Improve That Design: How Aircraft Could Have Been Made Better

[XBe02Drvr]

It's bad enough we have to fly monoplanes and have wheels with brakes, now they want us to have those heavy, expensive bloody variable pitch propellers too.

Or even worse (horror of horrors!), those bloody CONSTANT SPEED propellers! Sheer bloody gadgetry!

 

[nuuumannn]

Or even worse (horror of horrors!), those bloody CONSTANT SPEED propellers! Sheer bloody gadgetry!

And cooping a flier up INSIDE the aeroplane??? And what's wrong with precision flying VIC formations into battle? It's good discipline!

 

[Admiral Beez]

I like the look of the Curtiss A-18 Shrike. Surely we can improve this design to make it a competitor in WW2. Swap in a pair of Allison inline engines?

 

[tomo pauk]

Already the 1000+ HP Cyclones or Twin Wasps are an improvement.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Already the 1000+ HP Cyclones or Twin Wasps are an improvement.

I agree. Improve the canopy and you could have a USAAF Mosquito, or at least a Kawasaki Ki-45 or even a Gekko.

.

 

[Shortround6]

I like the look of the Curtiss A-18 Shrike. Surely we can improve this design to make it a competitor in WW2. Swap in a pair of Allison inline engines?

View attachment 610512

Been looked at before.
It has a 530 sq ft wing that is fabric covered from the main spar aft.

Basically an American Blenheim with a skinny fuselage.
Throw it out and start over.

 

[Glider]

It's bad enough we have to fly monoplanes and have wheels with brakes, now they want us to have those heavy, expensive bloody variable pitch propellers too.

.

You can always try gliding, no big noisy thing in front that causes panic if it stops and all goes quiet.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

You can always try gliding, no big noisy thing in front that causes panic if it stops and all goes quiet.

But there's no fan to keep the pilot from sweating under his plexiglas bubble on a sunny day!* You'd have a pilot strike on your hands for sure.

*That WWII Schweizer TG2 I got a couple rides in as a teen was an oven with wings.

 

[SaparotRob]

I went up in a sailplane a couple of times years ago. A Schweitzer, I believe. Most fun I had with my clothes on. I had about 2 minutes of stick time. So Wes, if I happen to be passengering with you and we lose both engines, I can help you out.

 

[SaparotRob]

I said that to a pilot on a flight I took long ago. My first aviation laugh.

 

[Glider]

But there's no fan to keep the pilot from sweating under his plexiglas bubble on a sunny day!* You'd have a pilot strike on your hands for sure.

*That WWII Schweizer TG2 I got a couple rides in as a teen was an oven with wings.

True, but can you think of a better way to get an almost instant tan!!

PS there are air vents to help

 

[swampyankee]

But there's no fan to keep the pilot from sweating under his plexiglas bubble on a sunny day!* You'd have a pilot strike on your hands for sure.

*That WWII Schweizer TG2 I got a couple rides in as a teen was an oven with wings.

Plexiglass bubble?

How gauche. Open cockpit, lads.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

I went up in a sailplane a couple of times years ago. A Schweitzer, I believe. Most fun I had with my clothes on. I had about 2 minutes of stick time. So Wes, if I happen to be passengering with you and we lose both engines, I can help you out.

I used to be a glider flight instructor, so if that ever happens to us, I'm PF, you can be PNF. Make sure your emergency checklist is handy and your memory items are reflexive. Sh!t happens quick.

 

[SaparotRob]

I used to be a glider flight instructor, so if that ever happens to us, I'm PF, you can be PNF. Make sure your emergency checklist is handy and your memory items are reflexive. Sh!t happens quick.

We're dead.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

PS there are air vents to help

When best glide speed is only 38 MPH (a real floater) and both vents are in the front cockpit, it doesn't do much for you back in the hell hole. Back in WII they probably figured the "old pro" instructors in back could keep their cool unaided, while the poor nugget up front needed all the help he could get.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

Plexiglass bubble?

How gauche. Open cockpit, lads.

The TG2 (SGS2-8)'s immediate predecessor, the Schweizer SGS1-7, WAS open cockpit. My favorite was the 2-32, "the B52 of gliders".

 

[SaparotRob]

How long ago was that sailplane introduced? Sure looks and seems like the one on my second flight. I went up with my then girlfriend and let me tell you, it's a great date!

 

[Glider]

When best glide speed is only 38 MPH (a real floater) and both vents are in the front cockpit, it doesn't do much for you back in the hell hole. Back in WII they probably figured the "old pro" instructors in back could keep their cool unaided, while the poor nugget up front needed all the help he could get.

That is slow. I was more used to instructing on the K13 which was no rocket ship.

 

[nuuumannn]

How gauche. Open cockpit, lads.

Amateurs...

MoF 46

Musee de l'Air 161

 

[Glider]

At least they won't complain about getting too hot.