Helwan HA-300

Type (Muster)
Single-seat interceptor (leichter Abfangjäger)

Country (Land)
Egypt (Ägypten)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Helwan works of the Egyptian General Aero Organization (EGAO)

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1

Weapons (Bewaffnung): It was planned to fit two 20 or 30 mm guns and two Atoll air-to-air missiles

Power plant (Antrieb): 1 x Bristol Orpheus 703 (Brandner E-300 was fitted to the third prototpye)
Thrust (Schub): 1 x 21,6 kN (4850 lbs). For the E-300, the calculated thrust with afterburner was 10540 lbs

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 13,0 m
Heigth (Höhe): 3,65 m
Span (Spannweite): 5,84 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 16,7 sq m

Weights (Massen)
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 4490 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (max. Fluggeschwindigkeit): Mach 1.13 (was expected to be Mach 2 with Brandner E-300 engine)
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 18000 m
Range (Reichweite): around 1400 km (estimated)

Costs (Kosten)
It is said that the programme cost the Egyptian government some 135 million Pounds.

Customers (Kunden)
Egyptian Air Force, but only two protoypes were flown at Helwan before the programme was terminated in 1969.

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
After the Second World War, Professor Willy Messerschmitt for some years worked in Spain where he designed the HA-200 jet trainer, which first flew in 1955. Even two years before, design studies were started on a small Mach 2 interceptor, designated P 300. This led to the construction of a glider as proof of concept vehicle (HA-300P). As Spanish interest in the project vaned and funds dried up, the whole programme was transferred to Egypt.
There the first prototype HA-300 made its maiden flight on 7 March 1964, with Indian test pilot Kapil Barghava at the controls. The second prototype followed on 22 July 1965. With the Orpheus engine, the aircraft was severely underpowered, but development of the planned Brandner E-300 did only progress slowly. Finally, the programme was cancelled in 1969, even though a third protoype with the E-300 had started taxi test already.

Last updated 14. July 1998

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