The Fairey Delta 2 or FD2 was a supersonic research aircraft produced by the Fairey Aviation in the UK. It was to test flight and control at transonic and supersonic speeds. Features included a delta wing and a drooped nose. On 6 October 1954, the Delta 2 made its maiden flight and 2 aircraft would be produced.
The Fairey Delta 2 was the first jet aircraft to exceed 1,000 miles per hour (1,600 km/h) in level flight. On 10 March 1956, it set a new world speed record of 1,132 mph (1,822 km/h), exceeding the previous official record by 310 mph (500 km/h) and the Delta 2 held the absolute World Air Speed Record for over a year. It continued to be used for flight testing, and was allocated to the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) in 1958.
(one of the Delta test aircraft were rebuilt as BAC 221 for the Concorde development)
Source: wikipedia
Delta 2
Fairey Delta FD
Delta FD 2 registered WG777 was the second Delta built (construction no. F.9422). First flight was 15 Feb 1956 at A&AEE Boscombe Down. Later flight were done at Bedford and it was demonstrated at Farnborough air show in 1956. It made hundreds of test flights and in June 1966 reached MACH 1.65 until decommisisoned Nov 1966. It was put on display in 1976 at the RAF Cosford museum (U.K).
Photographed November 2023 by Meindert de Vreeze (C), Copyright IPMS Nederland
The only 1/72 plastic scale model kit of the Fairey Delta FD 2 is from FROG (same kit from Air Lines and Maquette).
This walk around page was first published on June 2024 by M. de Vreeze; note the Copyright!