Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird system or equipment do I describe?

Clues:

(1) Usually, systems are designed to fit existing aircraft. And, sometimes, warbirds are designed or redesigned to carry a paticularly valuable bit of hardware. This is one such case.

(2) This weapons system, for such it was, was based upon the experiences of an ally, who used similar systems quite successfully.

(3) In fact, this weapons system has offshoots still in use today.

(4) It was intended to be deployed at high altitudes.

(5) It went supersonic.

(6) If ever the axiom “bigger is better” applied, this was it.

(7) Stabilization of the unit was very important; and was carefully calculated.

(8) It was carefully designed to be highly aerodynamic.

(9) Designed to spin rapidly.

(10) It had twice the power of previous designs.

(11) Although it was designed to cause a real shiver in enemy targets, it was likewise designed to leave not a ripple to be seen.

(12) Interestingly, this weapons system was designed to be used by a new aircraft being developed; and then the aircraft itself was redesigned to carry this weapons system.

(13) A key component was the creation of a new type of cavity.

(14) Although only one active aircraft was capable of using this system, an older, specially converted aircraft was used to test the system.

zippome

Just throwing this out there....The Grand Slam Bomb?

zippome

Actually, I think I found the answer right after I posted that last post.
How about.....the T-12 Cloudmaker bomb?

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

And Zippome nails it again! The T-12 it is. Nearly twice the weight of the British Grand Slam Bomb, at 43,600 pounds the T-12 was dropped from very high altitudes and could actually go supersonic before impact. Only the still under development B-36 could handle it. This bomb created large underground cavities, without creating fissures on the surface; and penetrated deeply before exploding. You're up, Zip. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird system or equipment do I describe?

Clues:

(1) Usually, systems are designed to fit existing aircraft. And, sometimes, warbirds are designed or redesigned to carry a paticularly valuable bit of hardware. This is one such case.

(2) This weapons system, for such it was, was based upon the experiences of an ally, who used similar systems quite successfully.

(3) In fact, this weapons system has offshoots still in use today.

(4) It was intended to be deployed at high altitudes.

(5) It went supersonic.

(6) If ever the axiom “bigger is better” applied, this was it.

(7) Stabilization of the unit was very important; and was carefully calculated.

(8) It was carefully designed to be highly aerodynamic.

(9) Designed to spin rapidly.

(10) It had twice the power of previous designs.

(11) Although it was designed to cause a real shiver in enemy targets, it was likewise designed to leave not a ripple to be seen.

(12) Interestingly, this weapons system was designed to be used by a new aircraft being developed; and then the aircraft itself was redesigned to carry this weapons system.

(13) A key component was the creation of a new type of cavity.

(14) Although only one active aircraft was capable of using this system, an older, specially converted aircraft was used to test the system.

(15) Both aircraft are familiar to most students of military aircraft.

Answer: The T-12 demolition bomb; also known as the Cloudmaker.

The T-12 (also known as Cloudmaker) demolition bomb was developed by the United States from 1944 to 1948. It was one of a small class of bombs designed to attack targets invulnerable to conventional "soft" bombs, such as bunkers and viaducts. It achieved this by having an extremely thick hardened nose section, which was designed to penetrate deeply into hardened concrete structures and then detonate inside the target after a short time delay. This created an "earthquake effect".
The T-12 was a further development of the concept initiated with the United Kingdom's Tallboy and Grand Slam weapons developed by the British aeronautical engineer Barnes Wallis during the Second World War: a hardened, highly aerodynamic bomb of the greatest possible weight designed to be dropped from the highest possible altitude. Penetrating deeply in the earth before exploding, the resulting shock wave was transmitted through the earth into structures. The resulting camouflet could also undermine structures. The bomb could also be used against hardened targets. These kinds of bombs can reach supersonic speeds and have tail fins designed to spin the bomb for greater accuracy.
Originally set to meet a 42,000 lb (19,000 kg) target weight (the maximum payload for the Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" bomber), the original design with its hardened case was slightly less than 43,000 pounds. The final T-12 weighed 43,600 lb (nearly 20 metric tons). This was twice the size of the United States' previous largest bomb, the Bomb, GP, 22,000-lb, M110 (T-14), the American-built version of the British Grand Slam. The T-12 was not a simple scale up of the M110, but incorporated modifications based on testing and calculations. The B-36 was redesigned so it could carry the T12, although a converted B-29 Superfortress was used for testing.

Weapons of comparable size to the T-12, such as the BLU-82 and GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bombs (MOAB), were developed as latter-day United States superbombs, but their utility is limited outside the realm of psychological weapons and demolition. Only the GBU-43/B remains in the inventory. It is not hardened and lacks the hard target capability of the T-12 and its cousins. The 14 metric ton mass Massive Ordnance Penetrator, roughly intermediate between the British Grand Slam and American Cloudmaker bombs in mass, has been recently developed just past the dawn of the 21st century in light of unsatisfactory penetration by existing 2000 lb and 5000 lb class weapons.

camouflet (plural camouflets)

1. (military) The resulting cavity in a deep underground burst when there is no rupture of the surface.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Zippome; you are up, Sir. Please post your question. Thanks; Ernie P.

zippome

Ok guys, here we go again!

1. This aircraft is a development of an x-plane, albeit highly modified.
2. More than 10 built.
3. This plane was very successfully was in combat.
4. None were ever shot down or even took a hit of enemy fire.

That's it for now....I hope to see some answers soon!

