Single Seat Defiant

[Admiral Beez]

Would a single seat Defiant be of any use? IDK if this lightened Defiant would have any use as a sub for the Sea Hurricane. Perhaps the all metal construction would offer advantages over the Sea Hurricane's dope-covered frame?

This would look sharp with a bubble canopy.

Perhaps a long range escort for the RAF? Imagine all the fuel you could put behind the pilot instead of that turret. Though to be fair, the wing tanks will be reduced to fit the forward armament.

 

[swampyankee]

Wasn't most of the Defiant's fuel in the wings? How much redesign would be needed to put guns there?

 

[rochie]

dont think i have read anywhere that the Hurricanes Fabric covered fuselage was any kind of disadvantage ?

 

[yulzari]

A look in the archives shows that this one has been flogged to death often in the past. In short, it would be no better than existing fighters which were being made anyway and it stayed in production for tasks that needed a high speed airframe but were not front line tasks. High speed target tugs, night fighters, electronic warfare, air sea rescue. If the Defiant was not used something else would have have to have been used so no net gain. More Spitfires or Hurricanes would be a simpler answer until the 2,000bhp Tornado/Typhoon super fighter takes over all the tasks. At least that was what they saw at the time.

 

[Kevin J]

As a navy fighter, wing fold outboard of wheels, guns in outer wing panels, extra fuel behind pilot. Disadvantages, inferior manoeuvrability, height with wings folded means Illustrious class only, escorts and Collossus class, still need Seafires for Implacable class and Indomitable.

 

[Admiral Beez]

A look in the archives shows that this one has been flogged to death often in the past.

I searched the site for "single seat" and " Defiant" and found nothing.

Search results for query: "Single seat" "defiant"

Where are these archives? It would be a good place for me to start when considering an opening post. Thanks.

 

[pbehn]

You cant swap the turret for fuel. it is nowhere near the CoG.

 

[fubar57]

I've got "single seat Defiants" mentioned back to 2014. I quit looking after Page 4 with another 6 or so pages left

 

[pbehn]

I've got "single seat Defiants" mentioned back to 2014. I quit looking after Page 4 with another 6 or so pages left

If it was a completely different aircraft it would be a winner, just move the pilot and the turret and the armament then change the wings and fuselage, the prop and tail were winners.

 

[wuzak]

I searched the site for "single seat" and " Defiant" and found nothing.

Search results for query: "Single seat" "defiant"

Where are these archives? It would be a good place for me to start when considering an opening post. Thanks.

Here's one:

Redesigning the Defiant.

 

[GrauGeist]

I searched the site for "single seat" and " Defiant" and found nothing.

Because it wasn't called a "single seat Defiant", it was called a P.94.

The P.94's performance was found to be no better than the Hurricane, so it was decided to stay with the Hurri instead of consuming valuable and much needed resources in developing/producing a new line of aircraft...

 

[nuuumannn]

To catch the Good Admiral up, this from The Defiant File, by Alec Brew;

"When the Battle of Britain began to rage, Boulton Paul design staff began to consider a single-seat version of the Defiant with a variety of fixed forward firing armament. The prototype K8310, was converted back to a single-seater, by 16th August 1940, with a standard day fighter camouflage. Flight tests indicated that a Merlin XX version with a modified cut-down rear fuselage upper decking, and twelve forward-firing 0.303-in guns would have a top speed of around 364mph at 23,500ft, with an all-up weight of 7,150lb. This version was given a new project number, P.94, and more radically-armed alternatives were also envisaged. In one it would be equipped with four 0.303-in machine guns and four 20-mm cannon, the latter being able to be swivelled downward by the pilot in flight to an angle of 17-degrees. ground strafing of invading German troops was high in everyone's thoughts."

My understanding was that it was proposed as a stop-gap measure, along with the Miles M.20 in case Spitfire or Hurricane production was not able to keep up with losses and since this wasn't the case, it was not proceeded with.

 

[Shortround6]

I would note that Defiant MK IIs with Merlin XX engines only enjoyed a small increase in performance over the Defiant MK I with Merlin III which certainly casts doubt on the estimated/projected speed figures.

The MK II Defiant having a larger radiator and a much larger oil cooler/carb intake with much more drag.

 

[jmcalli2]

You cant swap the turret for fuel. it is nowhere near the CoG.

What you do is;
1. remove turret
2. move cockpit aft as compensation for turret weight
3. add fuel in front of cockpit which will be over the wings/COG

 

[Shortround6]

What you do is;
1. remove turret
2. move cockpit aft as compensation for turret weight
3. add fuel in front of cockpit which will be over the wings/COG

And what does this get you?????

ah yes, a truly miserable view over the nose for both landing and deflection shooting.

In an airframe that is hundreds of pounds heavier than a Hurricane.

 

[wuzak]

And what does this get you?????

ah yes, a truly miserable view over the nose for both landing and deflection shooting.

In an airframe that is hundreds of pounds heavier than a Hurricane.

And most like not available in the required time frame.

 

[pbehn]

What you do is;
1. remove turret
2. move cockpit aft as compensation for turret weight
3. add fuel in front of cockpit which will be over the wings/COG

I can do that in minutes on a drawing board, but the fact is it would be a completely different plane, everything would have to be re calculated and re worked and new assemblies developed.

 

[CORSNING]

I have some information at home on the testing of a single seat Defiant. I am at work now, but
should be able to post information in about six hours.

 

[Admiral Beez]

I've often thought a single seat Skua or Roc, with some streamlining would have made for a good'ish FAA fighter.

And stick a Merlin onto it....

 

[nuuumannn]

It's interesting to note that Boulton Paul's single seat naval fighter specs owed nothing to the Defiant and even future turret fighter proposals to F.18/40 for example also owed very little to the Daffy. The P.94 was only ever intended as a stop-gap and wasn't intended to be an advance over the status quo, i.e. the Hurri or Spit. If you compare the Miles M.20's performance to the P.94, the latter was faster, although the former would have had a faster climb rate.

I've often thought a single seat Skua or Roc, with some streamlining would have made for a good'ish FAA fighter.

Gawd those are ugly! The P.94 might have made a half decent carrier fighter; it would certainly have been an advance over what the FAA had in service in 1940.