FASTEST BRITISH JET PLANES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27149, 19 September 1953, Page 7

FASTEST BRITISH JET PLANES

Plan To Match Swift With Hunter

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, September 17. A British plane manufacturer is planning a race off the Libyan coast between two of Britain’s fastest jets—the Hawker Hunter and the Swift F 4.

Hawker-Siddeley announced tonight that the Ministry of Supply had given permission for the Hawker Hunter to be taken out of Britain so that the ace test pilot Squadron Leader Neville Duke could attempt a new record off the North African coast on the same course as the Vickers Swift F 4.

Squadron Leader Duke established a world speed record of 727.6 miles an hour at Tangmere, Sussex, two weeks ago. Sir Frank Spriggs, managing director of the Hawker-Siddeley group, made the announcement.

It is hoped that the Hunter will be on the North African starting line with Lieutenant-Commander M. J. Lithgow’s Vickers Swift F 4 so that there will be a fair comparison between Britain’s two first line interception fighters. Vickers, several days after the Hunter’s record run, announced that its Swift would attempt to beat Squadron Leader Duke’s time.

“This duel in North Africa may well prove to be a combination of the sporting event of the century and the world’s first supersonic aircraft,” he said.

The Hunter flew at a record speed at Tangmere in unfavourable weather. The aircraft is now being made ready to stand off the challenge to its superiority offered by the Swift. Sir Frank Spriggs said: “We believe the Hunter is the fastest aircraft in the world, bar none, and we aim at proving it “If the Swift, in the subtropical temperatures of Libya, is able to beat the Hunter’s record of 727.6 miles an hour set up on the English coast at an air temperature of 74 degrees, we will then demonstrate that the Hunter, under favourable conditions, can hit 745 and possibly 750 miles an hour. “We regard our effort at Tangmere as simply a practice run. The important thing is for us to take and hold the world speed record for Britain, and we propose doing this, wherever and whenever it is most suitable.” There were a number of places which were suitable, among them Libya, possibly Australia and, of course, California, he said. The Hunter and the Swift are powered with Rolls Royce Avon reheat engines, but it is now understood that the Vickers F 4 will have a more powerful , version for its Libyan attempt than that used by the Hunter at Tangmere. The Hawker-Hunter, with Squadron Leader Neville Duke at the controls, will try to break the 100 kilometre closed circuit world speed record, weather permitting, late tomorrow, at the Dunsfold aerodrome, Surrey. If the weather conditions are at all reasonable. Squadron Leader Duke is certain that he will pick up a new world record time for Britain.