BAU Cutlass
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BAU Cutlass | |
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File:Bau-50 side.png | |
BAU Cutlass | |
Role | Carrier-capable Fighter-bomber |
National origin | Belfras |
Manufacturer | Belfras Aerospace United |
First flight | 19 January 1956 |
Introduction | 8 June 1957 |
Status | In service |
Primary users | Belfras Template:Country data Valinor Template:Country data Goredemabwa |
Produced | 1956–1984 |
Number built | 200+ |
Unit cost |
NSD $704,000 (flyaway cost, 1971)
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The Belfras Aerospace United BAU Cutlass is a twin-engine carrier-capable fighter aircraft developed by the Belfras Aerospace United. The prototype for the eventual production version flew in January 1956 and production aircraft were delivered in 1957. The single-seat Cutlass entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remain in use for training and secondary roles within the Anikatian and Goredemabwan air forces. The Cutlass was also widely exported, serving with many foreign air forces particularly within former colonial nations of Belfras; It saw service with the Royal Navy from 1958 until 1972 when it was replaced by the far more advanced BAU Shrike design, however it saw enthusiastic use by Valinor which created a licensed-built advanced twin seat light attack and trainer variant called the Imbroll Domalot which still remains in very limited service with the Valinese Air Force for training purposes.
Design and History
The Cutlass stemmed from a number of designs from Belfras Aerospace United for a naval jet aircraft, initially to a requirement for an undercarriage-less fighter aircraft to land on flexible "sprung" rubber decks, which would allow for a lighter and simpler structure. Belfras Aerospace United's design to meet this requirement was the Type 46, featuring a thin, straight wing and a V-tail (or "butterfly tail") to keep the tail surfaces away from the jet exhausts, and to be powered by two turbojets, mounted side-by-side in the fuselage. In 1948, the Admiralty had second thoughts about the undercarriage-less fighter, and Belfras Aerospace United reworked their design by including a nosewheel undercarriage, becoming the Type 48. The Belfras Aerospace United Type 48 was the first Cutlass ancestor, and shared the basic layout of the Type 46, i.e. a twin-engined straight-winged type with V-tail. Pitch control was by moving the whole tail, with elevators for additional pitch control when working in tandem, and to replace the rudder on a conventional tail when working differentially. Ailerons were fitted to the wings for lateral control, and both leading and trailing edge flaps were also fitted to the wings. An order for three Type 48s was placed in November 1947, to Specification N.9/47.
The first Type 48 made its maiden flight on 31 August 1951, with the aircraft carrying out carrier trials in May 1952. The second aircraft had significant differences, carrying a cannon armament, and different enough in detail to be redesignated the Type 49, flying for the first time on 29 August 1952. One unusual modification was the larger tailcone that was to accommodate a proposed tail-warning radar. The maximum speed of the straight-winged Type 48 and 49 was relatively modest, with the Type 49 reaching 607 mph (977 km/h), and it had already been decided when the Type 508 first flew to redesign the third prototype with swept wings to improve performance. The resulting Type 50 also featured conventional swept tail surfaces as well as blown flaps to reduce the aircraft's landing speed, and first flew on 27 April 1954. It later crashed but the basic design had already proved sound enough to proceed with an outwardly fairly similar looking aircraft, the Type 50, to specification N.113. A total of 300 were ordered and the first of the Type 50s serving as prototypes for the later production series flew on 19 January 1956. The production Cutlass later entered official service from 8 June 1957.
Variants
Predecessors
- Type 48
Straight-wing research aircraft.
- Type 49
Straight-wing research aircraft.
- Type 50
Swept-wing prototype for the Cutlass F.1
Production models
- BAU Cutlass F.1
- Single-seat initial carrier-capable, fighter aircraft version
- BAU Cutlass F.2
- Single-seat carrier-capable, improved fighter aircraft version, saw improvements and updated afterburning variant of the turbojet engine.
