CSAR PresentationCSAR Presentation

Monday 8th June, 2015Monday 8th June, 2015

Rod KirkbyRod Kirkby

The Saga of the M-52The Saga of the M-52

Britain’s wartime Britain’s wartime Supersonic ProjectSupersonic Project

Fastest Fighters of the DayFastest Fighters of the Day

First Jet AircraftFirst Jet Aircraft

SpecificationSpecification Design and develop a new fast research Design and develop a new fast research

aircraft powered by a W2/700 +No 4 aircraft powered by a W2/700 +No 4 Augmentor Whittle engine with by-pass heatingAugmentor Whittle engine with by-pass heating

An All-up weight between 5000 and 6000lbAn All-up weight between 5000 and 6000lb Target speed of 1000mphTarget speed of 1000mph Enough fuel to climb to 40,000ft PLUS half an Enough fuel to climb to 40,000ft PLUS half an

hour at 700mphhour at 700mph Monoplane with large tailplane-the tailplane to Monoplane with large tailplane-the tailplane to

be all moving-ie, no elevatorbe all moving-ie, no elevator Target date 6 months henceTarget date 6 months hence

Why Choose Miles?Why Choose Miles?

Physically close to the RAE (Reading Physically close to the RAE (Reading and Farnborough)and Farnborough)

They designed and built aircraft very They designed and built aircraft very quicklyquickly

They were not averse to unusual and They were not averse to unusual and unconventional designsunconventional designs

They had no production commitments They had no production commitments for front-line fighter or bomber for front-line fighter or bomber aircraftaircraft

Miles LibellulaMiles Libellula

Miles 39B, Miles 39B, (Libellula Development)(Libellula Development)

VisitsVisits

RAERAE Mr SmeltMr Smelt NPL Aero DeptNPL Aero Dept Mr Relph & Dr Mr Relph & Dr

HiltonHilton RARDE, Fort HalsteadRARDE, Fort Halstead Dr MacCollDr MacColl PowerJetsPowerJets Frank Frank

WhittleWhittle

VenturiVenturiSubsonic and Supersonic CasesSubsonic and Supersonic Cases

Drag CoefficientDrag Coefficient Variation with sweep angleVariation with sweep angle

and Mach numberand Mach number

Miles M-52Miles M-523-view drawing3-view drawing

F-15 and Bomarc missileF-15 and Bomarc missileshowing wing tip designshowing wing tip design

Gillette FalconGillette Falcon

Note by N.E.Rowe, M.A.PNote by N.E.Rowe, M.A.P6th November 19436th November 1943

““The firm have evolved a very The firm have evolved a very attractive layout. I think the attractive layout. I think the firm has shown, by the way firm has shown, by the way they have tackled the initial they have tackled the initial stages, that we could safely stages, that we could safely entrust this project to them.”entrust this project to them.”

Lockheed F-104Lockheed F-104StarfighterStarfighter

Wind tunnel drag estimates vs Wind tunnel drag estimates vs dive test drag measurements dive test drag measurements onon

a Spitfirea Spitfire

Mach NoMach No .. .7.7 .75.75 .8.8 .85.85 .9.9 1+1+

RAE wind tunnelRAE wind tunnel 88%88% 425%425%

estimates as % ofestimates as % of 110%110% 725%725%

RAE measured RAE measured 270%270% flight dragflight drag ??????

WWII jet fightersWWII jet fighters

US Requirements for a US Requirements for a Supersonic Research Aircraft Supersonic Research Aircraft

19441944

Take off and climb to 35,000ftTake off and climb to 35,000ft Level flight at 800mph for 2 to 5 Level flight at 800mph for 2 to 5

minsmins To carry 500lb recording equipmentTo carry 500lb recording equipment

Bell responded, but with a Rocket Bell responded, but with a Rocket engine and air launchedengine and air launched

Contract for Bell XS-1Contract for Bell XS-1

Signed 16th March 1945Signed 16th March 1945

cf Miles M-52 contract signed cf Miles M-52 contract signed 13th December 194313th December 1943

Whittle’s Engine for the M-Whittle’s Engine for the M-5252

Bell X-1Bell X-1

Sabre and Mig 15Sabre and Mig 15

Supersonic Committee, Supersonic Committee, 12th Feb 194612th Feb 1946

““The opinion of the committee was The opinion of the committee was unanimous that there was no case unanimous that there was no case for continuing on the grounds of for continuing on the grounds of obtaining information at transonic obtaining information at transonic or supersonic speeds (the reason or supersonic speeds (the reason for placing the contract). A case for placing the contract). A case was, however, put forward for the was, however, put forward for the completion of the aircraft for use completion of the aircraft for use as a test bed for the engine.”as a test bed for the engine.”

