Supermarine Type 391
{{Short description|1940s British fighter aircraft}}
__NOTOC__
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = Type 391
|image =
|caption =
|type = Naval fighter
|national_origin = United Kingdom
|manufacturer = Supermarine
|first_flight =
|status = Concept, cancelled
|primary_user = Royal Navy
|number_built =
|developed_from = Supermarine Spiteful
}}
The Supermarine Type 391 was the last piston-engined fighter to be proposed by Supermarine.
History
In 1943, as the design of the Spiteful was proceeding, Supermarine presented a brochure to the Air Ministry describing a "High-Performance Aeroplane for the Royal Navy", designated internally as the Supermarine Type 391.{{refn|group=note|name=first|Pegram gives the date of the only known drawing as the next year, in July 1944}} Of greater length and span than the Spiteful, the Type 391 was intended to be used as a carrier-borne fighter, with a secondary role as a strike aircraft.Andrews and Morgan 1981, p.268
The wing of the Type 391 was similar in outline to that of the Spiteful but was larger and, unlike all previous Supermarine fighters, was mid-mounted. The whole section outboard of the undercarriage hinged up, while a wide centre-section incorporated thick roots with tapered leading-edge air intakes. These fed the engine cooling radiators. Because of the higher-mounted wing, the main undercarriage legs were also longer, with the wheels pivoting when raised to fit into wells in the fuselage.Pegram 2022, pp.89-90. The forward fuselage was lengthened to accommodate the new engine, while the rear had redesigned and enlarged tail surfaces.
The Type 391 was eventually rejected in favour of the jet-powered Type 392, which became the Supermarine Attacker,
Specifications
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|crew=1
|length ft=39
|length in=9
|span ft=43
|span in=6
|width ft=
|width note=
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqft=335
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=
|gross weight lb=17250
|eng1 number=1|eng1 name=Rolls-Royce Eagle
|eng1 type=H-24 liquid-cooled piston engine
|eng1 hp=3550
|prop blade number=8
|prop name=contra-rotating constant-speed propeller
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|perfhide=Y
|max speed mph=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|range miles=
|range note=
|ceiling ft=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|power/mass=
|guns=
|rockets=
|bombs=
}}
See also
{{Aircontent
|related =
|similar aircraft =
|lists =
|see also =
}}
References
=Notes=
{{reflist|group=note}}
=Citations=
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
- Andrews, Charles Ferdinand and Eric B. Morgan. Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1981. {{ISBN|978-0851778006}}.
- Buttler, Tony. British Secret Projects: Fighters and Bombers 1935–1950. Hersham, Surrey, UK: Midland Publishing, 2004. {{ISBN|1-85780-179-2}}.
- Pegram, Ralph. Supermarine Secret Projects, Vol 2: Fighters and Bombers. Horncastle, Lincolnshire, UK: Mortons Media Group Limited, 2022. {{ISBN|9781911703044}}.
{{Supermarine aircraft}}
Category:1940s British fighter aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft
Category:Single-engined piston aircraft
Category:Aircraft with contra-rotating propellers
Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear
Category:Carrier-based aircraft
Category:Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United Kingdom