On the aerodynamics of the Gloster E28/39 – a historical perspective

As commissioned to demonstrate the feasibility of jet propulsion, the E28/39 needed to exceed the performance of contemporary fighters. But Carter, the chief designer, took the opportunity to look further ahead, and devised an aircraft in which the onset of compressibility effects was taken into account from the beginning of the design. Successful operation over a wide speed range required a shrewd synthesis of previous experience and practice with uncertain material emerging from the research domain. The resulting aircraft showed no significant aerodynamic vices, requiring only minor modifications from its first flight to its participation in diving trials, that took it into hitherto unexplored regions of high subsonic speed. It proved to be fully worthy of its pivotal role at the beginning of a new era in aeronautics. The aerodynamic features of Carter’s design are reviewed in relation to the limited state of knowledge at the time. Drawing upon fragmented material, much not previously published, this study enlarges upon, and in places amends, previous accounts of this notable machine.