Folland FO.108

The Folland FO.108 (also Folland 43/37 ) was a three -seat, single-engine experimental aircraft engine testing for the British manufacturer Folland. There were engines to about 3000 hp (2200 kW) are being tested. The machine in low-wing design had a rigid chassis and a conventional tail. The cantilevered wing was made ​​of wood and covered with plywood. The hull was made of light metal semi-monocoque construction. It was the first in-house development of the company Folland.

Henry Folland designed this test carrier according to the specification 43/37 of the DTD / AM ( Director of Technical Development / Air Ministry ) under the contract no. 953635/38 dated 5 October 1938. In 1940, a total of twelve units were built with the RAF serial numbers P1774 to P1785. To allow a simple change of engine was located in front of the cockpit of an adapter plate to which the required additional units could be attached. For two observers for detecting the engine performance values ​​seats were provided behind the pilot. With the machines until 1945 numerous test flights were undertaken. For installation lost their Bristol Hercules, Bristol Centaurus, the Napier Sabre and Rolls- Royce Griffon.

Whereabouts

  • P1774 with a Napier Sabre II or with a Britol Centaurus IV: The prototype made ​​its maiden flight on August 9, 1942 with the Napier Sabre engine No.. S.944 along with a new cooling system of regulation, which was designed for installation in the Blackburn Firebrand. On September 14, 1944, the test vehicle was broken, and the testing was canceled on September 18, 1944 without further demands for a total of 287 flight hours.
  • P1775 with the engines Bristol Hercules VIII or Centaurus IV: The prototype first flew on 4 May 1942 and was intended primarily for testing with the Bristol Hercules III engines. This engine should be installed in the high-altitude Vickers Wellington Mk.V. After Bristol stopped the development of the Hercules VIII, has been tested according to whether the installation of a Bristol Centaurus would be possible. But this project is not documented. It should have been done with a Centaurus engine and a propeller Rotol in the RAE ( Royal Aircraft Establishment) between 15 August 1943 and July 20, 1944 a total of 47.5 flight hours. This test vehicle was on 18 September 1944 break and was removed on September 21, 1944 without any further requirements of the DTD from the program.
  • P 1776 Napier Sabre or Bristol Centaurus I I: The test vehicle was on March 29, 1942, Napier & Son Ltd.. delivered in Luton and there equipped with a Bristol Hercules, has been but shortly afterwards replaced by a Napier Sabre I with a de Havilland propeller. The tests were completed in June 1943. The prototype was badly damaged by fire during ground test runs on 1 March 1944. On August 28, 1944, the cancellation of the call came.

Specifications

The performance data were from the motor being used.

Folland Aircraft Rolls-Royce Griffon
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