De Havilland DH 108 - wikipedia De Havilland DH 108 DH 108 `` Swallow '' The first DH 108 built -- TG283. The torpedo - shaped objects on the wingtips are containers for anti-spin parachutes. Role experimental Manufacturer de Havilland Designer John Frost First flight 15 May 1946 Introduction Experimental programme only Status Cancelled Primary user Royal Aircraft Establishment Produced 1946 -- 1947 Number built The de Havilland DH 108 `` Swallow '' was a British experimental aircraft designed by John Carver Meadows Frost in October 1945. The DH 108 featured a tailless, swept wing with a single vertical stabilizer, similar to the layout of the wartime German Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet rocket - powered point - defence interceptor. Initially designed to evaluate swept wing handling characteristics at low and high subsonic speeds for the proposed early tailless design of the Comet airliner, three examples of the DH 108 were built to Air Ministry specifications E. 1 / 45 and E. 11 / 45. With the adoption of a conventional tail for the Comet, the aircraft were used instead to investigate swept wing handling up to supersonic speeds. All three prototypes were lost in fatal crashes. Contents 1 Design and development 2 Testing 3 Legacy 4 Operators 5 Specifications ( DH 108 VW120 : third prototype ) 6 See also 7 References 7.1 Notes 7.2 Bibliography 8 External links Design and development Employing the main fuselage section and engine of the de Havilland Vampire mated to a longer fuselage with a single tailfin and swept wings, the de Havilland DH 108 was proposed in 1944 as a test `` mule '' for the DH 106 Comet which had initially been considered a tailless, swept - wing concept. Despite the Comet design taking on more conventional features, the value of testing the unique configuration to provide basic data for the DH. 110 spurred de Havilland to continue development of the DH 108. Selecting two airframes from the English Electric Vampire F 1 production line, the new aircraft had unmistakable similarities to its fighter origins, especially in the original forward fuselage which retained the nose, cockpit and other components of the Vampire. The Ministry of Supply named the DH 108 the `` Swallow '', a name that was never officially adopted by the company. The new metal wing incorporating a 43  ̊ sweepback was approximately 15 % greater in area than the standard Vampire wing. Control was based on the conventional rudder in combination with elevons that were part elevator and ailerons, fitted outboard of the split trailing edge flaps. Although the Vampire fuselage was retained, as development continued, a revised nose and streamlined, reinforced canopy were incorporated. Testing The first DH 108 prototype, serial number TG283, utilising the Vampire fuselage and a 43 ° swept wing, flew on 15 May 1946 at RAF Woodbridge. Designed to investigate low - speed handling, it was capable of only 280 mph ( 450 km / h ). The de Havilland Chief Test Pilot Geoffrey de Havilland Jr., son of de Havilland company owner - designer Geoffrey de Havilland, gave a display flight in the DH 108 during the 1946 Society of British Aircraft Constructors ( SBAC ) airshow at Radlett. In later low - speed testing designed to clear the rear fuselage at high angles of attack, the first prototype was fitted with longer Sea Vampire landing gear. The second, high - speed prototype, TG306, with a 45 ° swept wing incorporating automatic leading - edge Handley Page slats and powered by a de Havilland Goblin 3 turbojet, flew soon after in June 1946. Modifications to the design included a more streamlined, longer nose and a smaller canopy ( framed by a strengthened metal fairing ) facilitated by lowering the pilot 's seat. While being used to evaluate handling characteristics at high speed, on 27 September 1946 TG306 suffered a catastrophic structural failure that occurred in a dive from 10,000 ft ( 3,050 m ) at Mach 0.9 and crashed in the Thames Estuary. The pilot, Geoffrey de Havilland Jr., was killed in the accident. Early wind tunnel testing had pointed to potentially dangerous flight behaviours, but pitch oscillation at high speed had been unexpected. The subsequent accident investigation centred on a structural