Tempest Typhoon- emergency landings

• Apr 1, 2008

• #1

F

Fatale

Airman

14

0

Jul 1, 2007

Why was so dangerous emergency landings with Typhoons and Tempests, mainly to the sea? I read that only ~3 pilots survived sea ditch with Typhoon...

 

• Apr 1, 2008

• #2

claidemore

Senior Airman

682

23

Jan 4, 2008

British Columbia, Canada

I believe it was the huge radiator scoop in the front that caused all the problems.

Pilots manual recomended making every effort to bail out rather than ditch, and if ditching was absolutely nescessary to get speed as low as possible and touch down tail first.

You can download the pilots notes here:
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/other-mechanical-systems-tech/hawker-typhoon-pilot-notes-5567.html

 

• Apr 1, 2008

• Thread starter
• #3

F

Fatale

Airman

14

0

Jul 1, 2007

I heard that was danger of explosion or fire (on the sea??? hmmm). Problem with radiator was first what crossed my mind

 

• Apr 1, 2008

• #4

Thorlifter

Captain

7,979

432

Jun 10, 2004

Knoxville, TN

Kind of like belly landing a P-51 I'd imagine.

 

• Apr 2, 2008

• #5

k9kiwi

Staff Sergeant

839

25

Jul 2, 2006

Kiwi Land

Yes it was the scoop.

Also they had the floating properties of your average brick.