page_title: Short SB.5
section_title: Operational testing
hierarchical_section_title: Short SB.5 / Operational testing
caption_attribution_description: English: Short SB.5 test aircraft WG768 wearing the '28' code of the Empire Test Pilot School at RAF Finningley in 1969
context_page_description: The Short SB.5 was a "highly unorthodox, adjustable wing" British research aircraft designed by Short Brothers in response to the UK Air Ministry requirement ER.100; to provide input for the design of the English Electric P.1 by testing the low speed flight characteristics of various configurations of wing-sweep required for supersonic flight. In addition, the tailplane could be mounted either on top of the fin or below the fuselage. The tests ultimately confirmed that the original P.1/Lightning design was an effective configuration for high speed flight.
context_section_description: Testing was conducted with increasing degrees of sweep and with the tailplane in both of its two possible positions:
  The first flight, with the sweep set to 50°, was made from Boscombe Down by the Chief Test Pilot of Shorts, Tom Brooke-Smith on 2 December 1952. In 1953, he gave an impressive display of the SB5's manœvrability and speed at the Society of British Aircraft Constructors Air Display at Farnborough.
  In July 1953, the first test flights were carried out with the wing-sweep set to the intermediate angle of 60° and with the "T-tail." Testing with the lower tailplane position commenced in January 1954, so that flight-test feedback could be made available prior to the first flight of the P.1. It was eventually determined that the "T-tail" configuration was unsatisfactory. Testing in the 60° sweep configuration was completed in April 1958.
  Before evaluating the final wing sweep configuration of 69°, a Martin-Baker ejection seat was fitted for the first time and the Rolls-Royce Derwent engine was changed for a Bristol Orpheus of greater thrust. The first flight, with the final sweep setting of 69° was made by Denis Tayler on 18 October 1960 at RAE Bedford; this was, at the time, the greatest degree of wing-sweep in the world.
  The experience gained with the SB5 validated the wing-sweep and low tailplane configuration adopted for the P.1, which was to become the English Electric Lightning.
  Over eleven months, the tests with 50° and 60° sweep were concluded with the high tail configuration. In January 1954, the low tail rear fuselage was fitted and tests continued for a further two years and proved that the EEC configuration was correct.
  After completion of its test programme, the SB5 eventually joined the fleet of the Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS) at Farnborough in 1967, as is evidenced by the ETPS 25th Anniversary brochure in 1968. The Empire Test Pilots School flew the machine to give students experience in flight-testing "slender" aircraft.
  The SB.5 is now on display in the RAF Museum, Cosford in Shropshire (with both of its tails).
caption: The Short SB.5 wearing the '28' code of the Empire Test Pilots School, on display at RAF Finningley, in 1969
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