Vickers Supermarine Type 508 mock-up at Hursley Park December 1948
In the late 1940's, the Royal Navy investigated the design of a flexible 'sprung' rubber deck for an aircraft carrier on which an aircraft could land on the underside of its fuselage, without the need for an energy absorbing undercarriage. It was hoped that in addition to reducing the over weight by up to 7%, it would also decrease the number of accidents during landings.
Vickers Supermarine produced a design to meet this requirement, designated Vickers Supermarine Type 505 with a thin, straight wing and a V-tail powered by two Rolls-Royce Avon engines mounted on the fuselage sides.
In 1948 however, the Admiralty has second thoughts and a decision was made to fit a tricycle undercarriage instead, resulting in the Vickers Supermarine Type 508, built to Specification N.9/47.
Vickers Supermarine Type 508 VX133 in flight.
The first Vickers Supermarine Type 508 (VX133) made its maiden flight from Boscombe Down on 31st August 1951, before carrying out further carrier-trials aboard HMS Eagle.
A second prototype (VX136) flew on 29th August 1952.
In addition to a slightly larger tail-cone to accommodate the proposed tail-warning radar, it carried the planned cannon armament and was significantly different enough to be designated Vickers Supermarine Type 529.
Both the Vickers Supermarine 508 and 529 both featured straight-wing configurations and as predicted their speed was relatively modest at 607mph. By the time the first prototypes had flown, it had already been decided that a swept wing version would be needed.
Vickers Supermarine Type 529 VX136 on display at Farnborough 1952.
The planned third prototype was redesigned with swept wings and designated Vickers Supermarine Type 525, this being the immediate progenitor of the Vickers Supermarine Scimitar.
Sadly, the only 525 was lost in a crash but the design had proved successful enough to lead into the production of the much developed Vickers Type 544.
Specification
| Type 508 | |
| Powerplant | Two 6,500 lb thrust Rolls-Royce Avon RA.3 |
| Span | 41 ft 0 in |
| Maximum Weight | Not available |
| Capacity and armament | Single pilot, four 30 mm cannon (Type 529) |
| Maximum Speed | Approx 600 mph |
Number built
| Vickers Type 508 | One (VX133) |
| Vickers Type 529 | One (VX136) |
Survivors
None
