LEFT: The second Hawker N.7/46 prototype, VP413, photographed by Cyril Peckham after its completion.The type marked a radical change of direction for Hawker, but ultimately proved to be an excellent example of ingenious engineering solutions, remaining in service with the Royal Navy for more than 15 years. Colin Dodds Collection via author RIGHT: The first image from the Hawker material shows a pressed light-alloy fuselage frame from the area of the wing-root intakes, illustrating the recesses where ducting will guide air to the Rolls-Royce Nene engine. The frame has been photographed upsidedown; when installed in the airframe, the flat inside edge should be at the base. Notches in the outer edges of the frame are to accommodate the fuselage’s longerons and stringers. via author
ABOVE: With the engine in the centre of the fuselage, the mainspar could not pass directly through, so a ring-frame had “outriggers” attached, taking the loads from the outer wing spars, in this case the rear spar that carried the flaps and ailerons.The central pillar bisecting the ringframe passed between the two branches of the bifurcated jetpipe that Hawker and Rolls-Royce developed for the N.7/46.The diagonal flanges on the ring-frame indicate the inner surface of the undercarriage bay, of which this frame formed the aft face.The frame seen (from the rear) in this photograph has been placed in the main fuselage construction jig.The fuselage was constructed in three main sections — the central part, as seen here, the nose section and the rear fuselage and tail section. via author
ABOVE: The central fuselage further along in its construction in the jig, looking forward. More frames have been added, forming the backbone of the aircraft.This section would eventually contain the engine and its associated intake trunking, the frames with their recesses for which, as in the first photograph, may be seen at the forward end of the assembly.This sub-assembly would also contain the engine exhaust system, the main undercarriage bays and form the wing/ fuselage connection. It demonstrated the biggest difference from piston-engine practice in this transitional jet design. via author
ABOVE: The same assembly seen from the forward end, now with the skin attached, and the wing root added.This image shows how the intake air was guided from the wing-root intake, the shape indicated by the bracing rods between the fuselage and the large inner wing rib, into the central fuselage to feed the Nene engine’s prodigious (for the time) mass-flow requirements. via author
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ABOVE: The forward fuselage section from a port three-quarter view, with the majority of the frames now in place. Armament was included on the second and third N.7/46 prototypes; VP413 was the first to be equipped with the planned four 20mm Hispano cannon in the underside of the nose, two of which may be seen midway along the section. Note the hollow in the frames adjacent to the gun bay to allow clearance for the cannon’s blast tubes.The upper half of the sub-assembly is open, as this is where the cockpit will ultimately be sited. via author
ABOVE: In terms of construction this light-alloy fuselage frame is conventional, although its shape is unusual.The “V” shape in the lower part of the frame was adopted to create space within the fuselage for the main undercarriage bay.The N.7/46’s thin wing left less space for the undercarriage than in previous piston-engined designs, while the large-diameter engine and the thicker wing roots required for the intakes left space free just aft of the engine, which Hawker used to house the mainwheels when retracted.The space in the upper half was for a saddle-type fuel tank sitting over the aft end of the engine. The wings were too thin to incorporate fuel tanks. via author