Hispano Aviación's Buchón-derived Racers -- HA.1114-M1C and HA.1118-P1C
Merlin-Powered Racer -- HA.1114-M1C Super Buchón Carreras
Hispano Aviación proposed improving the performance of its HA.1112 Buchón fighter by mounting the higher-power, 1,700 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 engine. The result was to be the HA.1114-M1L Super Buchón. This design mounted a higher-power, 1,700 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 powerplant. Aerodynamic improvements included a new, one-piece sliding canopy, retractable tail wheel, and smoother cowling (due to the Merlin 66's higher thrust-line).
The Ejército del Aire evaluated this concept, rejecting it in favour of more highly-developed derivatives of the in-service HA.1112-M1L Buchón. The engineering conversion prototype for the Merlin 66-powered fighter was later completed as the HA.1114-M1C Super Buchón Carreras racer. The re-engined HA.1114-M1C was not a happy combination, being prone to overheating -- especially on the ground. Since the 'high-performance' Super Buchón Carreras was routinely out-raced by de-militarized HA.1112s, the HA.1114-M1C was dubbed the 'Guajolote' (Turkey).
(Top) A HA.1112-M1L Buchón being converted to HA.1114-M1C Super Buchón Carreras standards.
Griffon-Powered Racers -- HA.1118-P1C Halcón Grifó
HA.1114-M1L Super Buchón
Hispano Aviación's first Griffon-powered proposal was the HA.1118-P1L Halcón (Falcon) air-superiority fighter, a 'least mod' Griffon adaptation of the HA.1117 Gavilán fighter concept. Other than changing the engine mounts and cowling, the only other major change was to be the installation of a redesigned vertical tailplane which was to be taller and deepened in chord. The engine was to be a 2,245 hp Griffon 72. After initial enthusiasm for the HA.1118 concept, the EdA concluded that this 'Super Buchón Grifón' would not represent a sufficient increase in performance to warrant production.
As with the Merlin-engined HA.1114, the planned HA.1112 conversion to Griffon powerplant was completed as a racer -- the HA.1118-P1C Halcón Grifó [1]. Despite that designation, the racer was more closely related to the earlier HA.1114-M1L Super Buchón (in that it retained that aircraft's twin wing radiator baths -- albeit somewhat enlarged).
The Halcón Grifó conversion was rather more intensive than originally planned. Tip tanks were discarded in favour of clipped wing tips. The entire cockpit was move aft (to restore the c/g) and covered with a one-piece, forward-sliding canopy. Moving the cockpit also displaced the main fuel tank which was relocated between the firewall and cockpit. [2]
Unlike the HA.1114-M1C 'Guajolote', the Halcón Grifó was no 'turkey'. The over-powered HA.1118-P1C was a handful for pilots -- especially on take-off and landing -- but it was also extremely fast. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Halcón Grifó suffered three major ground-loop incidents before finally being written off. But that was not before the HA.1118-P1C had built up an enviable reputation for race track victories.
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[1] The use of Grifó in place of Grifón in the racer's name was odd. Grifón is the bird's name (as with the Rolls-Royce engine). Grifó refers to a mythical creature, the 'griffin'.
[2] For transit, the HA.1118-P1C Halcón Grifó usually mounted a removable belly-rack with drop tank.
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