Folland Fo.117

History

By 1942, the German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was fully established as one of the two best fighters in the Luftwaffe (the other being the Messerschmitt Bf 109). This lightweight platform proved to be fast, agile, and capable of getting almost anything in the air - in fact, the Fw 190 was considered one of the classic designs throughout the war.

For the Brits, fighter reasons are mostly handled by the slick Supermarine Spitfire and the aging Hawker Hurricane.

In September 1942, the F. 6/42 specification was drafted, calling for a single-seat fighter comparable to (or exceeding) the compact Fw 190. In turn, this design should also be light, exhibit excellent maneuverability and be armed with a 4 x 20mm automatic cannon.

Top speed is estimated at 450 mph when cruising at an altitude of 20,000 feet, and rate of climb is also an important aspect of the new fighter.

Several of the usual British companies have made a splash in the ring, with Folland and Hawker at the top. Folland Aircraft is relatively new in the field and did not begin operations until 1937. In contrast, Hawker Aircraft has been in business since 1920 (as H.G. Hawker Engineering).

Folland's proposal revolves around "Fo. 177". The aircraft features a traditional layout with the engine at the front, the single-blade tail at the rear, and the center pilot placed. A bubble cover is recommended to improve visibility outside the cockpit.

The wing main aircraft is mounted low, with rounded tips, directly amidships. Each wing should carry the required 2 x cannon mounts. A conventional tail-trailer landing gear (with a wide track arrangement) will be used for ground operations - the main legs are retracted towards the fuselage centerline.

The fighter's loaded weight is estimated at 9,170 pounds.

One of the most notable features of

Folland's proposal was the nose-mounted 2 x three-bladed counter-rotating propellers - a relatively new quality for fighter jets of the era. This allows for the installation of smaller diameter propellers and is expected to improve performance.

Buddha. The 117 has found some supporters in the ranks of the British Air Force, but there is not enough confidence in the small company to produce an all-new fighter on the stated schedule and in the quantities required. By March 1943, Buddha. The 117 sounded the death knell, but before the end of the year it was renamed "Fo.

117A" with new wings. The engine of choice became the 2,500-horsepower Bristol Centaurus XII engine, and English Electric will supply its production facility following six prototypes commissioned by Folland.

Promise and Buddha without any result. 117 Never saw the light of day. The competing Hawker design achieved better results when it became the "Fury/Sea Fury" in British service. 864 of these Navy fighter-bombers were built from 1945 to 1955.

Estimated specification of Fo. The 117 includes a top speed of 468 mph, a service ceiling of 39,800 feet and a rate of climb of 4,950 feet per minute.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

VARIANTS