Vickers Type 432 - Design and Development

Design and Development

The origins of the Type 432 lay with a requirements set out in 1939 for twin engined fighters with 20 or possibly 40 mm cannon. Vickers had set out a proposal for a Griffon engined aircraft, equipped with a 40 mm cannon in a flexible mounting. This was subsequently encouraged by the Air Ministry. Further development was carried out for a design that could also meet F.6/39 for a fixed gun fighter with 20mm cannon. Specification F.22/39 was drawn up to cover the 40mm project as the Vickers 414 to meet Operational Requirement (OR) 76. This was subsequently revised with aircraft redesigns to become specifications F.16/40 and then F.7/41 for OR. 108.

In appearance it resembled a larger version of the de Havilland Mosquito. The pilot had a pressurised cockpit in the nose, with a bubble dome, similar to an enlarged astrodome. The pressurised cockpit took up the nose section so the cannon would have been fitted in a fairing below the fuselage, to the rear of the aircraft.

Read more about this topic:  Vickers Type 432

Famous quotes containing the words design and/or development:

    What but design of darkness to appall?—
    If design govern in a thing so small.
    Robert Frost (1874–1963)

    There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.
    John Emerich Edward Dalberg, 1st Baron Acton (1834–1902)