Fairey Delta 2 - Moon 1:50 scale

**hyair** · #1 04-28-2016, 02:26 PM

The Fairey Delta 2 was high speed research British plane.
In 1956 it broke the world speed record setting a new record of 1132 mph with the test pilot
Peter Twiss. Only 2 were built but they were used for supplying valuable data that was needed in the development of the mach 2.0 Concord airliner .

The model is from Moon in 1:50 scale release from the early 60's.
I modified the afterburner section and replaced the close canopy with a clear one and
a full cockpit.
Will be contiued.

Yair

**MacSongLi** · #2 04-28-2016, 05:38 PM

WOW. That is a beautiful aircraft. Nice work Yair!

Gary

**chaparral2d** · #3 04-28-2016, 08:38 PM

Wow! That is beautiful.

Dave

**hyair** · #4 04-29-2016, 12:21 AM

Gary and Dave - thanks !

Yair

**hyair** · #5 04-29-2016, 12:51 AM

A quick look at the FD-2 delta wing and that of the Mirage III sbows almost identical dimensions. The span in both was around 8.20 m. The FD -2 first flew in 1954 while the Mirage III only in late 1956. Some sources claimed that Dassault had a fine example with the
FD-2 when be went to design the Mirage.

I put the two nearby for comparison purposes. The mirage is mali release from the 60's reduced to 1:48 scale.

Yair

**hyair** · #6 04-29-2016, 10:44 AM

The FD -2 was developed by a British company named Fairey.
It was designed as an high speed research plane. The Plane was equiped with Avon 200
series jet engine. The type first prototype WS774 is the Moon model here. In late 1954 it
made the first flights with Peter Twiss at the controls. Then in one flight the engine shut down
and Peter was able to glide and made a dead stick landing with only front wheel in down position. The plane was damaged and Peter was lightly injured. The program was halted for
8 months until flights could be resumed.
Will be continued.

Attached here pics of the FD-2 and a French high speed rival of the time - sncso 9050 Trident.
The Trident is from WHM and a cockpit and clear canopy were added.

Yair

**hyair** · #7 04-29-2016, 11:03 PM

The flights on the FD-2 were resumed in August 1955. During these flights many sonic bangs were heard in south Britain. in order to make low level supersonic flights the locations were altered to France and Norway to evade insurance claims for damages in Britain.
Then in 10th of March 1956 the FD-2 with Peter Twiss broke the previous record by more than 300 mph and set it on 1132 mph or mach 1.73 ! (previous record was 822 mph of USAF f-100C Super Sabre ).
This was the first official record of flying more than 1000 mph !
This is a speed greater than the sun is moving so actually in such a speed the sun is moving backwards in relate to the flying plane.
The record was lasting year and a half until USAF F-101 Voodoo broke it in late 1957.
Will be continued.

Yair

**elliott** · #8 04-30-2016, 11:50 AM

Fascinating story Yair. Lots of information I didn't know or had forgotten. Great stuff!

**hyair** · #9 04-30-2016, 12:20 PM

Thanks elliott !

I attach here more pics of the FD-2 with another French high speed experimental plane - the Nord Griffon 1500 that flew at same years ( late 50's ). The Griffon is from Ecardsmodels in scale of 1:48 . The cockpit was added with clear canopy and some small details and markings. The landing gears were modified as well.

Yair