drifter

My Feedback: (53)

Bell P-59 Airacomet
[h=3][/h]

grbaker

My Feedback: (29)

See, I told you it wouldn't take long.

The Bell P-59 Airacomet was the first American jet fighter aircraft, designed and built by Bell Aircraft during World War II. The United States Army Air Force was not impressed by its performance and cancelled the contract when fewer than half of the aircraft ordered had been produced. Although no P-59s went into combat, it paved the way for another design generation of U.S. turbojet-powered aircraft and was the first turbojet fighter to have its turbojet engine and air inlet nacelles integrated within the main fuselage.

Major General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold became aware of the United Kingdom's jet program when he attended a demonstration of the Gloster E.28/39 in April 1941. The subject had been mentioned, but not in depth, as part of the Tizard Mission the previous year. He requested, and was given, the plans for the aircraft's powerplant, the Power Jets W.1, which he took back to the U.S. On 4 September, he offered the U.S. company General Electric a contract to produce an American version of the engine. On the following day, he approached Lawrence Dale Bell, head of Bell Aircraft Corporation, to build a fighter to utilize it. Bell agreed and set to work on producing three prototypes. As a disinformation tactic, the USAAF gave the project the designation "P-59A", to suggest it was a development of a completely unrelated Bell "XP-59" fighter project that had been canceled. The design was finalized on 9 January 1942, and construction began. In March, long before the prototypes were completed, an order for 13 "YP-59A" pre-production machines was added to the contract.

On 12 September 1942, the first XP-59A was sent to Muroc Army Air Field (today, Edwards Air Force Base) in California by train for testing, taking seven days to reach Muroc.[SUP][1][/SUP] While being handled on the ground, the aircraft was fitted with a dummy propeller to disguise its true nature.[SUP][2][/SUP] The aircraft first became airborne during high-speed taxiing tests on 1 October with Bell test pilot Robert Stanley at the controls, although the first official flight was made by Col Laurence Craigie the next day.[SUP][1][/SUP] A handful of the first Airacomets had open-air flight observer stations (similar to those of biplanes) later cut into the nose; over the following months, tests on the three XP-59As revealed a multitude of problems including poor engine response and reliability (common shortcomings of all early turbojets), insufficient lateral stability, i.e., in the roll axis,[SUP][3][/SUP] and performance that was far below expectations. Chuck Yeager flew the aircraft and was dissatisfied with its speed, but was amazed at its smooth flying characteristics. Nevertheless, even before delivery of the YP-59As in June 1943, the USAAF ordered 80 production machines, designated "P-59A Airacomet".

perttime

... been a bit quiet...

Here's an aircraft...

1) It was designed for combat at "high" altitudes.
2) Most of the fighting (when and where it was used) was at low altitudes.

perttime

Here's an aircraft...

1) It was designed for combat at "high" altitudes.
2) Most of the fighting (when and where it was used) was at low altitudes.
3) Standard armament was relatively light. At least some attempts at more firepower resulted in worse aircraft performance.

perttime

Here's an aircraft...

1) It was designed for combat at "high" altitudes.
2) Most of the fighting (when and where it was used) was at low altitudes.
3) Standard armament was relatively light. At least some attempts at more firepower resulted in worse aircraft performance.
4) It was basically a much improved version of an earlier model that was built in lesser numbers.

perttime

Here's an aircraft...

1) It was designed for combat at "high" altitudes.
2) Most of the fighting (when and where it was used) was at low altitudes.
3) Standard armament was relatively light. At least some attempts at more firepower resulted in worse aircraft performance.
4) It was basically a much improved version of an earlier model that was built in lesser numbers.
5) Due to a lack of ground attack aircraft, it was used in that role too, but wasn't much good at it.

perttime

Here's an aircraft...

1) It was designed for combat at "high" altitudes.
2) Most of the fighting (when and where it was used) was at low altitudes.
3) Standard armament was relatively light. At least some attempts at more firepower resulted in worse aircraft performance.
4) It was basically a much improved version of an earlier model that was built in lesser numbers.
5) Due to a lack of ground attack aircraft, it was used in that role too, but wasn't much good at it.

