
The Supermarine Type 510 was, to all intents and purposes, a Supermarine Attacker fitted with a thin swept wing and tailplane.
The Type 510 was designed against Specification E.1/46 as an experimental aircraft suitable for investigating the high subsonic regime. The design retained both the 5,100 lb Nene engine of the Attacker, and its tailwheel undercarriage.
The prototype Type 510 (VV106) was flown for the first time on 29th December 1948 and became the first swept wing type to land on an aircraft carrier in November 1950. As it was not equipped for catapult launching, take-off was effected using rocket assisted take-off gear (RATOG).

The combination of the swept wing and tailwheel undercarriage gave the Type 510 difficult handling characteristics in crosswind operation and there was some longitudinal instability at the stall. Despite a number of proposed modifications from Supermarine, interest in the project faded away.
The Type 517 was in essence the Type 510, modified to have a hinged rear fuselage to facilitate a powerful trim system. The second prototype (VV119) was first flown as the Type 528 on 27th March 1950, retaining the tailwheel undercarriage layout.

Shortly afterward, the aircraft was modified with a lengthened nose, engine reheat (afterburning) and tricycle undercarriage with the redesignated Type 535 Swift, making its maiden flight in August 1950.


To follow on into the full production of the Swift one needs to refer to the Supermarine Type 541 page elsewhere on this website.
Specification (Type 510)
Powerplant | One 5,000 lb thrust Rolls-Royce Nene 2 |
Span | 31 ft 8.5 in |
Maximum Weight | 12,790 lb |
Capacity and armament | Single pilot only |
Maximum Speed | 635 mph at 15,000 ft |
Number built
2 (VV106 & VV109)
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VV106 initially Type 510, modified to become Type 517
VV119 initially Type 528, modified to become Type 535
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Survivors
Type 517
(VV106)
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FAA Museum reserve collection Cobham Hall, Yeovilton
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