failure that occurred as air built up at Mach 0.9, pitching the aircraft into a shock stall that placed tremendous loads on the fuselage and wings. The main spar cracked at the roots causing the wings to immediately fold backwards. VW120 in flight, about 1949 After the loss of the second prototype, VW120 became the third and final prototype based on the newer Vampire F. 5 fighter built at Hatfield. It differed from the first test aircraft in that it featured an even more streamlined pointed nose and smaller reinforced canopy ( lowering the pilot 's seat allowed for a more aerodynamic canopy shape to be employed ). Power - boosted elevators had been specified as a means to control the pitch oscillations at the root of the earlier disaster. A more powerful Goblin 4 of 3,738 lbf ( 16.67 kN ) thrust had the potential to push the DH 108 into the supersonic range. VW120 first flew on 24 July 1947 flown by John Cunningham, the wartime nightfighter ace. Considered an important testbed for high - speed flight, VW120 was readied for an attempt at the World Speed Record then held by a Gloster Meteor at 616 mph ( 991 km / h ). The second prototype, TG306, was a `` backup '' for the attempt before it fatally crashed. On 12 April 1948, VW120 established a new World Air Speed Record of 604.98 mph ( 974.02 km / h ) on a 62 - mile ( 100 km ) circuit. Then, on 6 September 1948, John Derry is thought to have probably exceeded the speed of sound in a shallow dive from 40,000 ft ( 12,195 m ) to 30,000 ft ( 9,145 m ). The test pilot Captain Eric `` Winkle '' Brown, who escaped a crash in 1949, described the DH 108 as `` a killer ''. In 1949, VW120 put on an aerial display at Farnborough and scored third place in the Society of British Aircraft Constructors Challenge Trophy Air Race before being turned over to the Ministry of Supply and test flown at RAE Farnborough. It was destroyed on 15 February 1950 in a crash near Brickhill, Buckinghamshire, killing its test pilot, Squadron Leader Stuart Muller - Rowland. The accident investigation pointed to a faulty oxygen system that incapacitated the pilot. A coroner 's report published in the local newspaper one month later confirmed that the pilot died from a broken neck. The failure of the left wing as the plane dived, occurred just above the garage at Brickhill. This failure was presumed to be the source of a `` bang '' described by witnesses at Brickhill. Swishing sounds which were reported came from the aircraft spinning at a high rate due to it having only one wing. It came down in the woods after glancing off an oak tree ; the traces of the impact were still visible 50 years later. The airframe and right wing were dismantled by the military, and removed very quickly. The left wing was also recovered from the fields just north of Brickhill. A nearby German field worker ran over to the crash site and was met by the mechanic from Brickhill garage who had rushed to the crash site in his car to offer assistance. The pilot was already dead. A search for the crash site in 2001 by a local using a metal detector was successful. He found some of the mounting bolts `` cone shaped '' that were removed when the remains had been dismantled on site. The tree that the DH 108 had hit was also found, with the scar still visible. The earlier theory that a faulty oxygen system was the cause was ruled out by the coroner in his later report. Finally, on 1 May 1950, during low - speed sideslip and stall tests, the first prototype, TG283, was lost in a crash at Hartley Wintney killing the pilot, Sqn Ldr George E.C. Genders AFC DFM. After abandoning the aircraft at low altitude in an inverted spin, his parachute failed to open in time. In all, 480 flights had been made by the three Swallows. Legacy The DH108 established a number of `` firsts '' for a British aircraft : it was the first British swept - winged jet aircraft and the first British tailless jet aircraft. Operators United Kingdom Royal Aircraft Establishment Specifications ( DH 108 VW120 : third prototype ) General characteristics Length : 29 ft 9.5 in ( 9.081 m ) Wingspan : 39 ft ( 12 m ) Wing area : 327.86 sq ft ( 30.459 m ) Empty weight : 8,940 lb ( 4,055 kg ) Powerplant : 1 × de Havilland Goblin 4 centrifugal compressor jet