Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Great job, G T; right on the money! The Miles M.20 it is. You are up, Sir. Thanks; Ernie P.


What warbird do I describe?


Clues:

(1) It was designed as a β€œcontingency” backup to other aircraft already in production.

(2) Government leaders were concerned factories might be bombed, affecting the production of the other aircraft.

(3) It was designed to use non-strategic materials (wood), both as a means of cutting production times and to avoid using materials needed for other war efforts.

(4) It was specifically intended to be a very simple design, quick and easy to construct.

(5) It used parts drawn from other, older, but related aircraft.

(6) It also deliberately used an old, out dated feature, to make the design simple, light and rugged.

(7) From the time the order was given to design the aircraft, only a bit over two months passed before the prototype flew.

(8) This was a fighter, intended as a backup to two fighters already in production, whose production was in danger.

(9) This aircraft, perhaps surprisingly, proved to be faster than one of the two standard fighters; and slower than the other. But it carried more ammunition, and had a greater range, than either.

(10) In the end, it was decided this aircraft wasn’t needed, since the shortage of fighter aircraft never developed..

(11) But, a second prototype was built; this one a sea going version.

(12) And again, it was decided the second aircraft wasn’t needed.

(13) Neither aircraft used hydraulic controls.

(14) And neither had retractable landing gear.

(15) But the sea going version had disposable landing gear.


Answer: The Miles M.20

The Miles M.20 was a Second World War fighter developed by Miles Aircraft in 1940. Designed as a simple and quick-to-build 'emergency fighter' alternative to the Royal Air Force's Spitfires and Hurricanes should their production get disrupted by bombing. In the event, due to dispersal of manufacturing, the Luftwaffe's bombing of the Spitfire and Hurricane factories did not seriously affect production, and so the M.20 proved unnecessary and was cancelled.

During the Battle of Britain, the Royal Air Force was faced with a potential shortage of fighters. To meet the Luftwaffe threat, the Air Ministry commissioned Miles to design the M.20, to specification F.19/40; nine weeks and two days later the first prototype flew.

To reduce production times the M.20 was of an all-wood construction, used many parts from the earlier Miles Master trainer, lacked hydraulics, and had spatted fixed landing gear. The engine was a complete Rolls-Royce Merlin XX "power egg", and was identical to those used on the Avro Lancaster and some Bristol Beaufighter marks. The design also featured a bubble canopy for improved pilot visibility, one of the first fighters to do so.

The first prototype, with the B-class serial U-9 first flew on 15 September 1940,[3] and was tested at the A & AEE under the military serial number AX834 against Specification F.19/40. Armed with the same eight .303 Browning machine guns as the Hawker Hurricane, the M.20 prototype was faster than the Hurricane and slower than the Spitfire types then in production, but carried more ammunition and had greater range than either. As the Luftwaffe was defeated over Britain, the need for the M.20 vanished and the design was abandoned without entering production. The first prototype was later scrapped at Woodley.

A second prototype, U-0228 and later serialed as DR616, was built to Specification N.1/41 for a Fleet Air Arm shipboard fighter, equipped with an arrestor hook and catapult launch points. It first flew on 8 April 1941. This variant was also fitted with jettisonable undercarriage so it could be used from catapults on Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen, however these ships had no flight decks so the aircraft had to be ditched into the sea after just one mission. Old Hawker Hurricanes took on this role, relegating the M.20 as superfluous and consequently leading to the scrapping of the shipboard variant.

Mein Duff

Man what an ugly aircraft is was !!!

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

I'm not sure I agree, Mein Duff. It was faster than the Hurricane, and that with fixed landing gear. Something had to be fairly sleek about it. Although I will agree the wheel spats looked really weird. Ugly? No... I mean, it wasn't even French. Thanks; Ernie P.

G T

hi Ernie. P.

i will pass this back to you old mate,, as you are the master here and poss have alot more time on your hands to follow the replys
this is a great tread to follow on and there are some very interesting aircraft come up ,, thank you

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Thank you, Sir. I'll open the floor to any new participant who has a question. If no new contributor offers a question this morning, the floor will be open to all comers this afternoon. If no one asks a question by this evening, I will post my next question. Thanks; Ernie P.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Okay; here we go. Thanks; Ernie P.


What warbird do I describe?


Clues:

(1) This aircraft first flew in the late 1940s.

(2) It was carried aloft by a bomber.

The Raven

Pretty much most of the X-Planes carried by 008.... but let's narrow it down to the X-1

mobyal

XF-85 Goblin?

mobyal

Don't think so. The question specifies a warbird. All the X-planes were research aircraft. Looks to me like he's after that class of aircraft known generically as "parasite fighters", designed to be carried by airships/aircraft as a defense against enemy fighters out of range of the then-available escorts. I know they were tried w/ the US airships back in the 30s, but he specified first flight in the late 1940s. I think McDonnell had the XF-85 "Goblin", designed to be carried by the B36. They only mede a couple of them, but I think one did fly sometime in the late 40s. For some reason 1948 comes to mind.
Now, after all that, I bet Ernie has something else in mind....
Al

uncljoe

My Feedback: (8)

Thunder jet F 84 B/D (varriants) carried aloft buy the B 29 later a B
semper fi

a65l

My Feedback: (17)

The obvious, Yokosuka MXY7

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Man; you guys are really thinking well on this one! As mobyal pointed out, and as most of you had figured out, this was intended to be a warbird. Some very astute answers, guys; but as was pointed out, I have something a bit less obvious in mind. Nothing close thus far. Thanks; Ernie P.


