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Sound Barrier – Prometheus VV119

Filming the Swift - LNA

By 1946 Britain’s lead in jet-fighter design had been challenged by developments in the USA and the RAF had rejected the Supermarine Attacker as a possible Meteor or Vampire replacement. This apparent lack of interest in new designs, meant that existing aircraft continued in front-line service until well past obsolescence. Supermarine’s design department were reviewing developments based on the Attacker layout and construction and, like Hawker Aviation, were interested in any new specification for a RAF fighter aircraft that might materialize.

Thus, it was not until 1946 that the Air Staff issued specification E.41/46 for a swept-wing development of the Attacker and E.38/46 for a similar development of the Hawker P.1040 – both specifications were only for experimental aircraft. Two prototypes of each aircraft were ordered, but whereas the Hawker contender had only swept-back wings, the Supermarine contender had 40-degree sweepback on both wings and tailplane.

The first prototype, numbered VV106, was a Type 510s (Swift) built at Hursley Park and transported to Boscombe Down. Mike Lithgow made a maiden flight in VV106 on 29th December 1948 and the design was modified into Type 517.

The second Swift prototype – Nene powered VV119 – was a Type 528, which had an enlarged rear fuselage to accommodate a larger jetpipe with reheat and a special reduced diameter tailcone at the exhaust exit. This was soon modified to a Type 535 and included a change from tailwheel undercarriage to nosewheel; a longer pointed nose; a kinked wing leading edge; a larger fuselage diameter to accommodate an afterburner; increased fuel capacity and provision for four cannon in the wings. In this form the aircraft flew again on 23rd August 1950, with test flying undertaken by Sqn Ldr Dave Morgan.

In “The Sound Barrier” VV119 filled the role of testing a new jet-powered fighter aircraft called “Prometheus” (a Classical figure who represents human striving).

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