P1b upper wing surface question

[John R]

Whilst bumbling around looking for something else I came across the Alley Cat website and on it was a kit for converting an F1 to the P1b. One of the components was a 'new upper wing surface'.

Please can anyone tell me what the differences were? I was unaware of any.

John

[Space Ranger]

I'm by no means an expert, but I'd guess the differences were in the skin panel layouts due to differing construction.

[canberra kid]

The only obvious thing I can see is the leading edge flap, as fitted to the P.1A but that would be visible on the underside too.

John  

 

 

[sloegin57]

Fundamentally, the shape of the mainlanes (in plan view) were the same for the P.1A, P.1B and the early Lightning production aircraft.  

 

The differences came in the structure.  The P.1A and P.1B had , as John has stated, an inboard drooping leading edge.  This, on production aircraft , was developed into an inboard cambered leading edge fuel tank which curved around the main integral tank following the walkway lines so familiar.  

 

The other major difference between the P.1A, P.1B and production aircraft was that the early aircraft, P.1A and B, only had main flaps on the underside of the trailing edge of the mainplanes, whereas on production aircraft that flap area had also been developed into an integral fuel tank, known as a "flap-tank" and the whole of that part of the trailing edge operated as a flap.  Each "flap-tank" held 30 gallons of fuel and was deemed sufficient, together with the leading edge tanks, to get the aircraft to the end of the runway.

 

Development of the two areas described was deemed necessary, by the Air Ministry, in order that the aircraft could taxy from its dispersal to the end of the runway for take off and still have sufficient fuel to carry out a, albeit limited, useful sortie.

 

It should be borne in mind that the Lightning was developed from the P.1B purely and simply as a point defence interceptor whose sole purpose was to intercept and destroy nuclear toting Soviet aircraft bent of destroying the UK.  It was only when tensions during the Cold War eased, that English Electric successfully developed the aircraft into what it became.

 

HTH

 

Dennis  

[John R]

Thank you for those replies. I have just compared the Sword F1/F2 kit I was planning to use as a basis for a P1b with my P1a, built many years ago using an Airfix F3 wings and tail mated to an Aeroclub vacform fuselage and it would appear that the Airfix F3 wing is closer to a P1a/b wing than an F3.

John