- BAU Cutlass T.3
- Two-seat operational conversion trainer. The two-seat version of the F.2 variant, two-seat variant are otherwise fully combat-capable. It can be configured for training or as a strike aircraft.
- BAU Cutlass FGR.4
- Single-seat carrier-capable, highly improved advanced multi-role reconnaissance, fighter-bomber version, featured strengthened and extended outer wings to allow for more wing hardpoints added inboard of the existing ones. Increased fuel tanks to improve range along with tail chute, increased oxygen capacity, ejector seats, and other structural modifications to accommodate the new larger engines more powerful engines and new avionics fit. In service the Cutlass FGR.4, could reach Mach 1.65 (2,021 kph, 1,255 mph) at 13,716 m (45,000 ft).
- BAU Cutlass T.5
- Two-seat operational conversion trainer. The two-seat version of the FGR.4 variant, two-seat variant are otherwise fully combat-capable. It can be configured for training or as a strike aircraft.
Foreign-built variants
- BAU Cutlass FGR.50
- Export version of the Cutlass F.1 fighter version for Valinor.
- BAU Cutlass Mk 51
- Export version of the Cutlass F.2 fighter version for Goredemabwa, with slight changes removing some of the carrier based features.
- BAU Cutlass FGR.52
- Export version of the Cutlass FGR.4 multi-role fighter version for Valinor.
- BAU Cutlass T.53
- Export version of the Cutlass T.5 operational conversion trainer for Goredemabwa.
- BAU Cutlass T.54
- Export version of the Cutlass T.5 operational conversion trainer for Valinor.
- Imbroll Domalot
- Valinese built highly improved single-seat BAU Cutlass fighters, feature a radar, IRST, inflight refueling, larger upgraded engines, a select number remain in service for light attack, airborne targets for naval trails and exercises.
- Imbroll Domalot FGR.3 Mk. III-V
- Valinese built highly improved Two seat BAU Cutlass fighters, used for pilot, weapons and tactical training and can be used for light attack.
Operators
Current
- Template:Country data Valinor Valinese Air Force Approximately 50 - 75 Domalot FGR.3 MKIV - V remain in storage or at training areas for use with training air cadets in aerial carrier operations.
- Template:Country data Goredemabwa Goredemabwan Air Force Approximately around a two dozen or so aircraft retired; left-over from the Myrdesian era. Along with around 12-40 newer Valinese built variants acquired over the years.
Former operators
- Template:Country data Myrdesia Royal Myrdesian Air Force Passed on to successor states.
- Template:Country data People's Socialist Republic of Goredemabwa Goredemabwan People's Air Force Passed on to successor states.
Specifications (BAU Cutlass F.2)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 16.84 m (55 ft 3 in) ()
- Wingspan: 11.33 m (37 ft 2 in) ()
- Height: 5.28 m (17 ft 4 in) ()
- Wing area: 45.06 m² (485 ft²) ()
- Empty weight: 10,869 kg (23,962 lb) ()
- Max. takeoff weight: 15,513 kg (34,200 lb) ()
- Powerplant: 2 × turbofans afterburning turbofans, Wet: 72.8 kN (7,420 kgf, 16,360 lbf) ()Dry: 51.1 kN (5,216 kgf, 11,500 lbf) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 640 kn (1,185 km/h, 736 mph) at sea level
- Ferry range: 1,237 nmi (1,422 mi, 2,289 km) ()
- Service ceiling: 14,000 m (46,000 ft) ()
Armament
- 4 x 30 mm revolver cannon with 160 rounds of ammunition.
- 4 hardpoints (2 wet): 4 x wing pylons for up to 3,000 kg of weapons and fuel tanks, including:
- 4 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs or
- 4 × AGM-12 Bullpup or AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles or
- up to 16 two or three inch unguided rockets (4 per pylon)
- 1 x freefall nuclear bomb
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era