Hawker P.1081

The Hawker P.1081, also known as the "Australian Fighter" was a British jet aircraft from the mid-twentieth century.

Design and development
In 1949, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) began assessing replacements for its locally-built Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Mustangs and De Havilland Australia (DHA) Vampires. A series of designs were considered, including the Grumman Panther and an unconventional, twin-jet all-weather fighter: the CAC CA-23.

Hawker Aircraft also submitted a proposal, for a swept-wing-and-tail fighter using a Rolls-Royce Tay engine. Work was started to modify the second prototype of the Hawker P.1052 (UK serial number VX279). The existing Rolls-Royce Nene engine was used for the prototype aircraft. The rear fuselage of the P.1052 was completely replaced with one having a straight-through jet pipe and swept tail surfaces. The first flight of the P.1081 took place on 19 June 1950. CAC, evidently planning to build any design accepted by the Australian government, assigned the serial number CA-24. However, in November 1950, Hawker decided to discontinue its bid for the Australian contract. During 1951, the RAAF ordered (first) the proven Gloster Meteor F.8, as a stop-gap replacement for Mustangs serving the RAAF during the Korean War (which had already been rendered obsolete by encounters with MiG 15s) and, (second), a CAC proposal for a more powerful, Rolls-Royce Avon-engined variant of the North American Sabre (F-86), a project which resulted in the CAC Sabre.

Hawker handed over the P.1081 prototype, which had remained in the UK, to the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE). Its swept tail increased the Mach number above that of the P.1052 into the Mach 0.9-0.95 region, providing valuable information for the axially-powered Hawker Hunter. The sole P.1081 was lost with its pilot, Squadron Leader T.S. "Wimpy" Wade, on 3 April 1951.

Operators

 * Royal Aircraft Establishment
 * Royal Aircraft Establishment

Specifications
Data from Mason: