January 30, 2005
Sunday Aircraft Cheesecake (Arado Ar 232)
This week's serving is the interesting, but ultimately unsuccessful, German WWII transport aircraft, the
Arado Ar 232 Tausendfuessler "Tatzelwurm" (i.e.,
"Millipede").
It came in two variants, the Ar 232A, which was powered by 2 BMW 801 engines, and the Ar 232 B, powered by 4 BMW-Bramo 323 R-2 engines. The plane had a normal "tricycle" landing gear for landings on well-paved airfields. However, the landing gear could be "broken," to lower the plane onto the 22 belly wheels, from which the plane derived its nickname. This allowed the cargo ramp to be extended at a smaller angle from the rear of the cargo bay. The belly wheels also allowed for additional support when landing on rough surfaces. Amazingly, even when fully loaded with a 16-metric-ton cargo, the plane could take off in 200 meters (shorter with rocket-assisted takeoff).
Here's the "A" in flight:
A nice shot of the "Millipede" landing gear on an "A":
And a different view of the landing gear on a "B":
Posted by: JohnL at
10:28 PM
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1
Ta, that's one I didn't know about. And I modestly confess that makes it a Rara Avis indeed.
Are you familiar with the XC-8A? I'd give a link, but your comment system doesn't like g-e-o-cities.
http://www.geothingies.com/airbornemuseum/img080.gif
And here's a puzzler. Guess what
this is.
Posted by: Alan E Brain at February 04, 2005 10:30 AM (W/EA3)
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January 23, 2005
Sunday Aircraft Cheesecake (Harrier)
This week's serving is the V/STOL (vertical/short takeoff and landing) attack aircraft, the
Harrier. The aircraft has an interesting developmental history, with inputs from France (original engine design), West Germany, the UK and US (explained in more detail
here):
Posted by: JohnL at
10:33 PM
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For my money the Harrier is the coolest aircraft ever.
Posted by: Stephen Macklin at January 24, 2005 06:47 PM (U3CvV)
2
It looks beautifully lethal, doesn't it? Like a bird of prey.
Posted by: JohnL at January 24, 2005 09:02 PM (gplif)
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January 16, 2005
Sunday Aircraft Cheesecake (Tu-20 "Bear")
Check out the Tupolev
Tu-20 "Bear" strategic bomber (sometimes designated
Tu-95). Note the four massive turboprop engines, each driving two counter-rotating propellers.
.jpg)
Posted by: JohnL at
10:04 PM
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January 09, 2005
Sunday Aircraft Cheesecake (Blohm und Voss BV 141)
This week's cheesecake is a bit of an ugly duckling. Perhaps one of the most asymmetrical military aircraft ever flown, the
Blohm und Voss B.V. 141:
Posted by: JohnL at
09:23 PM
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1
That thing can fly? It looks like it's got a tumor growing on it.
Posted by: owlish at January 09, 2005 10:20 PM (KP3t9)
2
What was the point of it? I mean, I'm sure it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Posted by: RP at January 10, 2005 07:08 AM (LlPKh)
3
It is little known (since the original papers did not survive the war) that there were a large number of Luftwaffe pilot-candidates who were disqualified for having poor vision in their left eye.
Fearing that one of these candidates might feel slighted in his attempt to serve and, at the same time, have "connections in higher political circles", it was decided to create an aircraft that was uniquely suited to the League of One-Eyed Pilots.
No? How about this one...
There was a British Bomber Command raid on the factory which produced the right-hand fuselage/tailboom section. But nobody wanted to tell Hitler that they weren't going to make their quota of aircraft production so they built the 141 as shown in the picture. And, German aircraft engineers being the design gods that they were, the darned thing actually flew.
Stop me when you've heard enough.
Posted by: homebru at January 10, 2005 11:47 AM (zhJhi)
4
The real story is almost as bizarre, but
much more interesting. Politics were
indeed heavily involved. Funny thing is
that despite it's ugliness, this design
has captured the imagination of many over
the years.
Gary
Posted by: Gary Hethcoat at February 06, 2005 08:38 AM (+Qb7m)
5
Um... that's all variously funny and mysterious stuff, but does no one one know the BV 141 was an attempt to build a maximum-visibility observation aircraft around a single engine? Apparently they flew just fine, but not many were finished by war's end.
Posted by: wendy m at May 06, 2005 01:52 AM (T3t76)
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January 02, 2005
Sunday Aircraft Cheesecake (P/F-82 Twin Mustang)
This week's entry is the
F-82 Twin Mustang, essentially two P-51 bodies sharing a single wing:
Images found here and here.
Posted by: JohnL at
11:17 PM
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