6) To improve performance at low levels, a different engine model was tried - but that idea was dropped because all production of that engine model was allocated to another aircraft type.

perttime

Here's an aircraft...

1) It was designed for combat at "high" altitudes.
2) Most of the fighting (when and where it was used) was at low altitudes.
3) Standard armament was relatively light. At least some attempts at more firepower resulted in worse aircraft performance.
4) It was basically a much improved version of an earlier model that was built in lesser numbers.
5) Due to a lack of ground attack aircraft, it was used in that role too, but wasn't much good at it.
6) To improve performance at low levels, a different engine model was tried - but that idea was dropped because all production of that engine model was allocated to another aircraft type.

7) Many pilots found it "challenging" to fly. That was because it was much "hotter" than what they were used to - and their training wasn't always all that good.

perttime

Here's an aircraft...

1) It was designed for combat at "high" altitudes.
2) Most of the fighting (when and where it was used) was at low altitudes.
3) Standard armament was relatively light. At least some attempts at more firepower resulted in worse aircraft performance.
4) It was basically a much improved version of an earlier model that was built in lesser numbers.
5) Due to a lack of ground attack aircraft, it was used in that role too, but wasn't much good at it.
6) To improve performance at low levels, a different engine model was tried - but that idea was dropped because all production of that engine model was allocated to another aircraft type.
7) Many pilots found it "challenging" to fly. That was because it was much "hotter" than what they were used to - and their training wasn't always all that good.

8) Apparently, the first aircraft that it shot down included high altitude reconnaissance planes and a Bristol Blenheim.

JTF

MiG-3?

perttime

MiG-3 is correct!

Your turn to think of a riddle/quiz/question/something, JTF.

Wikipedia has a little something on it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-3

... and then there's a site that has a whole lot:
http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/mig3/mig3.html

JTF

Unfortunately I am a bit busy now and during the weekend due to Autumn time tasks in garden at home, so the floor is open to any one who wishes to post a question.

BR Jussi

perttime

This thread started with mystery photos ... Questions don't really have to be in the style that we've used recently. Does anyone have anything handy?

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

I'll try to put something together and post a question later on today when I'm back in my office. But is somebody has something before then that they want to post please feel free to go ahead and start up a new quiz.

Ken

perttime

What is this?

JohnnyS

P-75 Eagle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_P-75_Eagle

perttime

That's right-

JohnnyS, your turn.

"""""""
The General Motors/Fisher P-75 Eagle --- Development started in September 1942 in response to United States Army Air Forces requirement for a fighter possessing an extremely high rate of climb, using the most powerful liquid-cooled engine then available, the Allison V-3420. ---

--- The design concept was to use the outer wing panels from the North American P-51 Mustang, the tail assembly from the Douglas A-24 (SBD), and the undercarriage from the Vought F4U Corsair in a general layout much as in the Bell P-39 Airacobra with the engine located amidships with the propeller driven through an extension shaft. At an early design stage, however, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk outer wing panels were substituted for the P-51 panels.
In mid-1943, the need for long-range escort fighters became more urgent than fast climbing interceptors so a decision was made to order six more XP-75 airplanes modified for the long-range role.

--- The test program brought up numerous teething problems, including miscalculation of the fighter’s center of mass, failure of the engine to produce its expected power, inadequate engine cooling, high aileron forces at high speed, and poor spin characteristics. Redesigns were introduced ---

--- As the twin-engine Lockheed P-38 Lightning, along with the single-engine Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang, demonstrated excellent long-range capabilities, the production run of the P-75A Eagle was substantially terminated on 6 October 1944.
"""""""

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

I need to apologize to the group. I said I could put something together, and then the floor fell out on me. I spent most of the last 2 days working with a client who was having a server issue (I work IT for a living). So I apologize for not posting a question when I said I would.

Ken

JohnnyS

RCKen,

I believe that we all understand that "Stuff Happens". I don't think you need to apologize! If you would care to go ahead, I yield the floor to you.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

RCKen;

JohnnyS has offered you the floor. If you accept, please post your question. Otherwise, we will have to move on. Thanks; Ernie P.

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

If somebody has a question ready to go, I'll yield the floor to them.

Ken

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Seeing no other takers... Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Afternoon clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

(4) He began his career as an aircraft mechanic.