Hawker P.1052
The Hawker P.1052 was a British experimental aircraft built by Hawker Aircraft for trials with swept wings.
Designed to meet Air Ministry specification E.38/46 the P.1052 was similar to the Hawker P.1040 (Hawker Sea Hawk) in most aspects, with the main difference being the wings were swept back at an angle of 35 degrees. The tailplane was cropped to a shorter span.
The first prototype (VX272) flew on 19 November 1948, and the second prototype (VX279) flew six month later on 13 April 1949.
The P.1052 became the basis for the design of a swept wing rocket experimental aircraft under the design code P.1078, but because work on the unswept P 1040 based Hawker P.1072 was more advanced, no P.1078 was built.
The second prototype P.1052 was rebuilt as the Hawker P.1081 with a single jet outlet and swept empennage, also known at Hawker's as the "Australian Fighter". It was later destroyed, killing the test pilot, T. S. Wade.
No other aircraft were built as work had been transferred to the P.1067 (Hawker Hunter). The P 1052 was part of the transition from the straight-winged, centrifugally powered Sea Hawk to the axially powered, swept-wing Hunter. The first prototype, fitted with arrester gear etc. added useful experience in operating swept wing jets on carriers.
The first prototype VX272 is preserved at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton.
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Sources of Information