Fairey FD.2 Delta
The Delta 2 was built to investigate the characteristics of flight and control at transonic and supersonic speeds. A 60 degree delta, one feature was a nose that drooped 10 degrees for landing for visibility.
The first made its maiden flight on 6 October 1954. Powered by a 12,000-lb (5443-kg) afterburning thrust Rolls-Royce Avon RA.5, the initial F.D.2 secured the first world air speed record at more than 1000 mph (1609 km/h) in March 1956, when an average of 1132 mph (1821 km/h) was recorded in two flights, piloted by Peter Twiss.
The second aircraft had the 13,000-1b (5896-kg) afterburing thrust Avon RA.28 and helped to expand the F.D.2's flight envelope in an important research programme.
On 10 March 1956 the RA.5-powered aircraft (flown by Peter Twiss) became the first aircraft to set an over-1,000mph world speed record, with an average of two flights of 1,821km/h.
The first machine was later revised as the British Aircraft Corporation 221 to evaluate the ogival wing proposed for the Anglo-French supersonic airliner that finally appeared as the BAC/Aerospatiale Concorde. The Concorde also adopted another F.D.2 feature, the drooping nose that gave the pilot an adequate field of vision for takeoff and landing.
Gallery
Fairey F.D.2
Engine: 1 x Rolls-Royce "Avon" 200 turbo-jet, 44.5kN
Max take-off weight: 6298 kg / 13885 lb
Empty weight: 4990 kg / 11001 lb
Wingspan: 8.18 m / 26 ft 10 in
Length: 15.74 m / 51 ft 8 in
Height: 3.35 m / 10 ft 12 in
Wing area: 33.44 sq.m / 359.94 sq ft
Max. speed: 2092 km/h / 1300 mph
Range: 1336 km / 830 miles
Crew: 1
