Post by Diarist on Jun 17, 2017 10:29:10 GMT 1
At Hatfield an unarmed prototype of the de Havilland Hornet flown by Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. conducted its maiden flight. Designed to meet Air Ministry Specification F.37/35 (fighter with cannon) the aircraft was powered by two Rolls-Royce Merlin F prototype engines with counter-rotating propellers and rated at 1,000 hp. The aircraft performed well but above 250 mph the pilot noticed considerable buffeting.
Present for the maiden flight were Defence Minister Winston Churchill, AVM Wilfrid Freeman from the Ministry for Coordination of Defence, John Mitchell the head of Vickers-Amstrongs Aviation Division as well as engineers from Rolls-Royce. It is also a maiden flight for the Merlin F engines and it is hoped they will be the first production model.
Present for the maiden flight were Defence Minister Winston Churchill, AVM Wilfrid Freeman from the Ministry for Coordination of Defence, John Mitchell the head of Vickers-Amstrongs Aviation Division as well as engineers from Rolls-Royce. It is also a maiden flight for the Merlin F engines and it is hoped they will be the first production model.