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44:
499:
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four RP-3 rockets, two custom-designed "Stork" rockets were used. The two solid-fuel motors were connected to the dart about mid-way along the fuselage. The rocket nozzles were canted slightly to spin the missile assembly on launch, evening out any asymmetries in the thrust. When the boosters are empty, a small
517:
on the forward fuselage that were jettisoned 1.5 seconds after launch. The missile body, now travelling at around Mach 2, would coast the remaining distance to its target under guidance from the launch aircraft (the missile was unguided during the boost phase). The rocket engine nozzles were slightly
536:
The purpose of the control system was to keep the missile centred in the guidance beam emitted by the launch aircraft. The pilot of the aircraft would keep the beam aligned with the target using his gunsight, which was harmonized with the axis of the radio beam. An advantage of this system was that
528:
Steering was accomplished by four rudders in a cruciform configuration. These were moved by four pairs of pneumatic servos, operated by solenoid valves. An air bottle, pressurized to 3,000 pounds per square inch (21,000 kPa), supplied air for the servos and also supplied the air that spun the
404:
Fairey
Aviation won the contract to develop Blue Sky, which they referred to internally as Project 5. Like the original Little Ben, Project 5 called for a beam riding missile able to be launched from the rear aspect within a 15° cone. Wartime German research suggested that the rocket exhaust would
396:
and a simpler weapon would be needed in the interim. In 1949, the RAE developed a watered-down specification they called "Pink Hawk" that called for a tail-chase attack and was intended to target piston-engined bombers. The Pink Hawk nickname was soon replaced with the official rainbow code, "Blue
409:
the air behind the missile and make it difficult to receive the radar signal, so Fairey based their design on the original Red Hawk layout using separate boosters that fell away during flight, leaving the signal clear while the unpowered "dart" continued on to the target. In place of the original
268:
The approximately 300 production
Fireflash missiles were mostly expended as a training weapon to familiarize RAF pilots with missile firing. It was declared operational very briefly in 1957, thus becoming the RAF's first operational air-to-air missile, but was quickly replaced by the
379:
resembling a small swept-wing fighter, which would be carried in a recessed bay under the aircraft and lowered into the airstream before launch. The RAE was unimpressed, and in late 1947 developed their own design. This called for a smaller weapon using four
339:
In 1947, the various ongoing guided weapon projects in the UK were centralized at the RAE. In the immediately following period, a rationalized development program was laid out that called for the development of a
480:
397:
Sky". The Red Hawk project continued as well, but only briefly before its specifications were relaxed as well; in
November 1951 the Air Staff issued OR.1117, given the code "Blue Jay", for an
452:
486:
Fireflash was deployed on a very limited scale by the RAF in August 1957, and "had a limited capability against piston-engine bombers." The RAF deployed the later and more effective
1503:
810:
645:
The unusual configuration (an unpowered guided munition that coasts to the target after boosted to high speed by a rocket) was also used decades later in the
British
325:
451:
soon decided not to retain the type in its inventory as much more advanced designs were on their way. Many of the 300 missiles were expended in testing by
428:
engine, Beta 2. This also required the development of a complex multi-channel telemetry system that proved invaluable during the development of Blue Sky.
1513:
1508:
1021:
265:
guidance. Fireflash had relatively limited performance and required the launching aircraft to approach the target from a limited angle astern.
525:
in the hot, rocket motor exhaust stream would interfere with the guidance radar signals; further development showed the fears were unfounded.
417:
Development of Blue Sky was aided by ongoing projects at Fairey in rocket propulsion that were being used to support the development of the
436:
Fireflash was given its name by the RAF as development continued. It scored its first live-fire success in 1953, successfully destroying a
814:
510:
missile - it was designed to fly down a radio beam emitted by the launch aircraft, which the pilot would keep aimed at the target.
584:
at Maldon. A Fireflash unit, missing the tips of the propulsion sections, is in storage at the RAF Hornchurch
Heritage Centre.
982:
1177:
1014:
966:
947:
792:
581:
533:. A high pressure air supply from the aircraft was also required to spin the gyros before the missile was launched.
518:
offset to rotate the missile - this increased accuracy by evening out the effect of any slight asymmetry in thrust.
361:
1498:
1345:
1007:
636:
A cordite charge within a cylinder drove a piston, that sheared the pin that attached each rocket to the missile.
577:
1395:
310:
521:
This configuration drastically limited both range and flight duration, but was used because of fears that
920:
384:
motors for boost which were then ejected, leaving the central projectile to coast onward to the target.
1405:
618:
Which subsequently diverged into separate Army and RAF projects, Red Shoes and Red Duster respectively.
530:
21:
1170:
444:. In unarmed tests, Fireflash directly hit the drone aircraft, in one case severing its tailwheel.
1443:
513:
It had a very unusual configuration: the missile body was unpowered. It was propelled by a pair of
321:
1213:
1030:
627:
Perhaps under the direction of Flt Lt Benson, who had worked on the
Spaniel and Artemis projects.
