Hawker P.1081

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The Hawker P.1081, also known as the "Australian Fighter" was a British jet aircraft from the mid-twentieth century.

Hawker Aircraft, a British manufacturer, submitted a proposal to meet a specification put out by the Australian government. It was for a swept-wing-and-tail fighter using a Rolls-Royce Tay engine. Work was started to modify the second prototype of the Hawker P.1052 (VX279). The existing Rolls-Royce Nene engine was used for the prototype aircraft. The rear fuselage of the P.1052 was completely replaced with one having a straight-through jet pipe and swept tail surfaces. The first flight of the P.1081 took place on 19 June 1950 but, in November of that year, the Australian project was discontinued. The aircraft was handed over to the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE). Its swept tail increased the Mach number above that of the P.1052 into the Mach 0.9-0.95 region, providing valuable information for the axially-powered Hawker Hunter. The sole P.1081 was lost with its pilot, Squadron Leader T.S. "Wimpy" Wade, on 3 April 1951.

Operators

• Royal Aircraft Establishment

Specifications

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Hannah, Donald. Hawker FlyPast Reference Library. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-946219-01-X.
• James, Derek N. Hawker, an Aircraft Album No. 5. New York: Arco Publishing Company, 1973. ISBN 0-668-02699-5. (First publised in the UK by Ian Allan in 1972)
• Mason, Francis K. Hawker Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam, 1991. ISBN 0-85177-839-9

External links

• British Aircraft Directory 24 January 2007

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