The Airplane Thread

[3.0L]

Forward swept wings.

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstro...-008-DFRC.html

[3.0L]

VTOL.

[Jbrown7403]

I present to you the glorious Caproni Stipa Flying Barrel. A marvel 1930s Italian design.

[Fly320s]

Originally Posted by Jbrown7403

I present to you the glorious Caproni Stipa Flying Barrel. A marvel 1930s Italian design.

The first ducted fan?

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Jbrown7403

I present to you the glorious Caproni Stipa Flying Barrel. A marvel 1930s Italian design.

Already posted...

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...&postcount=298

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

Forward swept wings.

The Russian tried the same concept w/o much success. Only one was made.

Sukhoi Su-47: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-47

[Llarry]

How about the Helio Courier? One of the first short takeoff and landing (STOL) designs. First flew in 1949 and about 500 were built. Still treasured by many who fly in remote areas. Minimum control speed about 28 miles per hour!

Considerably later, a Helio Twin Courier first flew in 1960. Only seven airplanes were built and all went to the CIA, which was also a heavy user of the original single-engine Courier design. I believe the deal on the Twin Courier is we just don't know; we could ask, but then they'd have to kill us.

[Llarry]

Speaking of STOL and the CIA, the last of 604 Pilatus PC-6 Porter aircraft was recently delivered, ending 63 years (!) of production. Sort of a Helio Courier on steroids, with gas turbine power.

Most extant Porters are used for skydiving, but I believe that there are still a few to be found in odd corners of the world doing odd things.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Considerably later, a Helio Twin Courier first flew in 1960. Only seven airplanes were built and all went to the CIA,

Two were built/ purchased by India for the Aviation Research Centre and Indian intelligence Bureau.

The Courier evolved into the AU-24 Stallion. A COIN aircraft equipped with a turboprop engine, machine guns and hard points. Of the 18 aircraft purchased by the USAF, fourteen or fifteen were eventually delivered to the Khmer Air Force (KAF) between January and November 1972 under the Foreign Military Sales program for use in border surveillance and counter-infiltration roles.

[Llarry]

I don't know, LJ, if you have perchance seen some of the more extreme STOL activity on Youtube, but it is truly astounding -- the airplane approaches at what seems to be little more than walking speed, touches down and stops within several feet. The takeoffs are equally amazing -- airborne within just feet of brake release.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Llarry

I don't know, LJ, if you have perchance seen some of the more extreme STOL activity on Youtube, but it is truly astounding -- the airplane approaches at what seems to be little more than walking speed, touches down and stops within several feet. The takeoffs are equally amazing -- airborne within just feet of brake release.

Like Draco, an extremely modified PZL-104 Wilga.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Like Draco, an extremely modified PZL-104 Wilga.

Attachment 3078490

That's what I'm talking about!

[Fly320s]

Originally Posted by Llarry

I don't know, LJ, if you have perchance seen some of the more extreme STOL activity on Youtube, but it is truly astounding -- the airplane approaches at what seems to be little more than walking speed, touches down and stops within several feet. The takeoffs are equally amazing -- airborne within just feet of brake release.

Strong headwinds make that easy to do. I can do the same thing in the A320, given enough of a headwind.

[Fly320s]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Like Draco, an extremely modified PZL-104 Wilga.

Attachment 3078490

That was a cool plane, but Mike crashed it about a year ago. Now he has a highly modified Carbon Cub.

And if you go down that rabbit hole, go find the pool he is building. Mike Patey doesn't do anything simple.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Llarry

How about the Helio Courier? One of the first short takeoff and landing (STOL) designs. First flew in 1949 and about 500 were built. Still treasured by many who fly in remote areas. Minimum control speed about 28 miles per hour!

Considerably later, a Helio Twin Courier first flew in 1960. Only seven airplanes were built and all went to the CIA, which was also a heavy user of the original single-engine Courier design. I believe the deal on the Twin Courier is we just don't know; we could ask, but then they'd have to kill us.

There's been a Helio Courier based at our local airport for many years. The pilot always does an intersection takeoff, obviously needing little of the runway. The engine is geared, so spins much faster than the propeller. So while the engine sounds super-fast, the airplane is super-slow. Takes off in maybe 300 feet ground roll.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Fly320s

Strong headwinds make that easy to do. I can do the same thing in the A320, given enough of a headwind.

Thus the aircraft carrier heads into the wind. In the early days (1920s) you're talking maybe 20 knots of wind plus 20 knots generated by the speed of the ship through the water = 40 knots over the airfoil. And the stalling speeds of those biplanes were barely over that -- some old films show deck crew basically reaching up and grabbing the wingtip of an airplane still in flight.

By the time my Dad was flying F6F Hellcats in WW2, ship speeds were up to 30 knots; now you're talking 50 knots over the airfoil and the F6F can fly as slow as 70 or so. Piece o' cake!

All we need is 150-knot aircraft carriers and we're golden!

[Murf the Surf]

Here or LOL?

[3798j]

our first...USS Langley

[Lady Jane]

Mil V-12. The world largest helicopter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mil_V-12
https://simpleflying.com/mil-v-12-la...icopter-story/

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by 3798j

our first...USS Langley

One of the treasures I have in my video storage disc is the move "The Flying Fleet" from 1926-27, which features film of deck operations on the Langley. What a difference from today!

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Fly320s

That was a cool plane, but Mike crashed it about a year ago. Now he has a highly modified Carbon Cub.

And if you go down that rabbit hole, go find the pool he is building. Mike Patey doesn't do anything simple.

Yes, I did see it while searching for Draco. He has quite the YouTube collection.

Meanwhile, I did find this one interesting:" Turbulence". A 2003 Hall Lester Legacy. (Lancair)

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Yes, I did see it while searching for Draco. He has quite the YouTube collection.

Meanwhile, I did find this one interesting:" Turbulence". A 2003 Hall Lester Legacy. (Lancair)

Attachment 3079353

Needs more engine.