Armstrong Whitworth B7/40 High-Speed Bomber Project

[hesham]

Hi,


in British Spec. B7/40 for high-speed bomber,the Armstrong Whitworth submitted
a proposal,it was twin engined high-mid-wing aircraft with twin tail fin,and tail turret
guns,with retractable landing gear.


The British Aircraft Specifications File

 

[Rickshaw]

Is that meant to be a tricycle undercarriage? Must have been almost nothing in that tail as far as weight went...

 

[toura]

Hi Hesham

From "British secret projects"
Figthers and bombers 1935-1950
Tony Buttler
Bye

 

[hesham]

Is that meant to be a tricycle undercarriage? Must have been almost nothing in that tail as far as weight went...

Hi Kadija,


the main weight concentrated on the front part of the airplane and specially in fuselage
and the twin engined.

 

[Jemiba]

Must have been almost nothing in that tail as far as weight went...

Proportions aren't too different from the AW Albemarle, I think, which featured a nose whell landing gear, too.

 

[JFC Fuller]

Proportions aren't too different from the AW Albemarle, I think, which featured a nose whell landing gear, too.

True, but the Albemarle concentrated its defensive armament much closer to the center of gravity- the only thing in the extreme tail was glazed viewing station. This design places the full weight of a four-gun turret right at the end of a very long fuselage.

I quite like this design in some ways but it looks really tail heavy.

 

[PMN1]

Given they put a heavy manned turret in the tail I suspect the answer would be no but is there any chance of a remotely operated gun installation in the tail?

 

[Foo Fighter]

It appears to be a turret with two guns.

 

[Hood]

A remote-controlled turret wouldn't be impossible, but I think 1940 is a couple of years ahead of the start of such work in Britain. Certainly by 1942/43 work was underway on such turrets.

 

[Schneiderman]

Supermarine had tentative designs in place by 1935, in the Type 305, 306 and B.1/35, but they were not supported