487:
281:
270:
258:
850:
309:"Red Hawk", for an air-to-air missile. The basic design was based on studies carried out at the
1466:
1321:
1253:
1134:
1087:
538:
424:
aircraft. This involved launching scale models of the proposed design using a locally designed
341:
782:
541:. The missile's receiver, fitted at the rear, only detected signals from the launch aircraft.
1518:
1456:
1339:
987:
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1451:
1329:
1163:
1118:
646:
317:
concept had convinced them that automatic guidance of some sort was required. This led to
8:
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it would be unaffected by the target aircraft using radar countermeasures such as
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565:
464:
448:
357:
333:
254:
115:
992:, a short, 1956 film showing the Fireflash being tested against target drones. (
1390:
1139:
1054:
558:
472:
437:
418:
392:
It was soon realized that the all-aspect capability of Red Hawk was beyond the
376:
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1097:
1066:
1044:
993:
599:
441:
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514:
353:
306:
299:
999:
1049:
507:
332:. OR.1056 was overall similar to Little Ben, using beam riding along the
329:
262:
939:
The Early
Development of Guided Weapons in the United Kingdom, 1940-1960
414:
charge separates them, leaving the dart to carry on towards the target.
43:
1385:
1059:
580:, the Cornwall Aviation Museum at RAF St. Mawgan and (in May 2014) the
522:
456:
421:
345:
1413:
1102:
313:(RAE) on earlier weapons. Their experiments with the manually-guided
596:– a contemporary naval beam-riding missile with wrap-around boosters
498:
1360:
1291:
1243:
1228:
1223:
1423:
1306:
1186:
411:
48:
A Fireflash missile at the Royal Air Force Museum
Cosford (2014)
1203:
406:
371:
The initial development contract for Red Hawk was released to
1370:
1261:
1238:
681:
679:
677:
675:
673:
671:
894:
475:
NF11 (nightfighter) trials aircraft and subsequently by the
1433:
381:
199:
959:
British Secret
Projects; Hypersonics, Ramjets and Missiles
718:
706:
668:
1185:
368:
anti-shipping bomb, and ongoing development of Red Hawk.
747:
745:
696:
694:
375:
in
October 1947. They developed what was essentially a
447:
About 300 missiles had been produced by 1955, but the
872:
784:
Air Warfare: an International Encyclopedia, Volume 1
757:
742:
730:
691:
1504:Cold War air-to-air missiles of the United Kingdom
302:issued Operational Requirement OR.1056, given the
1490:
576:Fireflashes are part of the collections of the
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1015:
956:
724:
712:
685:
529:three, air-blown gyroscopes in the missile's
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834:
832:
1029:
776:
774:
772:
1514:Military equipment introduced in the 1950s
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1164:
1022:
1008:
42:
1509:Air-to-air missiles of the United Kingdom
829:
481:No. 1 Guided Weapons Development Squadron
387:
813:. Royal Air Force Museum. Archived from
769:
497:
280:
983:Project 'Blue Sky' (Fireflash) and Ekco
897:. Hornchurch Aerodrome Historical Trust
811:"Fairey Fireflash - Air to Air Missile"
805:
803:
1491:
935:
919:
763:
751:
736:
700:
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22:Thunderbirds machines § Fireflash
1159:
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957:Gibson, Chris; Buttler, Tony (2007).
780:
887:
865:
800:
490:infra-red missile from August 1958.
875:. Combined Military Services Museum
873:"Combined Military Services Museum"
336:signal as the illumination source.
13:
289:with two Fireflash missiles (1956)
14:
1530:
976:
582:Combined Military Services Museum
931:(2534): 223–228. 16 August 1957.
895:"RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre"
551:
453:No. 6 Joint Services Trials Unit
401:design which became Firestreak.
352:, a similar SAM design for the
913:
843:
639:
630:
249:was the United Kingdom's first
621:
612:
578:Royal Air Force Museum Cosford
502:Drawing of a Fireflash missile
493:
276:
122:
1:
787:, ABC-CLIO Inc, p. 267,
656:
261:, the missile utilised radar
149:111.75 inches (2,838 mm)
661:
571:
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311:Royal Aircraft Establishment
182:Two solid fuel rocket motors
7:
587:
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141:150 kilograms (330 lb)
10:
1535:
531:inertial navigation system
440:drone aircraft flying off
157:28.11 inches (714 mm)
15:
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1342:(Sea Ceptor, Land Ceptor)
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725:Gibson & Buttler 2007
713:Gibson & Buttler 2007
686:Gibson & Buttler 2007
251:air-to-air guided missile
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62:Place of origin
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989:Britain's Guided Missile
942:. Taylor & Francis.
936:Twigge, Stephen (1993).
781:Boyne, Walter J (2002),
605:
322:semi-active radar homing
253:to see service with the
1499:Fairey Aviation Company
1031:Fairey Aviation Company
488:de Havilland Firestreak
360:known by the code name
324:system, and the larger
271:de Havilland Firestreak
194:1.9 miles (3.1 km)
1481: Anglo-Australian
1135:Charles Richard Fairey
961:. Midland Publishing.
