Airspeed AS.39 Fleet Shadower

The Airspeed AS.39 Fleet Shadower is three-seater embarked British recognition experimental of the Second world war.

The Operational Requirement OR.52 of the Royal Navy required three-seater recognition able to operate bridge of a carry-plane, likely to locate of night the enemy surface vessels, therefore able to fly at low speed, silencer and having a great autonomy. The Air Ministry thus establishes to it S.22/37 card-program for a monoplane with high wing and fixed train, tractor drawn by 4 engines of low power divided into scale so better blowing the aerofoil, with observation post in front of the fuselage. 5 manufacturers declared themselves interested, Percival Aircraft Company, Short Brothers, Fairey, General Aircraft Ltd and Airspeed.

The Airspeed AS.39 was presented in the form of a monoplane to high wing of mixed construction. The aerofoil out of wooden, coating included/understood, rested on two members in Spruce separated by tight compartments to ensure the buoyancy of the apparatus in the event of ditching. It was braced on each side by a V out of steel tubes. The fuselage was entirely metal, the compartment before observer being detachable. The unit rested on a traditional train with long race. The engines Pobjoy the Niagara V of 130 ch involved the two-bladed ones out of wood with fixed step 2,43 m in diameter.

Two prototypes were ordered and N1324, but only one completed. A delay of delivery of the engines pushed back the first flight with the October 17th, 1940, that is to say after its single competitor, the General Aircraft GAL.38. The two participants in the program appeared disappointing, mainly for aerodynamic reasons, and this program was quickly abandoned.

External bond

Extracts from THE AIRPLANE of June 15th, 1945

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