Administrators Eric Posted August 1, 2019 Author Administrators Share Posted August 1, 2019 Here is a very interesting airliner prototype, built by the British. The aircraft is the Bristol Brabazon. It was a huge beast. Look at the pics with people around it, for perspective. The Brabazon was an engineering wonder, but it was built too late. The jet-age was on the way. This enormous aircraft was powered by eight 2,600hp radial engines, buried in the wings. There were four four prop heads, each with a pair of contra-rotating propellers. Each of the eight engines drove one prop. The transmissions and prop heads were necessarily very complicated systems. I wonder how they would have held up, if the aircraft had made it into production? The advent of jet airliners, along with the Brabazon's size and complicated design doomed it. The project was cancelled in 1953. The two aircraft built were dismantled. No example of this aircraft exists anymore. Shame. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted August 1, 2019 Author Administrators Share Posted August 1, 2019 40 minutes ago, tous said: Yes, the propellers of the Kuznetsov turboprop engines and contra-rotating, that is, they rotate in opposite directions on the same axis. Counter-rotating refers to having propellers rotate in opposite directions on two or more engines to counter torque. Thanks for the correction, amigo. NB as ugly as it is, the Tu-114 was and still might be the fastest propeller-driver aircraft. Though I cannot imagine how noisy the cabin was. There have been many arguments over whether the Bear bomber or the Republic XF-84H turboprop prototype is the loudest prop-driven aircraft ever built. The propeller tips of the XF-84H were supersonic at idle. The aircraft could be heard 25 miles away, on run-up. The aircraft was so loud that injuries and illnesses were reported as a result of exposure to the running aircraft, which was probably less-than-affectionately known as the Thunderscreech. I believe this aircraft still holds the record of fastest prop-driven aircraft ever built. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_XF-84H_Thunderscreech 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dric902 Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 8 minutes ago, Eric said: There have been many arguments over whether the Bear bomber or the Republic XF-84H turboprop prototype is the loudest prop-driven aircraft ever built. The propeller tips of the XF-84H were supersonic at idle. The aircraft could be heard 25 miles away, on run-up. The aircraft was so loud that injuries and illnesses were reported as a result of exposure to the running aircraft, which was probably less-than-affectionately known as the Thunderscreech. I believe this aircraft still holds the record of fastest prop-driven aircraft ever built. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_XF-84H_Thunderscreech Sounds like a weapon in itself. Good for area denial with low level flyovers . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted August 1, 2019 Author Administrators Share Posted August 1, 2019 Here is another interesting F-84 variant: The XF-91 Thunderceptor. They loved thematic naming, didn't they? This was pretty much an F-84, with four rocket motors installed as well. The aircraft used the jet engine for propulsion most of the time, but used the rockets to climb and intercept. It had a top speed of 984mph. It was the first US jet aircraft to go faster than mach 1 in level flight. This project was ultimately killed by the march of progress in jet engine design. Only two prototypes were ever built. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dric902 Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 3 minutes ago, Eric said: Here is another interesting F-84 variant: The XF-91 Thunderceptor. They loved thematic naming, didn't they? This was pretty much an F-84, with four rocket motors installed as well. The aircraft used the jet engine for propulsion most of the time, but used the rockets to climb and intercept. It had a top speed of 984mph. It was the first US jet aircraft to go faster than mach 1 in level flight. This project was ultimately killed by the march of progress in jet engine design. Only two prototypes were ever built. It looks like they installed the wings backwards, left on the right side and the right on the left. . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tous Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 (edited) The XF-91 shown above has way to much wing and horizontal stabilizer area to be effective or efficient at MACH or above. The only thunder would be the sound of bits exiting the aircraft. Edited August 1, 2019 by tous 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted August 1, 2019 Author Administrators Share Posted August 1, 2019 Who remembers the Northrop YA-9? It was their entry into the Air Force's A-X ground attack contract, which the A-10 ultimately won. The YA-9 looks like the product of an A-10 sneaking up on a Sukoi SU-25 and diddling it. A Sukoi SU-25: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted August 1, 2019 Author Administrators Share Posted August 1, 2019 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted August 1, 2019 Author Administrators Share Posted August 1, 2019 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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tous Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 19 minutes ago, Eric said: Super Tweets. