Folland Fo.108
Folland Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1940 · light aircraft
The Folland Fo.108, also known as the Folland 43/37 and the Folland Frightful, was a large monoplane engine testbed of the 1940s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.21 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large low-wing cantilever monoplane
- Fixed tailwheel undercarriage
- Glazed pilot cockpit with a cabin for two observers behind and below
It has a low wing, a conventional cantilever tailplane and a cabin for two observers to measure engine performance in flight.
Specifications
- The Folland Fo.108 has a length of 13.21 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.68 m (58 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 470 km/h (292 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was Folland's response to Air Ministry Specification 43/37, and twelve were ordered after it was chosen over designs from Percival and General Aircraft in 1938. It first flew in 1940.
Variants
Aircraft were normally fitted with a Bristol Hercules radial, and in service also flew with the Napier Sabre, Bristol Centaurus and Rolls-Royce Griffon.
Where you'll see it
It was operated by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Napier and Rolls-Royce, and five of the twelve were lost in crashes. The last were withdrawn in 1946.
Related aircraft
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