503:
388:Pink Hawk and Blue Sky
342:surface-to-air missile
290:
1189:of the United Kingdom
840:Flight (1957), p. 227
501:
284:
16:For the vehicle from
1119:Medium Girder Bridge
506:The Fireflash was a
298:In January 1945 the
432:Testing and service
1479:
1477: Anglo-French
1406:Surface-to-surface
853:. Etko Electronics
647:Starstreak missile
504:
426:liquid-fuel rocket
304:Ministry of Supply
291:
99:Production history
57:Air-to-air missile
29:Air-to-air missile
1486:
1485:
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1145:Ernest Oscar Tips
523:ionised particles
477:Supermarine Swift
287:Supermarine Swift
257:. Constructed by
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399:infrared seeking
394:state of the art
373:Gloster Aircraft
228:control surfaces
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515:rocket boosters
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483:at RAF Valley.
465:South Australia
449:Royal Air Force
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358:Royal Air Force
334:AI Mk. IX radar
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273:the next year.
259:Fairey Aviation
255:Royal Air Force
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116:Fairey Aviation
75:In service
70:Service history
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344:(SAM) for the
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1045:Avions Fairey
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994:British Pathe
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968:9781857802580
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949:9783718652976
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817:on 5 May 2013
816:
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794:1-57607-345-9
790:
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727:, p. 32.
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688:, p. 31.
687:
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600:Rainbow Codes
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442:RAF Aberporth
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362:"Red Heathen"
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19:
1519:Rainbow code
1467:Green Cheese
1297:Storm Shadow
1208:
1088:Green Cheese
1082:
1038:Subsidiaries
988:
958:
938:
928:
924:
914:Bibliography
899:. Retrieved
889:
877:. Retrieved
867:
855:. Retrieved
851:"Blue Sky 4"
845:
819:. Retrieved
815:the original
783:
759:
732:
720:
708:
641:
632:
623:
614:
575:
535:
527:
520:
512:
505:
485:
479:fighters of
446:
435:
416:
403:
391:
370:
354:British Army
348:that became
338:
307:rainbow code
300:Air Ministry
297:
267:
246:
245:
112:Manufacturer
83:Used by
26:
18:Thunderbirds
17:
1457:Blue Streak
1396:Thunderbird
1050:Fairey Band
921:"Fireflash"
857:29 December
821:29 December
764:Flight 1957
752:Flight 1957
737:Flight 1957
701:Twigge 1993
508:beam riding
494:Description
330:beam riding
328:which used
315:Air Spaniel
277:Development
263:beam riding
188:Operational
125: built
1493:Categories
1462:Blue Water
1452:Blue Steel
1386:Starstreak
1330:Bloodhound
1214:Firestreak
1196:Air-to-air
1060:Acid Brass
657:References
467:from 1955–
457:RAF Valley
422:supersonic
346:Royal Navy
326:Little Ben
216:beam rider
163:Detonation
36:Fireflash
1414:Swingfire
1381:Starburst
1371:Sea Viper
1302:Sea Venom
1287:Sea Eagle
1272:Brimstone
1267:Blue Boar
1209:Fireflash
1103:Swingfire
1083:Fireflash
901:24 August
879:24 August
662:Citations
572:Survivors
545:Operators
366:Blue Boar
247:Fireflash
165:mechanism
78:1957–1958
1429:Vigilant
1391:Tigercat
1376:Sea Wolf
1361:Sea Dart
1335:Blowpipe
1292:Sea Skua
1244:Skyflash
1229:Red Hebe
1224:Red Dean
1076:Missiles
588:See also
294:Red Hawk
240:Aircraft
236:platform
222:Steering
210:Guidance
154:Wingspan
104:Designed
1444:Nuclear
1424:UB.109T
1419:Malkara
1366:Seaslug
1346:Javelin
1307:SPEAR 3
1282:Martlet
1234:Red Top
1093:Malkara
461:Woomera
412:cordite
350:Seaslug
319:Artemis
1356:Seacat
1351:Rapier
1312:Tychon
1277:Martel
1219:Meteor
1204:ASRAAM
1128:People
1098:Stooge
965:
946:
925:Flight
791:
556:
471:using
407:ionize
364:, the
234:Launch
224:system
212:system
204:Mach 2
179:Engine
146:Length
128:c. 300
20:, see
1262:ALARM
606:Notes
539:chaff
190:range
1434:NLAW
1340:CAMM
963:ISBN
944:ISBN
903:2021
881:2021
859:2012
823:2012
789:ISBN
469:1957
459:and
382:RP-3
356:and
138:Mass
107:1949
94:None
91:Wars
54:Type
455:at
123:No.
1495::
929:72
927:.
923:.
831:^
802:^
771:^
744:^
693:^
670:^
463:,
285:A
1179:e
1172:t
1165:v
1023:e
1016:t
1009:v
996:)
971:.
952:.
905:.
883:.
861:.
825:.
649:.
24:.
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