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted August 1, 2019 Author Administrators Share Posted August 1, 2019 Pete Knight: On October 3, 1967, Knight set a world aircraft speed record for manned aircraft by piloting the X-15A-2 to 4,520 mph (7,274 km/h) (Mach 6.72), a record that still stands today. During 16 flights in the aircraft, Knight also became one of only five pilots to earn their astronaut wings by flying an airplane in space, reaching an altitude of 280,500 feet. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dric902 Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 57 minutes ago, Eric said: Pete Knight: On October 3, 1967, Knight set a world aircraft speed record for manned aircraft by piloting the X-15A-2 to 4,520 mph (7,274 km/h) (Mach 6.72), a record that still stands today. During 16 flights in the aircraft, Knight also became one of only five pilots to earn their astronaut wings by flying an airplane in space, reaching an altitude of 280,500 feet. Now he goes by.....tous . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tadbart Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 You can learn to drive that F-104 out of Canaveral for a cool $17k. Pre-reqs include pilot license, medical, under 6'5" and 245#. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janice6 Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 3 hours ago, Eric said: Ageless and classic beauty! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tous Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 4 hours ago, Eric said: Pete Knight: On October 3, 1967, Knight set a world aircraft speed record for manned aircraft by piloting the X-15A-2 to 4,520 mph (7,274 km/h) (Mach 6.72), a record that still stands today. During 16 flights in the aircraft, Knight also became one of only five pilots to earn their astronaut wings by flying an airplane in space, reaching an altitude of 280,500 feet. I loved the X-15 program as a lad and I still do. It was a remarkable achievement for the early 1960s and remains, to this day, about as neato as aircraft get. Here's to those that made it and especially, those that flew it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwalchmai Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dric902 Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Airbus is testing a plane with flapping wingtips inspired by the albatross The aircraft was inspired by the albatross, a sea bird able to stay in the air for hours in windy weather with little wing exertion. "The concept of hinged wingtips is not new," Airbus engineer Tom Wilson said in a statement. "Military jets employ them to allow greater storage capacity on aircraft carriers. However, AlbatrossOne is the first aircraft to trial in-flight, freely flapping wing tips—which account for up to a third of the length of the wing," he added. For now, the "AlbatrossOne" is still being tested -- after a 20-month development programme, the first flight tests were concluded in February, Airbus said. The airplane manufacturer will continue to conduct more test flights that combine the two flight modes, examining the transition as the wingtips unlock during flight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janice6 Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 3 minutes ago, Dric902 said: Airbus is testing a plane with flapping wingtips inspired by the albatross The aircraft was inspired by the albatross, a sea bird able to stay in the air for hours in windy weather with little wing exertion. "The concept of hinged wingtips is not new," Airbus engineer Tom Wilson said in a statement. "Military jets employ them to allow greater storage capacity on aircraft carriers. However, AlbatrossOne is the first aircraft to trial in-flight, freely flapping wing tips—which account for up to a third of the length of the wing," he added. For now, the "AlbatrossOne" is still being tested -- after a 20-month development programme, the first flight tests were concluded in February, Airbus said. The airplane manufacturer will continue to conduct more test flights that combine the two flight modes, examining the transition as the wingtips unlock during flight. Bird wings are complex structures. They roll during the up and down as they flap, so they get forward thrust. I wonder what more than just up down motions Airbus is using on their "flapping wing tips". At some point, complexity adversely effects reliability. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xromad Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 On 8/1/2019 at 3:17 PM, Eric said: Who remembers the Northrop YA-9? It was their entry into the Air Force's A-X ground attack contract, which the A-10 ultimately won. The YA-9 looks like the product of an A-10 sneaking up on a Sukoi SU-25 and diddling it. A Sukoi SU-25: SU-25 used to be referred to as the A-9ski. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted August 3, 2019 Author Administrators Share Posted August 3, 2019 35 minutes ago, xromad said: SU-25 used to be referred to as the A-9ski. I didn’t know that. Makes sense though. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tadbart Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 On 8/2/2019 at 8:08 PM, janice6 said: At some point, complexity adversely effects reliability. "And the Lord sayeth, 'Adam, meet Eve.'" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted August 9, 2019 Author Administrators Share Posted August 9, 2019 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted August 9, 2019 Author Administrators Share Posted August 9, 2019 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted August 9, 2019 Author Administrators Share Posted August 9, 2019 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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