Program Planning Report: Project 1794 Extension Program

This document is a declassified Program Planning Report for the Project 1794 Extension Program, issued by Avro Aircraft Limited in April 1957. The report details a planned 20-month development program for a high-performance, supersonic VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft concept. The project is designed to supplement the company's private venture, designated P.V. 704, which involves the construction of a single flying prototype. The aircraft is described as having a circular wing planform, 35.3 feet in diameter, utilizing six Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbo-jet engines mounted radially within the wing. These engines act as gas generators to drive a pair of contra-rotating compressors via a radial in-flow turbine. The report outlines the technical requirements for the program, including design studies for potential weapon system applications (special reconnaissance, interceptor, or fighter-bomber), extensive wind tunnel testing to investigate subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flight regimes, and propulsion system development. A significant portion of the report is dedicated to the 'six Viper rig,' a test facility designed to evaluate the propulsion system's performance, including combustion and fuel system development. The document also addresses the critical stability and control challenges inherent in the circular wing design, proposing a pneumatic shutter system to manage jet exhaust direction for pitch stabilization. The program is funded by the United States Air Force, with a total requirement of $1,483,847 in Canadian funds. The report includes detailed work charts, scheduling, and cost estimates for the various phases of the project, which was scheduled to run from February 1, 1957, to October 31, 1958. The document emphasizes the necessity of further testing to confirm performance potential and to resolve issues identified in previous study contracts, particularly regarding the transonic speed range and low-speed transition regimes. The report concludes with administrative details regarding reporting requirements and the management structure of the Special Projects Group at Avro Aircraft Limited.