Miles M.20 produced at CC&F for RAF/FAA instead of Hurricane

SsgtC

Banned
Could the Miles Master serve as our two seat fighter? Have one two seater per flight, singles for the rest?
That would require a pretty big shift in doctrine, I think. IIRC, the RN used two seat fighters for strike escort, scouting and long range interception while single seat fighters were used strictly for point defense duties. Where I'm hazy is if that doctrine developed because of the aircraft that the RAF saddled the FAA with, or if the aircraft they used were developed because of doctrine. Doctrine developing as a result of available airframes is much easier to change with new aircraft. While if the doctrine came first, that would be much more entrenched and far harder to change.
 
The problem was the FAA's homing beacons couldn't be used by a lone pilot and also that they really didn't like single purpose aircraft. Look at the other FAA aircraft. Skua & Roc Fighter/Dive Bomber. Swordfish, Torpedo Strike Recconnaisance. Walrus Gunnery spotting/bomber/Air Sea Rescue.
 
Whilst the FAA wanted two seaters for distant action they preferred single seaters for the Fleet Fighter close defence role. Thus the Flycacher, Nimrod and Sea Gladiator. A Miles would be to fit that Fleet Fighter task.
 
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As an alternative engine - not everyone's favourite, but how about the Taurus. Slimmer than the Mercury and only two inches longer. About 300 pounds heavier, but producing 1100hp by 1940.
 
Whilst the FAA wanted two seaters for distant action they were preferred single seaters for the Fleet Fighter close defence role. Thus the Flycacher, Nimrod and Sea Gladiator.
Its almost like the FAA wanted the Sea Hurricane until they all got taken by RAF in the rush for fighter command build up from 38-40.....
 
To be fair in 1938 at least the Gladiator was the second most up to date fighter the RAF had. The RAF could have saddled the FAA with re-engined second hand Gloster Gauntlets.
 
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The Italians put a DB 601 in a Fiat CR42 and got something like 330mph out of it. I wonder if Gloster would have got similar results by putting a Merlin in a Gladiator? It's a bad idea but interesting to think about if the US refused to sell Wildcats and the RAF wouldn't release Hurricanes to the FAA.
 
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Returning to the OP .... would need Hawker being too busy to provide tools for a shadow factory in Canada.

ATL: CCF and Elsie May MacDonald hear about the Miles panic fighter and examine an M.20 prototype. Miles is eager to share technology and several of Miles key production personal are keen on moving out of range of the Blitz. They agree to sail to Ontario.

For some silly reason, the US State Department prevents Grumman from licencing any more modern designs to CCF or Fairchild of Canada.
 

MatthewB

Banned
The Italians put a DB 601 in a Fiat CR42 and got something like 330mph out of it. I wonder if Gloster would have got similar results by putting a Merlin in a Gladiator? It's a bad idea but interesting to think about if the US refused to sell Wildcats and the RAF wouldn't release Hurricanes to the FAA.
It would be like a Super Nimrod. But if we’re making biplane fighters at CC&F there is only one logical option.....

Gregor FDB-1
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Car_and_Foundry_FDB-1
https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/cancelled-gregor-fdb-1-180952402/

main-gregor.jpg

Click if doesn’t open https://thumbs-prod.si-cdn.com/deK5...d-6b20-47df-a89d-511bf3c03f97/main-gregor.jpg

Though really, a monoplane single seat fighter like OTL’s Hurricane or the Miles M.20 or Curtiss P.35 makes more sense.
 
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