Thumpalumpacus
Major
I bet you could save another four or five hundred pounds by ditching the landing gear.
Groundhog Thread Part Deux - P-39 Fantasy and Fetish - The Never Ending Story (Mods take no responsibility for head against wall injuries sustained)
- Thread starter greybeard
- Start date
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wuzak
Captain
10 more pages to the magic 200 guys!
Thumpalumpacus
Major
Every post in this thread reduces the P-39's gross weight by eight ounces.
I think the discovery of armour plate made from lead will keep things going for a while.
wuzak
Captain
Is that what they made the nose armour from?
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
No, Kryptonite
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
In all seriousness, as I mentioned before, the nose armor was the heaviest single component of the armor compliment.
Bell was very serious about protecting that gearbox.
Bell was very serious about protecting that gearbox.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
I know but it's still funny, seriously.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
Reading your post a light bulb came on in my head - Working around P-3s and C-130s, the propeller gear box (Reduction gear box) was not an integral part of the engine assembly (obviously in a turboshaft engine assembly) and had a driveshaft assembly about 3 or 4 feet long. We had pretty tight maintenance requirements on the "RGBs", always watching for oil consumption and leaks. We also ran 5606 hydraulic fluid in them. Some of our aircrews who saw combat talked about small arms fire and I know there was always a worry about a golden BB knocking out the RGB, at least from the Flight Engineers who were Aviation Machinist Mates (ADs)
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
I used to be active in drag racing and one of the most catastrophic (and feared) failures was a driveshaft.
Especially when a "pumpkin" (differential) failed, the driveshaft, now no longer under load would break away.
There is a safety loop meant to constrain the shaft in event of a failure, but more times than not, the dynamics of the shaft would tear that loose and destroy the car.
It's a terrifying sight and sound and I can safely say that a gearbox/shaft failure in an aircraft would have immediate and unforgiving circumstances.
ThomasP
Senior Master Sergeant
A bit of interesting info.
The Soviets refused at least 2 shipments of P-39s due to excessive vibration in the extension shaft. The article did not say how many airframes were involved.
The Soviets refused at least 2 shipments of P-39s due to excessive vibration in the extension shaft. The article did not say how many airframes were involved.
Ascent
Senior Airman
I've seen a propshaft give way on an engine test Dyno once, made a very big bang and one hell of a mess of the test cell, even with a protective metal shield around it. I really wouldn't want to be in an aircraft when that happened, especially if I was sitting astride it.
Peter Gunn
Master Sergeant
I remember reading about Maj. Shomo's 6 kill mission as a kid, I think in William Hess' "Fighting Mustang: The Chronicles of the P-51" but who was on the bomber that warranted such a large escort?
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
And why one Tojo in a flight of Tonys?
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
To add to the mystery, they were escorting a Navy type.
Had to have been some brass aboard.
GregP
Major
This subject might be worth a new thread. The IJN and IJA hated each other.
So, if we had IJA airplanes escorting and IJN airplane, that would be something almost unheard of, at least to my reading over 50+ years.
So, if we had IJA airplanes escorting and IJN airplane, that would be something almost unheard of, at least to my reading over 50+ years.
Peter Gunn
Master Sergeant
But still no data on who/why that group was flying over the Philippines?
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
There was periods of co-operation between the IJN and IJA, like in the Solomons.
But the Army only came to the aid of the Navy after months of deliberation and even then, it was in their terms.
The IJN exclusively escorted their officers and such, when they were in transit between areas/bases - why such a heavy IJA escort for a lone G4M must have been quite an unusual situation.
If we recall, Yamamoto and his enterauge were in two G4Ms escorted by only six A6Ms and Yamamoto was fairly important...
But the Army only came to the aid of the Navy after months of deliberation and even then, it was in their terms.
The IJN exclusively escorted their officers and such, when they were in transit between areas/bases - why such a heavy IJA escort for a lone G4M must have been quite an unusual situation.
If we recall, Yamamoto and his enterauge were in two G4Ms escorted by only six A6Ms and Yamamoto was fairly important...
fubar57
General
Maybe they were moving Amelia Earhart to a new location
