The Supermarine Scimitar was a navel jet strike fighter first flying in January 1956 and entering service with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm the following year, it is of note that it was the last fighter built by Supermarine. The design incorporated many advanced ideas which proved to be problematic in operation requiring vast amounts of maintenance and having a poor safety record - 39 aircraft were lost in accidents, partially due to the aircrafts need for a larger carrier than those operated by the FFA. As a result of the Scimitars safety and maintenance problems only 76 aircraft were built, these were totally withdrawn in favour of the de Havilland Sea Vixen in the interceptor role and the Blackburn Buccaneer in the attack/bomber role by early 1966, some of the remaining aircraft were operated as tanker aircraft or FRADU aircraft until the last of the Scimitars was finally stuck off in December 1970. Supermarine Scimitar F.1 Specifications: Crew: Pilot only
Length: 55 ft 4 in (16.87 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 2 in (11.33 m)
Height: 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m)
Wing area: 485 ft² (45.06 m²)
Empty weight: 21,000 lb (9,525 kg)
Loaded weight: 34,200 lb (15,515 kg)
Engine: Twin 11,250 lbf (50.0 kN) Rolls-Royce Avon 202 turbojets
Maximum speed: 710 mph (1,145 km/h) at sea level
Range: 600 mi (965 km)
Service ceiling 50,000 ft (15,200 m)
Armament:
Guns: Four 30 mm ADEN cannons
Hardpoints: Four which could be fitted with the following combinations-
Four AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-ground missiles
Four AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles
Four Rocket Pods fited with 8, 16, or 24 3in (76 mm) SAP or HE unguided rocketsx |
