What if? Die "Turbo Fury" Story, Pt. 1/3: FB.61 'K 850', Pakistanische Luftwaffe, 1965

[dizzyfugu]

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by Hawker. It was the last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, and also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built. Developed during the Second World War, the Sea Fury entered service two years after the war ended. The Sea Fury proved to be a popular aircraft with a number of overseas militaries, and it was successfully used during the Korean War in the early 1950s where it could keep up with 1st generatiom jet fighters like the MiG-15.

The Sea Fury's development was formally initiated in 1943 in response to a wartime requirement of the RAF, thus the aircraft was initially named Fury. As the Second World War drew to a close, the RAF cancelled their order for the aircraft. However, the Royal Navy saw the type as a suitable carrier aircraft to replace a range of increasingly obsolete or poorly suited aircraft being operated by the Fleet Air Arm. Development of the Sea Fury proceeded, and the type began entering operational service in 1947.

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion)[/url] by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The Sea Fury had many design similarities to Hawker's preceding Tempest fighter, but the Sea Fury was a considerably lighter aircraft. Both the Sea Fury's wings and fuselage originated from the Tempest but were significantly modified and redesigned. Production Sea Furies were fitted with the powerful Bristol Centaurus engine, and armed with four wing-mounted Hispano V 20mm cannons. While originally developed as a pure aerial fighter aircraft, the definitive Sea Fury FB 11 was a fighter-bomber, the design having been found suitable for this mission as well.

The Sea Fury attracted international orders as both a carrier and land-based aircraft; it was operated by countries including Australia, Burma, Canada, Cuba, Egypt, West Germany, Iraq, and Pakistan. The Sea Fury was retired by the majority of its military operators in the late 1950s in favour of jet-propelled aircraft. One of the largest export customers for the type, Pakistan, went a different way.

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Originally, an initial order for 50 Sea Fury FB 60 aircraft for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was placed in 1949. A total of 87 new-build Sea Furies were purchased and delivered between 1950 and 1952, but some ex-FAA and Iraqi Sea Furies were also subsequently purchased.

The aircraft was operated by three frontline squadrons, Nos. 5, 9, and 14 Squadrons.
The Sea Fury began to be replaced by the jet-powered North American F-86 Sabre in 1955, but it became quickly clear that the Sabre was primarily a fighter, not a ground attack aircraft. It also lacked adequate performance in 'hot and high' operation theatres, and the PAF's B-57 bombers were too big for certain CAS tasks, and their number highly limited.

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Hence the decision was taken to modernize a part of the PAF Sea Fury fleet for the ground attack role. This was to be achieved with a better engine that would deliver more power, a better overall performance as well as an extended range for prolonged loiter times close to the potential battlefield.

Engine choice fell on the Allison T56 turboshaft engine, which had originally been developed for the C-130 Hercules transporter (later also installed in the P-3 and E-2) - the type had just been bought by the PAF, so that low maintenance cost due to parts and infrastructure commonality was expected. Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (commonly abbreviated 'PAC') was tasked to develop a suitable update, and this lead to the integration of a turboprop engine into the Sea Fury airframe.

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


For the relatively small Sea Fury airframe the T56 was downrated to 3.000 hp, to which approximately 750 lbs of thrust from its exhaust could be added. The latter was bifurcated and ran along the fuselage flanks, ending in fairings at the wings' trailing edge. In order to cope with the additional power, the original five-bladed propeller had to be replaced by a six-bladed, indigenously developed propeller. Together with the more pointed spinner and the raised propeller position, the Sea Fury's profile changed dramatically, even though the good field of view for the pilot was retained. Internally, structural reinforcements had to be made and new wing spars were introduced. These allowed higher g forces for low level maneuvers and also carried additional ordnance hardpoints under the outer wings - these enabled the aircraft to carry HVARs of American origin and/or several small caliber bombs instead of only a single pair of up to 1.000 lb (454 kg) caliber.

Unpretentiously, these modified Sea Furies just received a new 'Sea Fury FB.61' designation. Inofficially they were called 'Turbo Furies' or  'وایلار' (Urdu: Wailer), for their characteristic, penetrating engine and propeller sound.

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The last piston engine Sea Furies in Pakistani service were ultimately retired in 1960, while the Turbo Fury fleet was kept in service, and they even fired in anger during the 1965 India-Pakistan War. The PAF fleet at that time consisted of 12 F-104 Starfighters, some 120 F-86 Sabres, around 20 B-57 Canberra bombers and still almost all converted 30 Furys. The latter were primarily used against small ground targets like tanks, supply trucks and single buildings, and achieved some success - but the permament threat from Indian fighters like the agile Hawker Hunter or the Folland Gnat limited efficacy. Air superiority was not achieved, from neither side. Thus 1965 was a stalemate in terms of the air war.

After the end of hostilities, the 'Turbo Furies' were quickly phased out since it had become clear that they had become too vulnerable in battlefield conditions.

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


General characteristics:
    Crew: One
    Length: 36 ft 2 in (11.05 m)
    Wingspan: 38 ft 43⁄4 in (11.69 m)
    Height: 15 ft 101⁄2 in (4.84 m)
    Wing area: 280 ft2 (26.01 m2)
    Empty weight: 10.500 lb (4.767 kg)
    Loaded weight: 14,100 lb (6.400 kg)
    Max. takeoff weight: 15,650 lb (7.105 kg)

Powerplant:
    1× Allison T56 turboshaft engine rated at 2.206 kW (3.000 hp) plus 750 lbs of residual thrust

Performance:
    Maximum speed: 490 mph (427 knots, 790 km/h) at 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
    Range: 700 mi (609 nmi, 1,126 km) with internal fuel;
               1,040 mi (904 nmi, 1,674 km) with two drop tanks
    Service ceiling: 35,800 ft (10,910 m)
    Rate of climb: 4,320 ft/min (21.9 m/s)

Armament:
    4× 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk V cannons in the wings
    Eight underwing hardpoints for an external load of 4.000 lb (1.814 kg),
    including bombs, unguided rockets, napalm tanks or drop tanks


Teil 1 einer Modell-Trilogie - entstanden aus einem 4er-Set mit Resin-Ersatz-Triebwerken aus einem C-130 Umrüstsatz (von RedRoo aus Australien), die zufällig fast genau an den Rumpf einer HAwker Sea Fury (PM Models) passen. Und der Rest ist Fiktion, bzw. das konsequente Weiterspinnen der Idee über die Jahre und das Verbraten von Triebwerken und Bausätzen. 

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hawker-PAC Sea Fury FB.61; aircraft 'K 850' of No. 5 Squadron, Pakistan Air Force (PAF/پاک فِضائیہ‎); Kashmir region, summer 1965 (Whif/PM Model kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr