Airspeed Fleet Shadower
The Airspeed AS 39 Fleet Shadower was a reconnaissance aircraft that was designed specifically for the role of a fleet observer. It should start from aircraft carriers and be more suitable by good slow flight characteristics to observe enemy fleets at night for extended periods.
The basis for the development of the request OR.52 (OR = Operational Requirement), from the 1937 specification S.23/37 emerged that called for a three-seater aircraft that could launch from aircraft carriers. It should be able to speed to fly over at least six hours with 38 nodes have very good vision characteristics, could not exceed a certain size in order to be accommodated on aircraft carriers can, and should be able to fly as quietly as possible at the lowest possible speed. Another design that was built due to this specification, and therefore the AS 39 looked very similar to the General Aircraft GAL 38 was the most obvious differences were in the chassis, which was designed at AS 39 as Bugradausführung with an extended leg, and in the tail, consisting of a triple fin with relatively small control surfaces in the AS 39.
The wings of AS 39 were made of wood and were aware waterproof designed so that the plane could hold in case of ditching on the water longer. The hull was made of metal. The observer space at the bow could be removed if necessary. Unusually for a four - engine aircraft was the ability to manually swung down the wings to the back, to accommodate it to save space on an aircraft carrier can. From two prototypes ordered only one was built: N1323. The first flight took place on 17 October 1940. The GAL 38 and AS 39 had finally reaches a minimum speed of 35 knots. Under moderate wind they were able to seen relative to the ground even fly backwards. This was used in the AS 39 achieved by a complex system of pneumatically and hydraulically controlled valves.
The flight characteristics but did not meet the expectations. When failure of one of the engines, the flight characteristics were particularly bad. Also the competition, it was not better with the GAL 38. The specification S.23/37 was finally withdrawn in February 1941, there was no alternative to the Pobjoy Niagara V- engines for this purpose.
Specifications
See also: List of types of aircraft