Keywords: Supermarine 508 VX129 in flight c1951.jpg The British Supermarine 508 prototype serial VX129 in flight This first Type 508 was a straight-winged jet aircraft fitted with a V-tail butterfly tail intended for use with rubber deck landing techniques the choice of wide flattish fuselage and V-tail being designed to provide adequate stability and clearance when landing without a normal undercarriage It first flew on 31 August 1951 U S Navy Naval Aviation News February 1952 http //www history navy mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1952/Feb52 pdf p 22 ca 1951 USN PD-USGov-Military-Navy Supermarine 508 |