Valaint B2 & Avro 730

We now have images for all to see what one aircraft looked like, and both the earlier and final versions of the intended 730.
The Avro 730 was originally designed against R.156, as a purely reconaisance aircraft carrying the then very large array for Red Drover radar.
Later development of the radar allowed for a reduction in it’s overall size, and the aircraft design was re-worked to include a bomb-bay for the intended “Blue Rosette” bomb, which weighed approx 7,000 lbs.
The earlier version of the aircraft was intended to be powered by four Armstrong Siddeley P.159’s (20,750 lbs thrust), the later and final intended designe was to use eight P.176’s (4,400 lbs thrust).
Range with full internal fueld was to be 4,280 n.miles, maximun ceiling 66,000 ft.

ValiantB2/Avro 730

As I have already said, I will post more tech. info about both aircraft, and add to history of 730. In the meantime, here are some might-have-been images of the 730 I found whilst surfing.
One interesting point about the 730 is that RAF studies started two years before the USAF, whose study reached hardware in the shape of the Lockheed SR71!

Valiant B2 (& Avro 730)

Will get the specs together for the B2, suffice it to say that whilst the Valiant B1 was indeed the “interim design” for the V-force, the B2 was a privately produced design by Vickers Armstrong that was far-sighted for it’s day. but unfortunately, the requirement for low level capability was not recognised by the RAF/Governments of the day until after they had cancelled and scrapped the only B2 (Serial WJ954) which first flew on 04/0953, this was also dubbed the Pathfinder as that was the originally and by then outmoded role that the RAF would have had for it.
She was designed to fly as full throttle at low level. Whereas the regular Valiant was redlined at 414 mph at sea level, the B2 (Type 673) was made strong enough to fly at full power at sea level, reaching 552 mph.
The most obvious change was the main undercarriage, which no longer required cuts into the wings, and were a four-wheel bogie arrangment which folded rearwards into streamlined boxes (these became a familiar sight on many later Tupolev bomber designs).
Original powerplants were to have been Rolls-Royce RB.80 bypass jets (later to become the Conway), but the one and only prototype was powered by Avon RA.14’s of the uprated 200-series.
Originally there was a tentatuive production order for I think 17 aircraft, but this was later cancelled, and the one and only bomber which the RAF should have bought was scrapped in 1958.

The Avro 730 was the “successful” candidate for a high-speed (appx. M3) high level reconaisance bomber to an RAF requirement issued in the early 1950’s!
The prototype was actually partially assembled when the infamous 1957 Defence White Paper saw it end its days cut up into giant circular waste bins!

I’ll retrieve some more detailed info from my books later and return with details on both aircraft.
(when I manage to crack uploading images, we’ll maybe get some illustrations as well).