Description
This note describes recent work carried out by the Aerodynamics Laboratory to estimate the airframe weight of a supersonic all-weather fighter designed to meet the RCAF Specification AIR-7-3, powered by two hypothetical engines of approximately thirty to thirty six inches diameter. Discussions between the NAE, the RCAF, and the A.V. Roe Aircraft Division are also described.
As a result of this work it is difficult to escape the conclusion that the aircraft firm has fallen far short of a maximum effort to design for minimum weight, and that the RCAF have contributed to this situation by specifying armament requirements too loosely, by specifying engine requirements too rigidly, and by neglecting to take adequate account of economic considerations. On the other hand they remain far from convinced of the practicability of the small engine proposal.
