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Who Likes Aircraft ?
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Love the Cobras! Was pulling guard duty at Navy hospital perimeter when two of them landed to get a dinner. Whoops,,, pilots came back out to rotate 180 to face the Gatling towards the perimeter (couple dumb officers!)
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China tries to fight back.
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Germany's fastest prop fighter of WWII, although not very many were built (partly due to the project not given much priority early in the war, and the factories being bombed and destroyed at the end of the war). This is the heavy fighter Dornier DO-335. Running on 87 octane fuel, the engines produced 1,900 hp each, giving great acceleration and climb performance. Top speed was about 474 mph.
This example was one of two captured by the Americans in May 1945.
The only remaining example today at the National Air and Space museum in Washington, D.C. After three years of flight testing (1945-48) it sat around until being sent back to Germany for restoration in the 1970's...by Dornier, the manufacturer. Some of the original tradesmen who first built it helped restore it.
This push/pull arrangement had some positive advantages and merit. It had the power of a twin engined fighter but not the drag of an engine on each wing. The mass of the engines was closer to the center of gravity, allowing quicker response and agility. Also, if an engine stopped running, it didn't suffer from asymmetrical thrust. It would still reach 350 mph. on one engine.
This example was one of two captured by the Americans in May 1945.
The only remaining example today at the National Air and Space museum in Washington, D.C. After three years of flight testing (1945-48) it sat around until being sent back to Germany for restoration in the 1970's...by Dornier, the manufacturer. Some of the original tradesmen who first built it helped restore it.
This push/pull arrangement had some positive advantages and merit. It had the power of a twin engined fighter but not the drag of an engine on each wing. The mass of the engines was closer to the center of gravity, allowing quicker response and agility. Also, if an engine stopped running, it didn't suffer from asymmetrical thrust. It would still reach 350 mph. on one engine.
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While there were many advanced and interesting German WWII planes shown here, they weren't alone. Japan had a few tricks up their sleeve too, particularly near the end of the war.
Kyushu J7W Shinden was the result of one of those efforts.
Realizing the devastation coming their way with the long-range B-29 SuperFortress and the B-32 Dominator, a fast, highly maneuverable interceptor was born specifically to fight this threat. Using an unusual canard wing design, the rear engine swept wing aircraft relied on a supercharged 2,130 hp. Mitsubishi engine spinning a six blade prop to speed it to 469 mph. with a ceiling of just over 39,000 feet. Four 30mm cannon were the intended firepower.
With the first prototype flying by Aug. 3 1945, production schedules were already drawn up but the dropping of the first A bomb just three days later ended that plan.
Part of one of the aircraft is at the National Air And Space Museum.
Kyushu J7W Shinden was the result of one of those efforts.
Realizing the devastation coming their way with the long-range B-29 SuperFortress and the B-32 Dominator, a fast, highly maneuverable interceptor was born specifically to fight this threat. Using an unusual canard wing design, the rear engine swept wing aircraft relied on a supercharged 2,130 hp. Mitsubishi engine spinning a six blade prop to speed it to 469 mph. with a ceiling of just over 39,000 feet. Four 30mm cannon were the intended firepower.
With the first prototype flying by Aug. 3 1945, production schedules were already drawn up but the dropping of the first A bomb just three days later ended that plan.
Part of one of the aircraft is at the National Air And Space Museum.
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More Japanese experiments:
Like Germany, Japan's bomber fleet was comprised of aircraft much smaller than England and America. Relying on twin engine designs, they were sufficient for local surrounding countries during war but lacked the heavy bomb loads and range needed to be used agains the USA.
Planning a larger four engined model, they decided not to start from scratch but instead relied on an American design. Before Douglas built the well known DC-4, the earlier and larger DC-4E prototype with triple tail fins went through testing and was re-designed. The original prototype was sold to Japan for use by Imperial Japanese Airways. This airframe was used as a design standard when the Nakajima G5N Shinzan was developed.
Although the first airframe flew in April 1941, and several more were constructed, after Japan declared war on Pearl Harbour it was decided to spend time and energy on other projects and this bomber didn't progress.
Like Germany, Japan's bomber fleet was comprised of aircraft much smaller than England and America. Relying on twin engine designs, they were sufficient for local surrounding countries during war but lacked the heavy bomb loads and range needed to be used agains the USA.
Planning a larger four engined model, they decided not to start from scratch but instead relied on an American design. Before Douglas built the well known DC-4, the earlier and larger DC-4E prototype with triple tail fins went through testing and was re-designed. The original prototype was sold to Japan for use by Imperial Japanese Airways. This airframe was used as a design standard when the Nakajima G5N Shinzan was developed.
Although the first airframe flew in April 1941, and several more were constructed, after Japan declared war on Pearl Harbour it was decided to spend time and energy on other projects and this bomber didn't progress.
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Nakajima Ki-84-I HEI
Armed with 2 × 20 mm Ho-5 cannons and 2 × 30 mm Ho-155 cannons in wings.
Captured Nakajima Ki-84 models fitted with engines exceeding 1,800 horsepower could surpass the top speeds of the P-47D Thunderbolt and the P-51D Mustang at 6,000 m (20,000 ft).