Memo 22nd Jan 1946 D of Memo 22nd Jan 1946 D of C(P) to DGDTC(P) to DGDT

SecretSecret (the contract)….was placed with (the contract)….was placed with

Miles..on 13th December 1943 as a Miles..on 13th December 1943 as a matter of urgency, but the matter of urgency, but the progress so far made does not progress so far made does not seem to have been very rapid……seem to have been very rapid……

In these circumstances, you may In these circumstances, you may wish to reconsider the project…..wish to reconsider the project…..

M-52 CancellationM-52 Cancellation

Memo DGSR(Sir Ben Lockspeiser) to DARDMemo DGSR(Sir Ben Lockspeiser) to DARD20th February 194620th February 1946

““We must cut our losses and cancel this We must cut our losses and cancel this contract….contract….

The matter was fully discussed at the last The matter was fully discussed at the last meeting of the Supersonic Cte and I have meeting of the Supersonic Cte and I have subsequently discussed the matter with the subsequently discussed the matter with the firm.firm.

There will be no tears anywhere except perhaps There will be no tears anywhere except perhaps at PJ’s-but we are not paying £250,000 to test at PJ’s-but we are not paying £250,000 to test an engine.”an engine.”

Cancellation continuedCancellation continued

““I believe the conception behind I believe the conception behind the decision to build this aircraft the decision to build this aircraft was to get supersonic information. was to get supersonic information. We now know that was putting the We now know that was putting the cart before the horse. No more cart before the horse. No more supersonic aircraft till our rocket-supersonic aircraft till our rocket-propelled models and wind tunnels propelled models and wind tunnels have given us enough information have given us enough information to proceed on a reliable basis.”to proceed on a reliable basis.”

CostsCosts

Total cost of the M-52 programme Total cost of the M-52 programme £250,000£250,000

Cancellation costs £73,000 already spent, Cancellation costs £73,000 already spent, +£40,000 for work completed+£3000 to +£40,000 for work completed+£3000 to clear jigs etc+£25,000 for special materials clear jigs etc+£25,000 for special materials unused but still in stores+£25,000 for unused but still in stores+£25,000 for outstanding sub-contractor liabilitiesoutstanding sub-contractor liabilities

Saving, therefore, £84,000 compared to Saving, therefore, £84,000 compared to completing three airframescompleting three airframes

Costs of Model ProgrammeCosts of Model Programme

£400,000 to £500,000, for a programme £400,000 to £500,000, for a programme which produced only one successful which produced only one successful model launch, proving the M-52 model launch, proving the M-52 concept, in terms of performance and concept, in terms of performance and stabilitystability

cf £250,000 for the M-52 programme, cf £250,000 for the M-52 programme, had it been completedhad it been completed

Huge loss of data and expertise as a Huge loss of data and expertise as a result of cancellationresult of cancellation

De Havilland 108 SwallowDe Havilland 108 Swallow

““Why was the M-52 Why was the M-52 really really cancelled?”cancelled?”

Bill Gunston’s Father asked this Bill Gunston’s Father asked this question and was “warned that he question and was “warned that he should forget it”should forget it”

““Had the M-52 becomeHad the M-52 become ‘ ‘aa piece of piece of dead research’ through having dead research’ through having

straight wings?”straight wings?”

Bill Gunston asked this himself of Bill Gunston asked this himself of the Ministry.the Ministry.

The response wasThe response was ““The Ministry are not prepared to The Ministry are not prepared to

comment”comment”

““What was the real reason for What was the real reason for cancelling the M-52?”cancelling the M-52?”

This was the question posed by Bill This was the question posed by Bill Gunston in 1977 to Sir Ben Gunston in 1977 to Sir Ben Lockspeiser, by which time I Lockspeiser, by which time I presume he thought he might be presume he thought he might be told the truth.told the truth.

The answer... The answer... ““Old Men Forget!”Old Men Forget!”

to which I say, ‘Balderdash!’to which I say, ‘Balderdash!’

