Powered Dart Programme, continued
As a result of the distruction of the Argentine prototype Rankin fighter and subsequent abandonment of the project, Atlantis was forced to continue the project alone at home. As a result a few changes were made to the design to reflect the airforces specific requirements.
The danger of airships had since been downgraded and switched to long range bombers and the design was subsequently modified to meet this threat. The newer Vanquish III airframe, at the time currently being developed, was utilised. The armament of two dorsal 7.7mm and 2x 13mm HMG in wingroots was replaced by a heavier armament of 2x13mm in the dorsal turret and 2 fixed forward firing 20mm. The 10 150lb Rocket Ranken Darts would be reduced to 8 and the 10mm armour around pilot removed to save weight. Self sealing fuel tanks were added along with more powerfull engines.
Aircraft Type or Name:
Spartan Vanquish RRF II
A monoplane twin-engined bomber destroyer armed with two dorsal 13mm, two 20mm cannon and eight fuselage mounted 150lb powered Ranken Darts. Self-sealing wing fuel tanks.
Characteristics:
Weight (maximum) 16,000 lbs
Weight (empty) 10,250 lbs
Length 44 ft
Wingspan 67 ft
Wing Area 600 sq ft
Sweep 3 degrees
Engines: 2 Ripon R-1200-013AS Piston, 1,200 hp at 15,000 ft
Crew: 2
Typical cost $0.049 million in 1938, Total number procured 144
Performance: Top Speed 284 kts =327 mph at 15,000ft
Operational Ceiling: 36,000 ft
Range 1,500 nm = 1,727 miles with 1,890 lbs payload
2,126 lbs released at halfway point
Climb 1,894 fpm
Cruise 175 kts =201 mph at 15,000 ft
Corner Speed 208 KIAS = 261 kts at 15,000 ft
Turning Rate 24.5 deg/sec
Radius 2,062 ft
Internal Data:
Intake / Fan Diameter 9 ft
Bypass Ratio 81.85
Engine Weight 1410 lbs
Overall Efficiency 22.5 percent
Structural Factor 0.98
Number of Wings 1
Number of Fuselages 1
Limiting Airspeed 250 kts
Wing Ultimate g Load 9.50 g
Wing Taper 0.3
Wing Thickness at Root 2.1 ft
Tail / Canard Factor 0.5
Number of Nacelles 2
Length 6.1 ft
Diameter 2.35 ft
Fullness 0.3
Fuselage Diameter 5.1 ft
Fuselage Fullness 0.4
Pressurized Volume 0 percent
Cargo Decks 0
Cleanness 65 percent
Unstreamlined section 1.25 sq ft
User equipment 1,140 lbs