The production of the Ki-84 commenced in April 1944. Despite notorious lack of materials and American bombardments, 3500 aircraft were constructed by the end of the war.
Armed with 2 × 20 mm Ho-5 cannons and 2 × 30 mm Ho-155 cannons in wings.
Captured Nakajima Ki-84 models fitted with engines exceeding 1,800 horsepower could surpass the top speeds of the P-47D Thunderbolt and the P-51D Mustang at 6,000 m (20,000 ft).
The production of the Ki-84 commenced in April 1944. Despite notorious lack of materials and American bombardments, 3500 aircraft were constructed by the end of the war.
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Basket case
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The Japanese especially, and Germans were suffering from lack of quality pilots in the later part of the war. The Germans had the Me-262 in 1941, but Hitler wanted bombers.
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Messerschmitt Me-109G12 III./JG105 Red 96 2 seat trainer 1944 !!!
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What might have been....
It's pretty well known that the German BF-109 was the mainstay of the Luftwaffe from the start to the end of the second world war. Yes, there were other fighters, both single and twin engined and there were jets. But the 109 had the highest production rate.
Someone apparently like that plane, and because of it another contender didn't quite make it. The Heinkel He 100 showed good performance, and was one of the very fastest planes of it's time. Heinkel built a lot of bombers, but this was their fighter/interceptor model.
Although the test flights were good, its downfall was that it was designed around the same Daimler powerplant that both the BF-109 and the BG-110 were already using, which meant that there would be a shortage of engines if another plane was to be needing them.
The prototype was ready in 1938, and in 1939 a lightweight version got the speed record of 463 mph. Even with armor and weapons, the fighter was capable of 420 mph, quite good for the time. Perhaps it's a good thing for the Allies that someone's decision not to order this into full production kept it out of the skies.
It's pretty well known that the German BF-109 was the mainstay of the Luftwaffe from the start to the end of the second world war. Yes, there were other fighters, both single and twin engined and there were jets. But the 109 had the highest production rate.
Someone apparently like that plane, and because of it another contender didn't quite make it. The Heinkel He 100 showed good performance, and was one of the very fastest planes of it's time. Heinkel built a lot of bombers, but this was their fighter/interceptor model.
Although the test flights were good, its downfall was that it was designed around the same Daimler powerplant that both the BF-109 and the BG-110 were already using, which meant that there would be a shortage of engines if another plane was to be needing them.
The prototype was ready in 1938, and in 1939 a lightweight version got the speed record of 463 mph. Even with armor and weapons, the fighter was capable of 420 mph, quite good for the time. Perhaps it's a good thing for the Allies that someone's decision not to order this into full production kept it out of the skies.
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Another good idea, but a little late... The Me163 Komet has been talked about - the rocket powered fighter that flew incredibly fast in an effort to protect against bombers. The only production rocket powered fighter plane, even now at 75 years later no other country has put a production rocket plane in service.
A variant of it was proposed though, using most of the Komet design but dispensing with the rocket and it's hazardous fuel, and using a jet engine. Designed by Alexander Lippisch, the Komet designer, this Lippisch P.15 still had a 621 mph. speed but had the advantage of safer fuel and most importantly it had three times the endurance - 45 minutes of flying time instead of just 15 for the rocket version.
Looking more like a 1950's fighter than a WWII effort, the only problem with the German "Emergency Fighter Program" plane was that time had run out. With plans drawn up in March of 1945, the war ended before any of these were built.
A variant of it was proposed though, using most of the Komet design but dispensing with the rocket and it's hazardous fuel, and using a jet engine. Designed by Alexander Lippisch, the Komet designer, this Lippisch P.15 still had a 621 mph. speed but had the advantage of safer fuel and most importantly it had three times the endurance - 45 minutes of flying time instead of just 15 for the rocket version.
Looking more like a 1950's fighter than a WWII effort, the only problem with the German "Emergency Fighter Program" plane was that time had run out. With plans drawn up in March of 1945, the war ended before any of these were built.
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Meanwhile, back in Italy...
As the Germans fielded jet experiments and started looking at faster and more powerful planes, the Italians were to be the second country to fly a jet...but did it their way.
The 1940 Coproni Campini N.1 managed to fly slower than most prop planes.
The world's second jet aircraft was actually a motor-jet. Instead of rear jet turbines powering the front compressor they instead used a piston engine to power the compressor fans. Managing a non-blistering 233 mph. the engine did however produce so much heat that pilots usually had to keep the canopies open to stay cool.
Advancing nothing in the way of the jet age, and primarily useful only to show that the idea was a dead end, this experiment - having no useful fighter qualities - was safely stored away as a museum piece.
As it sits today:
As the Germans fielded jet experiments and started looking at faster and more powerful planes, the Italians were to be the second country to fly a jet...but did it their way.
The 1940 Coproni Campini N.1 managed to fly slower than most prop planes.
The world's second jet aircraft was actually a motor-jet. Instead of rear jet turbines powering the front compressor they instead used a piston engine to power the compressor fans. Managing a non-blistering 233 mph. the engine did however produce so much heat that pilots usually had to keep the canopies open to stay cool.
Advancing nothing in the way of the jet age, and primarily useful only to show that the idea was a dead end, this experiment - having no useful fighter qualities - was safely stored away as a museum piece.
As it sits today:
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