Aeroplane Monthly 1994-01 / B.Jones - Crescent-wing Crusader /British post-war experimental jet aircraft/ (11)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: VX330   [9]

Aeroplane Monthly 1994-01 / B.Jones - Crescent-wing Crusader /British post-war experimental jet aircraft/ (11)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: VX330   [9]

VX330 was first flown on June 14,1951, from Carnaby, Yorkshire.
The experimental H.P.88 broke up in the air.

OS 1 / H.Cowin - X-Planes

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: VX330   [9]

The sole Handley Page HP 88, VX 330, was designed and constructed to flight test the more radical aerodynamic features of the company's forthcoming Victor bomber. Sadly, the HP 88s appearance was so delayed that it almost overtaken by the real thing, much of which had already been redesigned anyway. Very much a hybrid, with a specially supplied fuselage from Supermarine, coupled to wings and tail unit designed by Handley Page, sub-contracted for assembly by General Aircraft, but delayed due to that company's acquisition by Blackburn, who were in charge of the HP 88's overall completion. It flew for the first time on 21 June 1951. Powered by a 5.000lb s.t. Rolls-Royce Nene 2, the HP 88 had displayed from the outset undue control sensitivity in the pitching axis. In an attempt to cure the problem, VX 330 had |ust been modified to take a RAE devised 'plumb bob' pitch control damper when it was handed over to Handley Page for the high speed handling phase. Immediately after this, on 26 August 1951, while flying a high speed, low level run at 300 feet above Stansted Airfield's runway, the HP 88 suffered structural failure at 547mph, killing Handley Page's Douglas J. Broomfield. The crash cause was attributed to the inclusion of the 'plum bob', ironically, fitted to a tailplane long since redesigned for the Victor.

Мировая Авиация 157

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: VX330   [9]

На H.P.88 установили крыло от Victor - масштабно уменьшенное с коэффициентом 0,4. В конструкции самолета использован фюзеляж Supermarine Attacker, стабилизатор выполнен цельноповоротным, крыло снабжено элевонами и закрылками Крюгера. Единственный экземпляр H.P.88 разбился 26 августа 1951 года.
The H.P.88’s fuselage was supplied by Supermarine and was an adaption of the Type 510 redesignated Type 521.

Мировая Авиация 150

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: VX330   [9]

H.P.88, построенный для отработки серповидного крыла проекта H.P.80 Victor, разбился прежде, чем удалось собрать необходимый объем результатов исследований. На фотографии самолета хорошо узнаваем фюзеляж истребителя Attacker.

Aeroplane Monthly 1994-01 / B.Jones - Crescent-wing Crusader /British post-war experimental jet aircraft/ (11)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: VX330   [9]

This January 1951 photograph of VX330 shows it unpainted - the Royal blue colour scheme was applied in June.

Aeroplane Monthly 1994-01 / B.Jones - Crescent-wing Crusader /British post-war experimental jet aircraft/ (11)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: VX330   [9]

The Nene-engined H.P.88 in June 1951 - its Supermarine input is very evident.

Aeroplane Monthly 1994-01 / B.Jones - Crescent-wing Crusader /British post-war experimental jet aircraft/ (11)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: VX330   [9]

Looking like a cross between an Attacker and a Swift the H.P.88 flew only 14hr before being lost during airspeed calibration flights on August 26, 1951.
This rare flying shot of the H.P.88 clearly shows the crescent-shaped wing planform. The four prominent fairings on the inboard trailing edges covered the actuators for the large Fowler flaps.

Aeroplane Monthly 1994-01 / B.Jones - Crescent-wing Crusader /British post-war experimental jet aircraft/ (11)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: VX330   [9]

Aeroplane Monthly 1994-01 / B.Jones - Crescent-wing Crusader /British post-war experimental jet aircraft/ (11)

Three-view of VX330 as it appeared on its first flight. The angle strips added later to the tailplane trailing edge were the only changes made during its short 66-day existence. It did not carry national roundels on the wings - maybe they would have been added for the 1951 SBAC show had it survived.