angle of incidence required by deltas for landing and take off. The Avro 707B was given the same dorsal engine intake as the first prototype, although this was later modified to a NACA design. It first flew on 6 September 1950; the aircraft quickly proved to be relatively docile in flight. Both the 707 and 707B were largely flown to test low speed characteristics.
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Avro 707
The Avro 707 (also known as Type 707) is an experimental aircraft designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Avro.
It was developed to test the tailless thick delta wing configuration chosen for the Avro 698 jet bomber, later named the Vulcan. In particular, the low-speed characteristics of such aircraft were not well known at the time. Aerodynamically, it was a one-third scale version of the Vulcan. The second prototype, VX790, was built to the 707B configuration, featuring a longer nose, alternative cockpit canopy, a modified wing with (51°) sweep, and an elongated nose wheel leg for a greater angle of incidence during both landing and take offs. The twin-seat 707C, the final variant, which had been designed to perform delta wing orientation training with the Royal Air Force; however, no production aircraft would ultimately be produced. The handful of 707s that were produced were largely used for flight testing purposes.
On 4 September 1949, the first Avro 707 performed its maiden flight from RAF Boscombe Down; low-speed testing began shortly thereafter. Higher speed testing commenced in late 1953 using the third aircraft, the first 707A. After development of the Vulcan had been completed, the four surviving 707s continued to be flown as general research aircraft. The prototype 707C was involved in various research programmes, the majority of which were unconnected to the Vulcan. Numerous tests involving the type were conducted by both the Royal Aircraft Establishment (R.A.E) and the Aeronautical Research Laboratories in Australia. During the early 1950s, the Avro 707 performed several public appearances at the Farnborough Airshows. The last flying Avro 707 was grounded during 1967; three aircraft have been preserved and placed on static display in museums.
The Avro 707 originated as a "proof-of-concept" delta wing aircraft that was principally the work of Stuart D. Davies, Avro's chief designer. It was a relatively compact aircraft that initially incorporated a wing with about 50° sweep, without a horizontal tail on a fin with trailing edge sweep. The trailing edge of this wing carried two pairs of control surfaces: inboard elevators and outboard ailerons. These flight surfaces worked in conjunction with a conventional rudder. Retractable airbrakes were also provided above and below the wings. The aircraft featured all-metal stressed-skin construction.
The prototypes were ordered by the Ministry of Supply to fulfil Specification E.15/48, which called for a low-speed research aircraft that would be a one-third scale version of Avro's B.35/46 design for a strategic bomber. Production of this aircraft was accelerated by using several components from other aircraft, such as the canopy of the first prototype being taken from a Gloster Meteor. The Avro 707 programme provided valuable insights into the Vulcan's flight characteristics, most of the information coming from the second and third prototypes which flew before the Vulcan. A half-scale aircraft, the Avro 710, was cancelled when it became clear that it would be less time-consuming to develop a high-speed variant of the Avro 707 instead.
All Avro 707s were powered by a single Rolls-Royce Derwent centrifugal turbojet engine. The air intake on the first prototype and later 707B was located on the upper rear fuselage. Some aircraft were outfitted with ejection seats. In total, five Avro 707s were completed.
On 4 September 1949, the first Avro 707, VX784, performed its maiden flight from RAF Boscombe Down, with Squadron Leader Samuel Eric Esler, DFC, AE at the controls. Two days later, it was statically displayed at the Farnborough Airshow. However, testing with the first prototype was cut shortly when, on 30 September 1949, it crashed near Blackbushe during a test flight, killing Esler. The loss of the first prototype led to the construction of the second prototype being temporarily halted while the design was re-examined, leading to several refinements being implemented.
The next prototype, VX790, renamed the 707B, had a longer nose, different cockpit canopy, a wing of different (51°) sweep and a longer nose wheel leg to provide the high angle of incidence required by deltas for landing and take off. The Avro 707B was given the same dorsal engine intake as the first prototype, although this was later modified to a NACA design. It first flew on 6 September 1950; the aircraft quickly proved to be relatively docile in flight. Both the 707 and 707B were largely flown to test low speed characteristics.
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