Hunting 126

During the 1960s, there was considerable international interest in vertical and short take-off and landing technologies. The Hunting 126 is one of several experimental designs which added research data but did not achieve a production application.

 

The sole Hunting Aircraft Company 126 jet flap research aircraft (XN714) was built against Experimental Requirement E.R.189D. The 'jet flap' is a form of powered short take-off and landing (STOL) system, in which the majority of the efflux of a jet engine is exhausted through the flap system of a wing, providing both propulsion and high lift at high flap deflections.

 

The jet efflux is ducted to a distribution manifold mounted behind the engine. Three ducts on each side direct air into the wing, via eight ‘fish-tail’ units, from which the air is ejected over the full span of the flaps and ailerons. Puffer jets are provided at the tail and wing tips for control purposes at very low speeds, with 10% of the jet efflux being diverted for this purpose. Residual jet thrust is ducted to two small rearward facing nozzles on the lower fuselage sides.

 

The first flight of the Hunting 126 was made at RAE Bedford (where it was to spend much of its career) on 26th March 1963. The aircraft undertook a programme of research flying, the last recorded flight being on 9th November 1967, at which time, total flying time was 141.5 hours.

 

It was also taken to the United States for full-scale wind tunnel testing at NASA Ames.

 

 

The aircraft succeeded in achieving very low stabilised flight speeds (reportedly as low as 32 mph), although it demonstrated quite a violent wing drop at the stall, with very little warning. After completion of its research trials, the Hunting 126 was placed into store, prior to being displayed alongside a number of other notable experimental aircraft, at the RAF Museum, Cosford.