Okay, Guys; here's a few more clues. Unless some one answers this question while I'm gone, I'll see you all in a week. Thanks; Ernie P.
What warbird do I describe?
1. This aircraft came into being at a period in time when aircraft companies were engaged in intense international competition to set new world records.
2. Advances in aircraft technology were made as a result of this competition.
3. And the laurels were used to demonstrate the technological superiority of the companies, and countries, involved.
4. The expense involved soon grew beyond the reach of a single aircraft company.
5. And those companies were increasingly backed in their attempts by the nations involved.
6. This is the story of one such company, and the plane it produced.
7. This plane was built to counter several foreign planes which set some new records.
8. Our subject plane set several outright world records.
9. And by a fair margin.
10. Interestingly, several of the foreign record setters used engines produced by our subject aircraft’s manufacturer.
11. And yet, the airframes being produced by the same company were lagging behind.
12. A completely new airframe was obviously required for this attempt.
13. And it would be a purpose-built research aircraft designed specifically for this one record attempt.
14. One of the company’s engineers proposed a new aircraft to set the record.
15. But nothing happened until a foreign plane set another record which drew public attention to the situation.
16. The proposal was for a single seat plane using retractable landing gear and a supercharged engine.
17. Although, in the end, it was decided to save weight and use fixed landing gear.
18. The officials finally issued a proposal to several companies, which was for a pair of prototypes.
19. Which were now to use two stage superchargers.
20. The plane was redesigned. The size and layout remained the same, but room for an observer was found for the second, ultimately unused, prototype.
21. And special flight equipment designed for the attempt.
22. The first prototype was delivered and tested using a standard engine, as the supercharged engine wasn’t yet ready.
23. The aircraft was described as the largest single place aircraft ever built to that time.
24. A lot of research was carried out by the government and national laboratories.
25. And an intercooler was used between the two stages of the supercharger.
26. Weight saving was a priority and a wooden shell, with a tube chassis, was used.
27. Only the engine mount and cowling were metal.
28. Specially developed fuel was used for the record flight.
29. A new record was duly set.
30. But which didn’t last long.
31. In the interim, a series of small changes had been made to our subject aircraft, all of which were intended to increase its performance; mainly by reducing drag.
32. A series of further flights were made, during which the record was recaptured.
33. During this flight, a canopy malfunction occurred, but no injury resulted.
34. After the record was recaptured, a number of research flights were made, but no further records were attempted.
35. It was felt these flights gathered invaluable data; particularly regarding pressurization.
36. The second prototype was ordered, and delivered.
37. But no engine was ever fitted.
38. And the airframe was used as a ground instructional trainer.
39. This was the unflown two seat version.
40. At the time, the company which built these two prototypes was best known for building a very successful series of engines.
41. And a couple of iconic WWI aircraft.
42. And a few famous WWII aircraft.
43. And had a large part in building perhaps the most famous passenger plane ever built.
44. The company ultimately merged with several other companies, and is still around in some form today.
45. A lot of research went into designing a suitable flying suit for the record attempts.
46. This area of research was largely conducted by government agencies.
47. The company itself had a distinguished history.
48. But by the late 1920s found itself lagging behind foreign aircraft.
49. Foreign aircraft were setting new records for altitude.
50. And those foreign aircraft were often powered by engines built by our subject aircraft’s parent company.
51. Between 1929 and 1934, a number of altitude records had been set. Many of those records were set by aircraft produced by rival companies, but powered by engines being produced by the parent company of our subject aircraft.
52. Clearly, the parent company was lagging in the designs of the aircraft they produced.
53. Finally, a decision was made by the government to finance a record attempt, by a British company.
54. The British government issued a specification for a pair of prototypes capable of reaching an altitude of 50,000 feet.
55. And our subject aircraft’s parent company was among those invited to submit a proposal for those two aircraft.
56. One of the parent company’s designers, a famous designer in his own right, had previously tried unsuccessfully to interest the British government in backing such an effort.
57. It was only after a new record was set by a flight over Mount Everest that public interest in high altitude flights spurred the British government to act.
58. And so, the Air Ministry issued Specification 2/34.
59. This was released in June, 1934.
60. The first prototype first flew on May 11, 1936.
61. Since the new engine wasn’t ready, it flew with one of the company’s standard engines, driving a three blade propeller.
62. After a total of three test flights, the aircraft was delivered to the RAE at Farnborough.
63. There, the pressure helmet was tested before the aircraft was returned to Filton.
64. Where the special Pegasus engine, and a four bladed propeller were installed.
65. In September, the aircraft returned to Farnborough for more tests.
66. Squadron Leader F.R.D. Swain was selected to pilot the aircraft on the high altitude attempts.
67. The Director of Scientific Research at the Air Ministry personally directed the flight.
68. On 09-28-1936, climbed to an indicated altitude of 51,000 feet (16,000 meters).
69. The flight lasted two hours, and Swain ran low on oxygen.
70. He had to break the window of the pressure helmet. Fortunately, he had come down to an altitude where he could breathe normally.
71. This flight was recognized as a World Record or 49,967 feet (15,230 meters).
72. After this record breaking flight, further development of the aircraft resulted in a series of small improvements; mostly weight reduction and improving the performance of the supercharger.
73. Six further flights achieved a record altitude certified as 53,937 feet or 16,440 meters.
74. That flight was made by Flight Lieutenant M.J. Adams.
75. That was accomplished on 06-30-1937.
76. The canopy suffered a major crack during that flight, but Adams was saved by his helmet and pressure suit.
77. Research flights continued after that, but there were no further record attempts.