Swift JusticeThe Supermarine Swift was rushed into service with the RAF during 1954 to become Britain's first second-generation jet fighter. In this role it was not deemed a success and has been burdened with a bad reputation since that time. It was eventually replaced by the famous Hawker Hunter that had been extensively delayed because of teething troubles. This book covers the development and operational history of a vital aircraft that is a part of aviation legend. |
Contents
Acknowledgements | 6 |
Glossary | 7 |
Foreword | 8 |
Preface | 9 |
CHAPTER ONE Supermarine Planemakers | 11 |
CHAPTER TWO The Test Pilots | 28 |
CHAPTER THREE Swift Evolution | 46 |
CHAPTER FOUR Evaluation AAEE and AFDS | 63 |
CHAPTER SEVEN A New Role A New Reputation | 93 |
CHAPTER EIGHT Orange | 115 |
CHAPTER NINE No 2 Army Cooperation Squadron Leader of an Army | 133 |
CHAPTER TEN No 79 Fighter Squadron Nothing Can Stop Us | 161 |
CHAPTER ELEVEN One Mans Story No One is Percfect | 195 |
CHAPTER TWELVE Ubendum Wemendum | 202 |
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Bomber Destroyer? | 217 |
CHAPTER FOURTEEN Back To The Future Supermarine Type 545 | 223 |
CHAPTER FIVE Fourteen Fateful Months No 56 Squadron | 69 |
CHAPTER SIX Reincarnation A Star is Born | 79 |
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Common terms and phrases
2ATAF 79 Squadron A&AEE achieved Aden cannon AFDS ailerons air defence Air Force airborne aircraft airfield Aldergrove attack Aviation base became Boscombe brake British cameras Castle Bromwich Chilbolton cockpit competition David Morgan Denis Webb ejection engine exercise Farnborough feet fighter fire Fireflash flew Flight Lieutenant flown Flying Officer flypast fuel fuselage Geilenkirchen Ground instruction groundcrew gunnery guns Gütersloh hangar Hunter Hursley IFREP initial involved Jever John knots landing later low level manoeuvrability mess Meteor MFPU Mike Lithgow missile months NATO operational Peter Thorne photographic problems programme prototype radar RAF Germany Ray Hanna reconnaissance record reheat remembers Rimmy role Royal Flush runway sortie South Marston Spitfire Squadron Leader station commander Supermarine Supermarine Swift Swift FR.5 Sylt Tac.Recon tactical take-off target tasks test pilot took trials undercarriage ventral tank Vickers W. H. Bushell Waterbeach weather wing Wunstorf