ft 1944

on

other directions due to the steady incr^ ing loading. T h p sacrifice is reflected; in the encrmoiJS runways nqw required to get the rmRler* bomber into ind |m the peqtease of turjgng miAceuvrability ^htittA aircjjaft. The effect of thW increase in iing i$"ven more propimnced in the case ot craft because, unlikeya'land airfield, the length er's flight deck isanictly limited, and the only alternatives to the use oLftiferior machines are either to use more efficient flapsj order to reduce the take-off and landing speed, or to increase the speed of the carrier. The latter course would necessarily result in greater fuel con-

sumption and at the same time impose serious tactical limitations on the carrier's movements. With these points in mind, and the still further increase in wing loading which is likely to take place in the future, the need is apparent now more than ever for extended research and development into means for increasing the efficiency and lifting capacity of wings .with the view, no> r

,IN FUEL (TRIMMING TABS

NAVIGATOR'S SEAT

SMOKE FLOATS

DECKARRESTINC HOOK

O / B FLAP LINK FAIRING PORT FLAP IN CRUISING POSITION AILERON TRIM TAB (PORT SIDE ONLY)

only to the improvement of Fleet Air Arm aircraft, but also land-based types and the postwar development of civil flying. The Firefly carries a load probably greater than most contemporary land fighters, but in spite of this, and the severe design handicaps due to the fulfillment of Fleet Air Arm requirements, such as folding wings, arrester and catapult gear, which add considerably to the structure weight, it is not only able to take-off and land easily from the deck of a carrier, but at the same time it has been shown to have advantage in combat manoeuvre over shore-based enemy fighters. This advantage is gai/fed by the use of the Youngman retractable aerofoil flaps. Performance land Flaps It is needless to say that the improvement in performance which can be obtained in the case of a moderately powered two-seater ship-fighter would show up to even greater advantage in the case of a high-performance, shore-based fighter. As, for instance, in enabling such aircraft to operate from small jungle airfields and in reducing the wide radius of turn now required by the modern fighter in order to bring its guns to bear on the objective. The use of aerofoil flaps, which produce a large increment in lift at the expense of a small increment in drag at inter-

FORMATIONKEEPING LICHT

DECK APPROACH LAMP