Unusual Hurricane

[herman1rg]

I just read this, I was not aware of it before.

Hawker "Dodo" – The flightless Hurricane – RAFCommands

 

[fubar57]

What a great story

 

[vikingBerserker]

That's just awesome!

 

[Capt. Vick]

Cool! Love this weird stuff. During WWI a Long Island, New York manufacturer produced an "airframe" that was never meant to fly, as a taxi aid. I present you with the Breese Penguin:

Breese Penguin at the Cradle of Aviation Museum

 

[SaparotRob]

I just read this, I was not aware of it before.

Hawker "Dodo" – The flightless Hurricane – RAFCommands

Wow. Now that's good old Yankee ingenuity for you!

 

[herman1rg]

Wow thanks for the rating Guys

 

[rochie]

Never knew about that one until a forum member and his dad built a whole host of different Hurricanes in 1/72 scale including the dodo and i googled it.

Cant remember his name but he and his Father built a few different types building every different marque.

 

[Gnomey]

Great stuff!

 

[Crimea_River]

What a great story

And a great subject for your next odd-ball model Geo.

 

[T Bolt]

I seem to remember seeing in a book somewhere the same type of modification being done to a P-40 for the same reason

 

[SaparotRob]

Wow thanks for the rating Guys

Wow. Thanks for that info!

 

[nuuumannn]

Sure is a great story.

During WWI a Long Island, New York manufacturer produced an "airframe" that was never meant to fly, as a taxi aid. I present you with the Breese Penguin:

Very neat. Wanna get over there one of these days. Have a tenuous connection to Long Island I want to explore...

The Penguin idea originated during the Great War; in 1914 the French modified Bleriot XIs and eventually Morane Saulniers for ground training by lopping off their outer wings, carrying out taxi training in them. Some of them had stub wings and even elaborate roll cages to prevent them nosing over.

 

[GrauGeist]

I seem to remember seeing in a book somewhere the same type of modification being done to a P-40 for the same reason

Some of the P-40s in the 1942 movie "Flying Tigers" had a Curtiss OX-5 V-8 that was able to taxi the aircraft, but not enough power to get it aloft.

 

[SaparotRob]

Some of the P-40s in the 1942 movie "Flying Tigers" had a Curtiss OX-5 V-8 that was able to taxi the aircraft, but not enough power to get it aloft.

I looked that up a few years ago. The P-40's just didn't look right. Whatever source I read said car engines. Curtiss somehow seems more plausible.

 

[GregP]

Hi Capt. Vick,

Where do you FIND this stuff?

 

[Capt. Vick]

Well it was at the Cradle of Aviation Museum near me and I used to volunteer there, as well as visited a bunch times...and you certainly notice it's different from anything else you've seem, so...easy peasy

 

[phoenix54]

Wow. Now that's good old Yankee ingenuity for you!

Err, think you'll find it was the Royal Air Force, in full Heath Robinson mode!

 

[SaparotRob]

Err, think you'll find it was the Royal Air Force, in full Heath Robinson mode!

Like I said, good old Yankee ingenuity. Yup, good old Yankee ingenuity.

 

[greybeard]

Interesting and at same time funny piece of history! Love this:

"the Chief Instructor ... on his first test he inadvertently got airborne! ... following which large vertical spoilers were fitted above each wing leading edge to prevent any youngster repeating the event — especially with his instructor sitting on the outside of the cockpit! "

Cheers,
GB

 

[windhund116]

What a great idea. I wonder if the US had an equivalent trainer?