The Folland Fo.108, also known as the Folland 43/37 and by the nickname Folland Frightful[1] (or Frightener), was a large monoplane engine testbed aircraft of the 1940s.
The Fo.108 was Folland's response to Air Ministry Specification 43/37 for an engine testbed. It was Folland's first design to be accepted by the Air Ministry for production. The Fo.108 was a large low-wing cantilever monoplane with a conventional cantilever tailplane and a fixed tailwheel landing gear. It had a glazed cockpit for the pilot, and a cabin for two observers behind and below the pilot, fitted out so that they could make detailed measurements of engine performance during flight.
To enable the aircraft to be delivered from the Hamble factory and later ferried to new assignments, they were normally fitted with a Bristol Hercules radial engine. In service, the Fo.108 was fitted with a number of other engines including the inline Napier Sabre (four),[2]Bristol Centaurus radial, and Rolls-Royce Griffon V-engine.
Entering service in 1940,[3] the type was operated by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Napier and Rolls-Royce,[4] Five of the twelve production aircraft were lost in crashes, the type earning the nickname "Frightener" as a result.[3] The last examples of the Fo.108 were withdrawn from service in 1946, by de Havilland's engine division.[4][5]
Specifications (Centaurus engine)
Data from Jane's Fighting aircraft of World War II[6]
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Capacity: 2 observers
Length: 43 ft 4 in (13.21 m)
Wingspan: 58 ft (18 m)
Height: 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m)
Wing area: 588 sq ft (54.6 m2)
Gross weight: 16,000 lb (7,257 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Centaurus I 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 2,340 hp (1,740 kW) [7]
Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed propeller
Performance
Maximum speed: 292 mph (470 km/h, 254 kn) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m)[7]
Cruise speed: 267 mph (430 km/h, 232 kn) at 13,000 ft (4,000 m)[7]
Ford, Daniel (July–August 2001). "Folland's 'Frightful': The Fo 108 Engine Test-Bed". Air Enthusiast. No. 94. pp. 40–41. ISSN 0143-5450.
Green, Peter (September–October 2001). "Round-Out". Air Enthusiast. No. 95. p. 79. ISSN 0143-5450.
Halley, J. J. Royal Air Force Aircraft P1000-R9999. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1996. ISBN0-85130-235-1.
Jarrett, Philip (June 1991). "Nothing Ventured...No. 15". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 19, no. 6. pp. 354–358. ISSN 0143-7240.
February 15, 2023
folland, also, known, folland, nickname, folland, frightful, frightener, large, monoplane, engine, testbed, aircraft, 1940s, 108role, engine, testbedmanufacturer, folland, aircraftfirst, flight, 1940introduction, 1940number, built, contents, design, developmen. The Folland Fo 108 also known as the Folland 43 37 and by the nickname Folland Frightful 1 or Frightener was a large monoplane engine testbed aircraft of the 1940s Fo 108Role Engine testbedManufacturer Folland AircraftFirst flight 1940Introduction 1940Number built 12 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications Centaurus engine 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 BibliographyDesign and development EditThe Fo 108 was Folland s response to Air Ministry Specification 43 37 for an engine testbed It was Folland s first design to be accepted by the Air Ministry for production The Fo 108 was a large low wing cantilever monoplane with a conventional cantilever tailplane and a fixed tailwheel landing gear It had a glazed cockpit for the pilot and a cabin for two observers behind and below the pilot fitted out so that they could make detailed measurements of engine performance during flight To enable the aircraft to be delivered from the Hamble factory and later ferried to new assignments they were normally fitted with a Bristol Hercules radial engine In service the Fo 108 was fitted with a number of other engines including the inline Napier Sabre four 2 Bristol Centaurus radial and Rolls Royce Griffon V engine Entering service in 1940 3 the type was operated by the Bristol Aeroplane Company Napier and Rolls Royce 4 Five of the twelve production aircraft were lost in crashes the type earning the nickname Frightener as a result 3 The last examples of the Fo 108 were withdrawn from service in 1946 by de Havilland s engine division 4 5 Specifications Centaurus engine EditData from Jane s Fighting aircraft of World War II 6 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 2 observers Length 43 ft 4 in 13 21 m Wingspan 58 ft 18 m Height 16 ft 3 in 4 95 m Wing area 588 sq ft 54 6 m2 Gross weight 16 000 lb 7 257 kg Powerplant 1 Bristol Centaurus I 18 cylinder air cooled radial piston engine 2 340 hp 1 740 kW 7 Propellers 4 bladed constant speed propellerPerformance Maximum speed 292 mph 470 km h 254 kn at 15 000 ft 4 600 m 7 Cruise speed 267 mph 430 km h 232 kn at 13 000 ft 4 000 m 7 See also EditRelated lists List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force List of experimental aircraftReferences EditNotes Edit Buttler 2004 British Secret Projects Fighters and Bombers 1935 1950 Midland Publishing 1 85780 179 2 p228 Aero Engines Napier Flight 27 June 1958 p898 a b Willis David January 2009 Folland s Frightener FlyPast Stamford Lincolnshire England Key Publishing 330 60 ISSN 0262 6950 a b Halley 1996 p 12 Flying Test Bed Flight 591 13 June 1946 Bridgman Leonard ed 1989 Jane s Fighting aircraft of World War II 1995 ed New York Military Press p 121 ISBN 0517679647 a b c Jarrett Aeroplane Monthly June 1991 p 357 Bibliography Edit Ford Daniel July August 2001 Folland s Frightful The Fo 108 Engine Test Bed Air Enthusiast No 94 pp 40 41 ISSN 0143 5450 Green Peter September October 2001 Round Out Air Enthusiast No 95 p 79 ISSN 0143 5450 Halley J J Royal Air Force Aircraft P1000 R9999 Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd 1996 ISBN 0 85130 235 1 Jarrett Philip June 1991 Nothing Ventured No 15 Aeroplane Monthly Vol 19 no 6 pp 354 358 ISSN 0143 7240 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Folland Fo 108 amp oldid 1129485947, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
