EFW N-20

The EFW N-20 Aiguillon (Stinger) was Switzerland's first indigenous jet fighter aircraft. The Swiss Federal Aircraft Factory developed a design for a four-engined swept winged fighter following the end of the Second World War. During the test programme an unpowered glider was built and flown. A turbojet powered test aircraft, known as the Arbalète (Crossbow) also flew.

The N-20 design was not produced, both the single Aiguillon and Arbalète airframes survive and are on public display at the Flieger-Flab-Museum, Dübendorf, the glider test aircraft was destroyed in an accident.

Design and development
The aircraft was to be powered by four turbofan engines buried in the wings, with the bypass air feeding cold-air pipes each side of the engines, being routed through a combustion chamber where additional fuel could be burned as a form of reheat, or deflected though large slots on the upper and lower wings to act as aerodynamic flaps or thrust reversers. Two engines could be shut down in flight to increase range. It was planned that the N-20 would carry its armament in a detachable weapons bay, capable of carrying large loads of cannons, rockets or bombs.

It was initially planned that the aircraft's engines would be designed and built by the Swiss company Sulzer. The initial engine choice was a small turbojet, the Sulzer D45 with an output of 752 kp. but they abandoned this project in 1947. Only two prototype D45 engines were built in 1948. The first engine, D45.01 was used in a test rig between 1950 and 1951 and the second engine, D45.04 (of limited airworthiness) was used until 1955 in the test rig. The D45.04 is today also part of the Dübendorf museum N-20 display

The British Armstrong Siddeley Mamba turboprop was then chosen as the basis for the N-20's engines, with the propeller reduction gear replaced by a low pressure compressor. This powerplant was named Swiss Mamba SM-1, the conversion was carried out in 1948 by EFW, only six of these engines were built (four were built into the N-20 with two more as spare engines). A spare engine is today part of the Swiss Museum of Transport, at the Flieger-Flab-Museum Dübendorf.

EFW N-20.01
Since Swiss industry still had no experience with the aircraft and aerodynamics of jet aircraft, several wind tunnel models were produced. In addition, a 3/5 scale wooden glider, the EFW N-20.01 was built to allow testing of the novel wing shape, this flew on 17 April 1948. The machine was equipped with a JATO solid rocket motor, with which she was able to start independently and reached the necessary altitude for tests. The nose gear came from a de Havilland Vampire, the main landing gear from a Messerschmitt Bf 109 both was electromechanical retractable. The boddy was made from wood and fabric cover. The N-20.01 was destroyed in a landing accident on 1 July 1949 at Emmen AFB.

EFW N-20.02 Arbalète
The glider had successfully proven the design and was followed by a similar sized powered test aircraft, the EFW N-20.02 Arbalète ("Crossbow"), powered by four 0.98 kN (220 lbf) Turboméca Piméné turbojets mounted above and below the wings. This aircraft flew on 16 November 1951. It proved to have good manoeuvrability and reached a maximum speed of 750 km/h (466 mph).

EFW N-20.10 Aiguillon
The full scale aircraft was estimated to have a maximum speed of 1,095 km (680 mph), but the initial converted Mamba, the SM-1, which was test-flown under a de Havilland Mosquito in 1948 and was the first turbofan to fly, did not generate adequate thrust. Considerable further work was required for the definitive two-shaft SM-5 engine, which was meant to generate 14.7 kN (3,300 lbf) thrust. The prototype was completed in 1952 and, fitted with four SM-1 engines, flew briefly during a taxi test on 8 April 1952, but the development of the engine and the N-20 aircraft was cancelled soon afterwards.

EFW N-20.20 Harpon
It was found out in various tests that the engines would not produce the desired output. So the project N-20.20 was started. The aircraft was equal to the N-20.10, but had at each wing root one conventional engine, Rolls-Royce Avon or Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. The wing was a little thinner and the main landing gear came a little closer to the fuselage, because now no engines required space inside the wing. The N 20:20 was never realized though some wind tunnel models were manufactured.

Specifications (N-20.10 Aiguillon)



 * Maximum speed: 1,000 km/h (621 mph; 540 kn)
 * Range: 500 km (311 mi; 270 nmi)
 * Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,089 ft)