Cheers Silver Fox. This next one is tilt-y too ... but nacelle only
While previous Avro Canada VTOL concepts had been aimed at pure fighter or fighter-bomber designs, the C.116 was to be a lighter, dedicated attack aircraft. Avro Canada management were convinced that the Fiat G.91 was passed its prime and that NATO must soon issue a Basic Military Requirement to replace the 'Gina' and similar types.
The PS-26 design began as a tilt-nacelle concept. Main power would be from two rear-mounted Orenda
Oread high-bypass turbofans. Two smaller engines (2,400 lb thrust Rolls-Royce RB.108) would be mounted on short, anhedralled canard wing surfaces. Airflow and jet efflux were seen as potentially problematic. Moreover, Rolls-Royce advised Avro Canada that its single-spool turbojet was not intended for continuous use.
The revised PS-26 design became the C.116 proposal. Here, RB.108s were installed as pure lift-jets (ą la the C.114) while the
Oread high-bypass turbofans provided motive power as well as rotating for STOL or VTOL landings. To minimize development cost (and risk), some components were taken from other designs -- notably CF-100 outer wing panels (joined on the centre line) and horizontal tailplane. The vertical tail was inspired by Avro Canada's earlier C.103 fighter design.
Another C.116 inspiration came from the
Arrow PS-2 concept. This resulted in fixed wing pods containing fuel, the main undercarriage, and interchangable front sections. The latter could carry 2.75" rockets or more fuel. Additional rocket pods or fuel tanks could be mounted on the wing tips.
As it turned out, no NBMR was issued for Fiat G.91 replacements. The RCAF reviewed the C.116 but found the design to be underarmed for its size while lacking true fighter performance. Thus the C.116 design group found themselves without a market. The RCAF was primarily interested in a new fighter with strike capabilities to replace its
Sabre 6s. To meet that requirement, Avro Canada focused on their higher-performing C.117 fighter-bomber concept.