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Aviation1903
@aviation1903

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The Supermarine Attacker was the first jet-powered aircraft to enter service with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm (FAA), taking its maiden flight in 1946, and being introduced into service in 1951. The attacker had an unusual configuration, being one of very few tail dragger configured jet powered aircraft. To accelerate development of the aircraft, Supermarine adapted it from one of their most advanced piston driven aircraft, the Supermarine Spiteful. Without the need for an engine in the nose, the cockpit was moved further forward, granting pilots an exceptionally good view, even while taxiing with a nose up attitude. The airframe was impossibly aerodynamic, adopting a laminar flow design for the fuselage, with airflow being interrupted only by the cockpit, air intakes, and control surfaces. The Attacker’s wing was largely unchanged from the Spiteful, though somewhat larger.  Powered by the Rolls Royce Nene engine, at the time (1946) the world's most powerful jet engine, The attacker was well suited for carrier operations. However, due to its size and weight, it was not particularly quick compared to some older aircraft, being slower than the P-80 and late model Meteors.  As was common with early jets, the Attacker had a brief service history, lasting only a few years, and not living long enough to see active combat. Jet technology was advancing so quickly at this time that by the time an aircraft was undergoing test flights, it was already generally considered obsolete as newer jet engines became available, and a better understanding of aerodynamics was achieved. As a result, the attacker would be pulled from front line service a mere 3 years later in 1954, and be pulled from reserve service by 1957.  Today, only a single Attacker, S/N WA473, services, and is on display in the Fleet Air Arm Museum.  #aviationhistory #aviation #av8ers #aviationgeek #wwiiaviation #coldwar #aviationlovers #planes #planesoffame #USAF #USAAF #avgeek #flight #airplane #aircraft #instaaviation #warbirds #warbird #aviation1903 #fighterpilot #militarypilot #airforcepilot #militaryaircraft