engine, 3,738 lbf ( 16.63 kN ) thrust Performance Maximum speed : 677 mph ( 1,090 km / h ; 588 kn ) Range : 730 mi ( 634 nmi ; 1,175 km ) Service ceiling : 35,425 ft ( 10,798 m ) Wing loading : 27 lb / sq ft ( 130 kg / m ) Thrust / weight : 0.42 See also Related development de Havilland Vampire Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet Northrop X-4 Bantam References Notes Jump up ^ Davies and Birtles 1999, p. 10. ^ Jump up to : Jackson 1962, p. 428. Jump up ^ Winchester 2005, p. 78. ^ Jump up to : Jackson 1962, p. 429. Jump up ^ Watkins 1996, p. 39. Jump up ^ Watkins 1996, p. 42. ^ Jump up to : Watkins 1996, p. 40. Jump up ^ `` Eric ' Winkle ' Brown obituary ''. The Guardian. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016. ^ Jump up to : Winchester 2005, p. 79. Jump up ^ `` British Flight Test Fatal Accidents -- 1946 -- 1970 ''. The Test Flying Memorial Project. 2008. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2016. Bibliography Davies, R.E.G. and Philip J. Birtles. Comet : The World 's First Jet Airliner. McLean, Virginia : Paladwr Press, 1999. ISBN 1 - 888962 - 14 - 3. Jackson, A.J. de Havilland Aircraft Since 1915. London : Putnam, 1962. No ISBN. McPhee, Andrew. `` Weird Wings -- de Havilland DH. 108. '' Unreal Aircraft... Retrieved : 4 September 2005. Rivas, Brian. A Very British Sound Barrier : DH108, A Story of Courage, Triumph and Tragedy. Walton on Thames, UK : Red Kite, 2012. ISBN 978 - 1 - 90659 - 204 - 2. Watkins, David. de Havilland Vampire : The Complete History. Thrupp, Stroud, UK : Budding Books, 1996. ISBN 1 - 84015 - 023 - 8. Winchester, Jim. Concept Aircraft : Prototypes, X-Planes and Experimental Aircraft. Kent, UK : Grange Books plc., 2005. ISBN 978 - 1 - 84013 - 809 - 2. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to De Havilland DH 108. Description of the three aircraft at Jets45 The Brickhill crash of VW120 Web archive of British Aircraft Directory listing for DH. 108 `` The D.H. 108 -- The Last Photographs of the Machine on Which Geoffrey de Havilland Lost His Life, '' Flight article on de Havilland 's death de Havilland and Airco aircraft By manufacturer designation Biplane No. 1 Biplane No. 2 DH. 1 DH. 2 DH. 3 DH. 4 DH. 5 DH. 6 DH. 9 / DH. 9A / DH. 9C DH. 10 DH. 11 DH. 12 DH. 14 DH. 15 DH. 16 DH. 17 DH. 18 DH. 19 DH. 20 DH. 21 DH. 22 DH. 23 DH. 24 DH. 25 DH. 26 DH. 27 DH. 28 DH. 29 DH. 30 DH. 31 DH. 32 DH. 33 DH. 34 DH. 35 DH. 36 DH. 37 DH. 38 DH. 39 DH. 40 DH. 41 DH. 42 DH. 43 DH. 44 DH. 45 DH. 46 DH. 47 DH. 48 DH. 49 DH. 50 DH. 51 DH. 52 DH. 53 DH. 54 DH. 55 DH. 56 DH. 57 DH. 58 DH. 59 DH. 60 DH. 61 DH. 62 DH. 63 DH. 64 DH. 65 DH. 66 DH. 67 DH. 68 DH. 69 DH. 70 DH. 71 DH. 72 DH. 73 DH. 74 DH. 75 DH. 76 DH. 77 DH. 78 DH. 79 DH. 80 DH. 81 DH. 82 DH. 83 DH. 84 DH. 85 DH. 86 DH. 87 DH. 88 DH. 89 DH. 90 DH. 91 DH. 92 DH. 93 DH. 94 DH. 95 DH. 96 DH. 97 DH. 98 DH. 99 DH. 100 DH. 101 DH. 102 DH. 103 DH. 104 DH. 105 DH. 106 DH. 108 DH. 110 DH. 112 DH. 113 DH. 114 DH. 115 DH. 116 DH. 118 DH. 119 DH. 120 DH. 121 DH. 122 DH. 123 DH. 125 DH. 126 By role Fighters DH. 1 DH. 2 DH. 5 DH. 77 Mosquito Hornet Vampire Venom Sea Venom Sea Vixen Bombers DH. 3 DH. 4 DH. 9 DH. 10 Amiens M'pala Oxford Okapi Mosquito Passenger DH. 9C DH. 16 DH. 18 DH. 34 DH. 50 Giant Moth Hercules Fox Moth Dragon Express Dragon Rapide Albatross Flamingo Dove / Devon Comet Heron Trident Sports DH. 51 Hawk Moth Humming Bird Moth Puss Moth Leopard Moth Hornet Moth Trainers DH. 6 Tiger Moth Don Moth Minor Racers DH. 88 Technical school T.K. 1 T.K. 2 T.K. 4 T.K. 5 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=De_Havilland_DH_108&oldid=808460230 '' Categories : British experimental aircraft 1940 -- 1949 De Havilland aircraft Tailless aircraft Single - engined jet aircraft Mid-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1946 Hidden categories : All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from January 2013 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Italiano 日本 語 Polski Suomi Тоҷикӣ Edit links This page was last edited on 3 November 2017, at 00 : 19. 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Question: british pilot crashed and was killed while trying to break the sound barrier on september 27th 1946
Answer: Geoffrey de Havilland