Final word by Ben Final word by Ben Lockspeiser Lockspeiser

At a Ministry of Supply Press At a Ministry of Supply Press Conference, 18th July 1946, he Conference, 18th July 1946, he saidsaid

““The impression that supersonic The impression that supersonic aircraft are just around the corner aircraft are just around the corner is quite erroneous, but the is quite erroneous, but the difficulties will be tackled by the difficulties will be tackled by the use of rocket-driven models.”use of rocket-driven models.”

M-52 Ultimate M-52 Ultimate PerformancePerformance

LessonsLessons In unknown areas, consult as many as In unknown areas, consult as many as

possible, but use your own possible, but use your own judgement.judgement.

Seek practical results, not Seek practical results, not extrapolations.extrapolations.

Don’t put too much faith in ‘experts’Don’t put too much faith in ‘experts’ Keep committees informed-nip false Keep committees informed-nip false

ideas in the bud.(difficult if they ideas in the bud.(difficult if they believe the ‘experts’!)believe the ‘experts’!)

Lessons contndLessons contnd

If project takes longer than expected, If project takes longer than expected, have an advocate that can take your have an advocate that can take your side against the ‘bean counters’ and side against the ‘bean counters’ and champion your cause.champion your cause.

If you send many reports to a busy If you send many reports to a busy industry, devise a way of marking out industry, devise a way of marking out the vital info from that which merely the vital info from that which merely adds an extra decimal point to existing adds an extra decimal point to existing knowledge.knowledge.

M-52, what might have M-52, what might have been #1been #1

M-52, plus chase planesM-52, plus chase planes“what might have “what might have

been”#2been”#2

The Supersonic The Supersonic CommitteeCommittee

The Supersonic The Supersonic CommitteeCommittee

Why was it cancelled so Why was it cancelled so abruptly when the first abruptly when the first prototype was only four prototype was only four months from roll-out?months from roll-out?

Why was it cancelled so Why was it cancelled so abruptly?abruptly?

German research on Swept Wings?German research on Swept Wings?

Why was it cancelled so Why was it cancelled so abruptly?abruptly?

German research on Swept wings?German research on Swept wings? De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and

with swept wings?with swept wings?

Why was it cancelled so Why was it cancelled so abruptly?abruptly?

German research on Swept wings?German research on Swept wings? De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and

with swept wings?with swept wings? US wanting the kudos of being the first US wanting the kudos of being the first

through 'The Sound Barrier'?through 'The Sound Barrier'?

Why was it cancelled so Why was it cancelled so abruptly?abruptly?

German research on Swept wings?German research on Swept wings? De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and

with swept wings?with swept wings? US wanting the kudos of being the first US wanting the kudos of being the first

through 'The Sound Barrier'?through 'The Sound Barrier'? US concerns about Britain's Labour US concerns about Britain's Labour

Government?Government?

Why was it cancelled so Why was it cancelled so abruptly?abruptly?

German research on Swept wings?German research on Swept wings? De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and

with swept wings?with swept wings? US wanting the kudos of being the first US wanting the kudos of being the first

through 'The Sound Barrier'?through 'The Sound Barrier'? US concerns about Britain's Labour US concerns about Britain's Labour

Government?Government? Britain's naivety in loaning RR Nene jet Britain's naivety in loaning RR Nene jet

engines to Russia?engines to Russia?

Why was it cancelled so Why was it cancelled so abruptly?abruptly?

German research on Swept wings?German research on Swept wings? De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and

with swept wings?with swept wings? US wanting the kudos of being the first US wanting the kudos of being the first

through 'The Sound Barrier'?through 'The Sound Barrier'? US concerns about Britain's Labour US concerns about Britain's Labour

Government?Government? Britain's naivety in loaning RR Nene jet Britain's naivety in loaning RR Nene jet

engines to Russia?engines to Russia? Britain wishing to let Whittle quietly fade into Britain wishing to let Whittle quietly fade into

the background?the background?

Why was it cancelled so Why was it cancelled so abruptly?abruptly?

German research on Swept wings?German research on Swept wings? De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and with De Havilland Swallow quicker, cheaper and with

swept wings?swept wings? US wanting the kudos of being the first through US wanting the kudos of being the first through

'The Sound Barrier'?'The Sound Barrier'? US concerns about Britain's Labour Government?US concerns about Britain's Labour Government? Britain's naivety in loaning RR Nene jet engines to Britain's naivety in loaning RR Nene jet engines to

Russia?Russia? Britain wishing to let Whittle quietly fade into the Britain wishing to let Whittle quietly fade into the

background?background? Britain really thinking it would save money that Britain really thinking it would save money that

way?way?

The EndThe End

Questions?Questions?