What warbird do I describe?


Clues:

(1) This aircraft first flew in the late 1940s.

(2) It was carried aloft by a bomber.

(3) It was rocket powered.

uncljoe

My Feedback: (8)

Yokosuka MXY "Ohka" carried by Betty bomber

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

No correct answers thus far. This is a *big* clue; though I doubt it will help much until a few more clues are added. Thanks; Ernie P.


What warbird do I describe?


Clues:

(1) This aircraft first flew in the late 1940s.

(2) It was carried aloft by a bomber.

(3) It was rocket powered.

(4) It featured sharply swept wings and a bullet shaped fuselage.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

An evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


What warbird do I describe?


Clues:

(1) This aircraft first flew in the late 1940s.

(2) It was carried aloft by a bomber.

(3) It was rocket powered.

(4) It featured sharply swept wings and a bullet shaped fuselage.

(5) It went transonic.

zippome

This is a tough oneErnie! The only thing that I can come close to fitting the existing clues is the Martin Gorgon cruise missle family. But it doesnt quite fit either....

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Maybe the next clue will help. The aircraft existed, it had a pilot, and it was flown. Admittedly, it isn't all that well known. And in one sense, I believe it may be completely unique. Thanks; Ernie P.


What warbird do I describe?


Clues:

(1) This aircraft first flew in the late 1940s.

(2) It was carried aloft by a bomber.

(3) It was rocket powered.

(4) It featured sharply swept wings and a bullet shaped fuselage.

(5) It went transonic.

(6) The mother aircraft was a B-29.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


What warbird do I describe?


Clues:

(1) This aircraft first flew in the late 1940s.

(2) It was carried aloft by a bomber.

(3) It was rocket powered.

(4) It featured sharply swept wings and a bullet shaped fuselage.

(5) It went transonic.

(6) The mother aircraft was a B-29.

(7) The aircraft was designed and construction begun in one country. It was completed and flown in a second country.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

A big morning clue. With an earlier clue, this should give the answer. Thanks; Ernie P.


What warbird do I describe?


Clues:

(1) This aircraft first flew in the late 1940s.

(2) It was carried aloft by a bomber.

(3) It was rocket powered.

(4) It featured sharply swept wings and a bullet shaped fuselage.

(5) It went transonic.

(6) The mother aircraft was a B-29.

(7) The aircraft was designed and construction begun in one country. It was completed and flown in a second country.

(8) It was equipped with a landing skid.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

An early afternoon clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


What warbird do I describe?


Clues:

(1) This aircraft first flew in the late 1940s.

(2) It was carried aloft by a bomber.

(3) It was rocket powered.

(4) It featured sharply swept wings and a bullet shaped fuselage.

(5) It went transonic.

(6) The mother aircraft was a B-29.

(7) The aircraft was designed and construction begun in one country. It was completed and flown in a second country.

(8) It was equipped with a landing skid.

(9) The cabin was pressurized.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Everyone out for the weekend? Maybe this will spark a response. Thanks; Ernie P.


What warbird do I describe?


Clues:

(1) This aircraft first flew in the late 1940s.

(2) It was carried aloft by a bomber.

(3) It was rocket powered.

(4) It featured sharply swept wings and a bullet shaped fuselage.

(5) It went transonic.

(6) The mother aircraft was a B-29.

(7) The aircraft was designed and construction begun in one country. It was completed and flown in a second country.

(8) It was equipped with a landing skid.

(9) The cabin was pressurized.

(10) Midwing design, construction was all metal.

Luft-Gangster

Bell X-1

Redback

Me 163???

Forget this, the 163 flew before the late 40's!

Terry

Luft-Gangster

(2) It was carried aloft by a bomber.
(6) The mother aircraft was a B-29.

Me163 launched on its own with a dropped skid on wheels.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

No correct answers hus far. Perhaps this early morning clue will help. Thanks; Ernie P.


What warbird do I describe?


Clues:

(1) This aircraft first flew in the late 1940s.

(2) It was carried aloft by a bomber.

(3) It was rocket powered.

(4) It featured sharply swept wings and a bullet shaped fuselage.

(5) It went transonic.

(6) The mother aircraft was a B-29.

(7) The aircraft was designed and construction begun in one country. It was completed and flown in a second country.

(8) It was equipped with a landing skid.

(9) The cabin was pressurized.

(10) Midwing design, construction was all metal.

(11) It was essentially bullet shaped; with a cylinder shaped body which narrowed to a square in the rear.