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Introduction |
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Designer Barnes
Wallis first investigated variable geometry (VG) for aircraft in 1943,
patenting the "Swallow" concept in 1954. Wallis' main contribution to
VG aircraft was the load bearing pivot, but his early designs featured
a futuristic "arrowhead" shape and wing mounted engines that were not
adopted in practice. This overall configuration was applied to a range
of designs, including a ramjet powered aircraft, tactical and strategic
nuclear bombers and an airliner. The airliner design shown here would
have had a capacity of 100 passengers and three crew.
Illustrations of the design are shown below. Click the images to open a full-resolution image. |
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References |
| Buttler, T, British Secret Projects: Jet Bombers Since
1949, Ian Allan Publishing Ltd,
2003 |
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The cockpit of the
larger Swallow designs was circular in plan view and retracted into the
fuselage to reduce drag at cruise speeds. |
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Engine installation
in the Swallow designs was in simple pods, but complex rotating
connections would have been required for systems. |
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The Swallow airliner
would probably have served the same trans-Atlantic routes as Concorde,
but perhaps its futuristic lines might have seen other skies... |
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© Richard
Pawling, 2010
Correspondence to richard@rp-one.net
swa_al - v.1
Correspondence to richard@rp-one.net
swa_al - v.1