Simviation Forum - Uh-oh, here comes trouble...

Mar 7^th, 2005 at 7:56pm

beaky Offline
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I found an old magazine of mine recently with several pages of very unusual old aircraft, and will post them as a "guess the aircraft" series... don't have all the info. on each odd bird handy yet (like: whether or not each actually flew!!), but I may elaborate later.

Here's the first:

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Reply #1 - Mar 7^th, 2005 at 8:39pm

Saratoga Offline
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If I didn't know better I would say it was a model aircraft. Seems the only thing that could fit in the back would be a direct drive electric motor.

Dunno what it is, but it's sure as heck old.

Pilot for a major US airline certified in the: EMB-120, CRJ, 727, 737, 757, 767, and A-320 and military, T-38, C-130, C-141, and C-5 along with misc. other small airplanes. Any questions, I'm here for you.

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Reply #2 - Mar 7^th, 2005 at 9:31pm

beaky Offline
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Quote:

If I didn't know better I would say it was a model aircraft. Seems the only thing that could fit in the back would be a direct drive electric motor.

Dunno what it is, but it's sure as heck old.

Nope, it's a full-size aircraft, and if you look at the front, you can see a metal louvered section... the engine was up there, and there was a looong shaft to the prop. It was an early experiment in deviating from the canard arrangement, with the prop in the rear to present smoother air to the nose and wings. But the long fuselage (to counter the weight of engine and pilot) and that tall clunky tailskid (to keep the prop clear of the ground) really must've added a lot of drag.
Anyway, it is very old, and it actually had a name... any guesses?

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Reply #3 - Mar 7^th, 2005 at 9:57pm

Saratoga Offline
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Not a clue, but once it's solved can you link me the page where you got that picture (if you got it off the Internet)? I would be interested in making a radio controlled model of it.

Pilot for a major US airline certified in the: EMB-120, CRJ, 727, 737, 757, 767, and A-320 and military, T-38, C-130, C-141, and C-5 along with misc. other small airplanes. Any questions, I'm here for you.

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Reply #4 - Mar 9^th, 2005 at 6:24am

beaky Offline
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Sure, but I think I scared everybody away with this one (which is too bad, because it's not the weirdest one I've got!).
Here's a hint: it's French.
And there may be pix of it on the Web, but I got this one from an old magazine...

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Reply #5 - Mar 9^th, 2005 at 11:41am

Rifleman Offline
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Looking into my old model A/C plans .....that rudder looks suspiciously like one I have seen before..........

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Reply #6 - Mar 9^th, 2005 at 11:35pm

beaky Offline
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Quote:

Looking into my old model A/C plans .....that rudder looks suspiciously like one I have seen before..........

OK, but don't forget: this was a full-size gasoline-powered aircraft.

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Reply #7 - Mar 10^th, 2005 at 1:56am

Rifleman Offline
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" Full size A/C are just
overgrown models ! "
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Without knowing every type of experimental A/C which popped out of the woodwork back in the early days, I would have to say that this one is some form of a racing Caudron.....if not, it appears to have been heavily influenced by the Caudron brothers........

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Reply #8 - Mar 12^th, 2005 at 12:58pm

beaky Offline
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Well, this one was so damn obscure, it was hardly any fun . It's been more that a week, so here's the answer:
The Paulham-Tatin Torpedo, built in France in 1910. No idea if it ever flew, or how. Approaching this one as a test pilot, I'd be most wary of the wings...
I'll try another one soon; might be easier...

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Reply #9 - Mar 12^th, 2005 at 1:41pm

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Good find & true stumper!

Felix/FFDS

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Reply #10 - Mar 12^th, 2005 at 9:30pm

Saratoga Offline
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Very nice find indeed, I like that it was challenging.

Pilot for a major US airline certified in the: EMB-120, CRJ, 727, 737, 757, 767, and A-320 and military, T-38, C-130, C-141, and C-5 along with misc. other small airplanes. Any questions, I'm here for you.

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