Thanks,
Zip

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

I don't think you want my answer just yet, Zip. I'm pretty sure I know where this is headed, but let's have some one else lead for a bit. Thanks; Ernie P.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

Ernie tell him it's the
[h=1]Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
Number built 64 (5 YF-117As, 59 F-117As)[/h]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_F-117_Nighthawk


1. This aircraft is a development of an x-plane, albeit highly modified.
2. More than 10 built.
3. This plane was very successfully was in combat.
4. None were ever shot down or even took a hit of enemy fire.

uncljoe

My Feedback: (8)

Hound Dog......I beleive we(USA) lost a Nighthawk the Balkins.....

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

U R so correct I with draw my guess ... I can't do that can I?
[h=1]1999 F-117A shootdown in the Balkans.[/h]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_F-117A_shootdown

zippome

HoundDog was not correct in his guess, but he does lead into my next clue.
Well, I'm not gonna tell you if Ernie was right or wrong so y'all will keep on guessing.
1. This aircraft is a development of an x-plane, albeit highly modified.
2. More than 10 built.
3. This plane was very successfully used in combat.
4. None were ever shot down or even took a hit of enemy fire.
5. This aircraft was quite stealthy for it's day!
6. It used some new technology that is still used today.
7. It also relied on some "Old " tech that most of us use quite frequently!

Ok...
That's it for now!

Thanks,
Zip

That's it for now....I hope to see some answers soon!

Thanks,
Zip

JohnnyS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_YO-3

zippome

We Have a WINNER!
JohnnyS found the stealthy, duct tape wearing , night vision using, powered glider!

You're UP JohnnyS!

JohnnyS

OK, here's one I don't think we've had before.

1. Small size, simple construction and inexpensive cost.
2. Some of the production aircraft were developed into an unmanned version.
3. Built between 1920 and 1926 in military and civilian versions.

JohnnyS

1. Small size, simple construction and inexpensive cost.
2. Some of the production aircraft were developed into an unmanned version.
3. Built between 1920 and 1926 in military and civilian versions.
4. Noted for landing in Washington, DC on two occasions NOT at the airport.

uncljoe

My Feedback: (8)

How about one of the Pitcarin auto gyro's
Semper Fi
Joe

JohnnyS

No, but good thinking.

1. Small size, simple construction and inexpensive cost.
2. Some of the production aircraft were developed into an unmanned version.
3. Built between 1920 and 1926 in military and civilian versions.
4. Noted for landing in Washington, DC on two occasions NOT at the airport.
5. It was a conventional biplane with a fixed tailskid landing gear
6. 60 HP engine.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

How about the Sperry Messenger? It seems to fit all the clues. Thanks; Ernie P.


The Sperry Messenger was an American single-seat biplane designed by Alfred V. Verville working for the Engineering Division of the United States Army Air Service (USAAS) and built under contract by Sperry Aircraft Company of Farmingdale, New York. The aircraft was later designated the M-1 and MAT by the USAAS. Sperry produced approximately 50 Messengers and the civilian two-seat version, the Sport Plane, between 1920 and 1926.

In 1921 Alfred V. Verville led the Engineering Division of the USAAS's design of a simple single-seat biplane to be used as a messenger aircraft to replace motorcycles. The aircraft was built by the Sperry Aircraft Company as the Sperry Messenger. The Messenger was a conventional biplane with a fixed tailskid landing gear and a nose mounted 60 hp (45 kW) Lawrance L-4 radial engine. In 1924 the military aircraft were given USAAS designations M-1, M-1A and MAT. Lawrence Sperry gained attention when he landed his personal Messenger in front of the Capitol building and bounced up the front steps in Washington D.C. He also successfully landed his little Messenger at the Lincoln Memorial. The prototype was used by Lawrence Sperry who disappeared in 1923, flying a Messenger across the English Channel from France to England.

The Messenger's small size, simple construction, and inexpensive cost made it ideal for testing and experimentation. As well as the original communications duties, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics used one in its pioneering aerodynamic research programs from 1923 to 1929. Sperry modified twelve into the radio-controlled Messenger Aerial Torpedo, an early flying bomb, and developed the apparatus for a Messenger to make the first successful airship hook on and release in December 1924.

Messenger
Sperry designation, 42 built later given USAAS designations M-1, M-1A and MAT.
M-1
Messengers used in communications duties, 26 built and known by the USAAS as the Verville-Sperry M-1
M-1A
Messengers with increased fuel capacity, 16 built.
MAT

JohnnyS

Ernie, that's it! Well done!

You're up.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Thank you, Sir; a good question that simply matched some of my past reading. I have a feeling my next question may be a set piece for some of you experts, but here goes. Thanks; Ernie P.


This is the story of an aircraft. The aircraft itself was less inportant than the impression it created in a potential adversary.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:

(1) Military aircraft are built for various reasons. Not the least of these reasons is to impress a potential enemy combatant.

(2) This aircraft not only impressed a likely potential enemy, it affected that country’s policies and politics.

uncljoe

My Feedback: (8)

North Americans XB 70
Semper Fi

perttime

Tupolev Tu-95
... which is still in service, and expected to keep going, though.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

SR-71 OH OH OH I know it scared the crap out of Russians the AGM28-B LOL

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

No correct answers thus far; but perhaps this evening clue will spur things on. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:

(1) Military aircraft are built for various reasons. Not the least of these reasons is to impress a potential enemy combatant.

(2) This aircraft not only impressed a likely potential enemy, it affected that country’s policies and politics.

(3) Part of the factors involved was the confusion by that potential enemy between two different aircraft.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Perttime; every time I look at a photo of a Tu-95, I think how much it looks as though some one took a B-52 and switched the engines for turboprops. Thanks; Ernie P.