Shortround6
Major General
We seem to be arguing over passenger transport and cargo transport in order for the Ar 232 to help maintain it's place.
Vickers Vernon was arguably the first military passenger transport.
It is credited with the first strategic troop movement in Feb 1923 when 2 squadrons air lifted almost 500 troops.
The Victoria pictured in previous post is described as having "folding Canvas seats along the walls", now why would a passenger plane have seats that fold up to make more room unless it was also planned to carry cargo?
Yep, I can see how this plane is so high that it is difficult to load from truck bed height. Please also see height of the DC-5 and DH Flamingo on the ground or most any high wing transport plane. With a high wing the props can be clear of the ground and yet the floor can be at a reasonable height. Trick, kneeling landing gear is not really needed.
While these old biplanes had large wings they also had small engines which limited payload. Everything had to start somewhere and the idea for front or rear loading is the same.
The British had a long history of combination bomber/transports, that is transports that bomb racks under the fuselage so roles could be changed in very short order. Not different versions of the same plane. perhaps this is why they don't get credit for "military transports"? the planes are considered bombers?
Bristol Bombay at Crete. Crappy door for cargo but hight isn't too bad. Plane would hold 24 troops, how many does the AR 232 hold again?
Interior, note folding/removable seating.
From 1938 Jane's All the World's aircraft; "......there is accommodation for twenty-four fully armed troops. For transport duties a special arrangement of the fuselage framing round the entrance doors allows for a larger entrance to the machine for the loading of bulky or heavy goods; for which special ladong arrangements are provided."
Flight magazine has an article: 1939 | 1- - 0364 | Flight Archive
Which shows the special arrangement (part of the fuselage holding the normal door is removable) and a picture shows loading a spare aircraft engine into the fuselage using an overhead crane/track system.
BTW, planes using skis was nothing new. It had been being done for over ten years.
Vickers Vernon was arguably the first military passenger transport.
It is credited with the first strategic troop movement in Feb 1923 when 2 squadrons air lifted almost 500 troops.
The Victoria pictured in previous post is described as having "folding Canvas seats along the walls", now why would a passenger plane have seats that fold up to make more room unless it was also planned to carry cargo?
Yep, I can see how this plane is so high that it is difficult to load from truck bed height. Please also see height of the DC-5 and DH Flamingo on the ground or most any high wing transport plane. With a high wing the props can be clear of the ground and yet the floor can be at a reasonable height. Trick, kneeling landing gear is not really needed.
While these old biplanes had large wings they also had small engines which limited payload. Everything had to start somewhere and the idea for front or rear loading is the same.
The British had a long history of combination bomber/transports, that is transports that bomb racks under the fuselage so roles could be changed in very short order. Not different versions of the same plane. perhaps this is why they don't get credit for "military transports"? the planes are considered bombers?
Bristol Bombay at Crete. Crappy door for cargo but hight isn't too bad. Plane would hold 24 troops, how many does the AR 232 hold again?
Interior, note folding/removable seating.
From 1938 Jane's All the World's aircraft; "......there is accommodation for twenty-four fully armed troops. For transport duties a special arrangement of the fuselage framing round the entrance doors allows for a larger entrance to the machine for the loading of bulky or heavy goods; for which special ladong arrangements are provided."
Flight magazine has an article: 1939 | 1- - 0364 | Flight Archive
Which shows the special arrangement (part of the fuselage holding the normal door is removable) and a picture shows loading a spare aircraft engine into the fuselage using an overhead crane/track system.
BTW, planes using skis was nothing new. It had been being done for over ten years.