What if

General Modelling Forum => General Modeling topics => The Idea Bank => Topic started by: McColm on May 05, 2020, 02:43:07 PM

Title: HS 748 four engined AEW or twin turbofaned versions
Post by: McColm on May 05, 2020, 02:43:07 PM
The British Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force both looked at using the Hawker Siddeley 748 as an AEW platform.
The Admiralty wanted an aircraft carrier version but this would have meant chopping and slicing for the aircraft to fit on the current carriers. They favoured the Grumman E-2A Hawkeye, the Royal Air Force on the other hand thought of using the T56 turboprops both agreed on the Trent turbofan with strengthened main undercarriage,  stiffened wings and slipper tanks.
A variety of AEW radars were proposed which are included in the Chris Gibson  book 'The Air Staff and AEW '.
There's a artwork of the HS.748-03 which will be the basis of this whiff except I will use four Rolls-Royce Dart engines,  two from the Formaplane vacform kit and the 3D model of the HS.748 AEW based on the Indian Air Force prototype. Instead of the proposed Lycoming T-53 turboprops. I might omit the slipper tanks and add the inflight refuelling probe.
Title: Re: HS 748 four engined AEW
Post by: McColm on May 16, 2020, 11:56:02 AM
Now that I have the 1/72 Combat kits Avro Lancastrian Nene conversion set, the twin turbofaned Andover AEW looks like a better build.