British naval fighter-bomber aircraft from the Cold War era
Scimitar
Scimitars of 736 Naval Air Squadron at Farnborough, 1962
Role
Naval strike fighter
Type of aircraft
National origin
United Kingdom
Manufacturer
Supermarine
First flight
19 January 1956
Introduction
1957
Retired
1969
Status
Retired
Primary user
Royal Navy
Number built
76
The Supermarine Scimitar is a single-seat naval strike aircraft that was designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Supermarine. Operated exclusively by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, it was the final aircraft to be entirely designed and manufactured by Supermarine.[1]
The Scimitar was developed out of an earlier effort, internally designated Type 505, an undercarriage-less fighter aircraft intended to be flown from rubber decks. Much of the aircraft's features, including its unorthodox V-tail (or "butterfly tail") and its thin straight wing, were shared with this ancestor; however, the Admiralty reconsidered their requirements and specified a conventional undercarriage be used. Accordingly, Supermarine produced the closely related Type 508, equipped with an enlarged wing and retractable undercarriage. On 31 August 1951, the Type 508 performed its maiden flight, it was closely followed by the redesigned Type 529 and Type 544, the latter serving as a direct prototype for the production model, making its first flight in January 1956.
During 1957, the first production aircraft were delivered, enabling the Scimitar to enter service with the Royal Navy during the following year. The aircraft was operated by the Royal Navy as a low level strike aircraft, which included potentially being armed with nuclear weapons, having been superseded as a fighter even prior to its introduction by other aircraft such as the de Havilland Sea Venom and the de Havilland Sea Vixen. It experienced a relatively high attrition rate due to a spate of accidents. Towards its latter years of operation, the type was frequently used as an aerial refuelling tanker. During 1969, the Scimitar was permanently withdrawn, having been replaced in service by newer and more capable aircraft such as the Blackburn Buccaneer.
^Andrews and Morgan 1981, p. 297.
and 19 Related for: Supermarine Scimitar information
The SupermarineScimitar is a single-seat naval strike aircraft that was designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Supermarine. Operated...
fighter and photo-reconnaissance roles. The last of the Supermarine aircraft was the Scimitar. In the shakeup of British aircraft manufacturing, Vickers-Armstrongs...
aircraft to be built later by Supermarine to specification N.113D and which became the Type 544 which entered service as the Scimitar. The first Type 508, serial...
the training role, including Supermarine Seafires, Fairey Fireflys, Hawker Sea Hawks, Hawker Sea Furys, SupermarineScimitars, De Havilland Sea Venoms and...
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World...
The Supermarine Attacker is a British single-seat naval jet fighter designed and produced by aircraft manufacturer Supermarine for the Royal Navy's Fleet...
Aircraft: Supermarine Attacker, Swift And Scimitar. Ian Allan. p. 66. ISBN 0 7110 2034 5. "Exhibitions – Cobham Hall – Reserve Collection – Supermarine 510...
The Supermarine Walrus (or the Supermarine Seagull V, its original name) was a British single-engine amphibious biplane designed by Supermarine's R. J...
The Supermarine Spiteful was a British fighter aircraft designed by Supermarine during the Second World War as a successor to the Spitfire. Powered by...
weaponry and minimal fuel, and would subsequently rendezvous with a SupermarineScimitar that would deliver the full load of fuel by aerial refuelling. The...
Draken Saab Lansen SEPECAT Jaguar ST Aerospace A-4S Skyhawk SupermarineScimitarSupermarine Swift The ADEN gun has seen use in several gun pods including:...
Springbok Supermarine 508 – Development aircraft with vee tail Supermarine 525 – Swept wing development aircraft for SupermarineScimitar program Vickers...
was formed at HMS Fulmar, to train Airwork Limited pilots to fly SupermarineScimitar aircraft. In July 1972, 764 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at HMS Fulmar...
The Supermarine Seafire is a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire adapted for operation from aircraft carriers. It was analogous in concept to the...
as new strike aircraft such as the de Havilland Sea Vixen and the SupermarineScimitar were introduced after the conflict. The Sea Hawk was a successful...
Between 1967 and 1968 around 130 aircraft of various types, including SupermarineScimitar, de Havilland Sea Vixen, Fairey Gannet, Hawker Hunter, de Havilland...
Pilot School in 1957, and went on to fly SupermarineScimitar jets in 803 Naval Air Squadron, the first Scimitar squadron, embarked on HMS Victorious. He...
Global Information