Originally Posted by
Hydro Junkie
Since I received an incorrect guess, it's time to add another clue.
Looking for a plane this time:
1) This plane was single engined
2) Less than a dozen were built
3) This plane was actually used by the military of it's country of origin
4) This plane was only based two places
5) To fly this plane, the pilots had to learn a specific skill that wasn't easy to perform
6) This plane was a single seater
7) While this was an active duty aircraft, it never saw combat
8) While this plane was not secret, it's use was considered "secretive" by the military brass
9) Due to bad luck, it's service life was only a few years
10) That service life was only 4 to 5 years
11) This plane was armed with twin 30 caliber machine guns
Good Luck
Well, the last clue blew my first guess away, but how about the Sparrowhawk? Thanks; Ernie P.
Answer: The Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk
The Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk is a light 1930s biplanefighter aircraft that was carried by the United States NavyairshipsUSS Akron and Macon. It is an example of a parasite fighter, a small airplane designed to be deployed from a larger aircraft such as an airship or bomber. Design and development
On 20 August 1929, off the coast of New Jersey, a biplane hooked itself to the bottom of a dirigible and was carried along by the larger craft. This is the 2nd such incident. The “snapon, snapoff” experiment is accomplished by the Navy airship USS Los Angeles, under Lt. Com. Herbert Wiley, and a Navy biplane. The biplane, regulating its speed to that of the dirigible, flew close under the Los Angeles. A large hook had been attached to the middle of the top wing of the biplane, and from the bottom of the Los Angeles hung a U-shaped yoke. Maneuvering the ship under the dirigible, the plane pilot slipped the hook into the Los Angeles’ yoke and for 3 or 4 minutes the dirigible carried the biplane. The plane pilot, by a cord arrangement in his cabin, withdrew the hook from the yoke and flew clear of the dirigible.
Although designed as a pursuit plane or fighter, the Sparrowhawk's primary duty in service was reconnaissance, enabling the airships it served to search a much wider area of ocean. The Sparrowhawk was primarily chosen for service aboard the large rigid-framed airships Akron and Macon because of its small size (20.2 ft (6.2 m) long and with only a 25.5 ft (7.8 m) wingspan), though its weight, handling and range characteristics, and also downward visibility from the cockpit, were not ideal for its reconnaissance role. The theoretical maximum capacity of the airships' hangar was five aircraft, one in each hangar bay and one stored on the trapeze but, in the Akron, two structural girders obstructed the after two hangar bays, limiting her to a maximum complement of three Sparrowhawks. A modification to remove this limitation was pending at the time of the airship's loss. Macon had no such limitation and she routinely carried four airplanes.
To achieve launching and recovery from the airship in flight, a 'skyhook' system was developed. The Sparrowhawk had a hook mounted above its top wing that attached to the cross-bar of a trapeze mounted on the carrier airship. For launching, the biplane's hook was engaged on the trapeze inside the airship's (internal) hangar, the trapeze was lowered clear of the hull into the (moving) airship's slipstream and, engine running, the Sparrowhawk would then disengage its hook and fall away from the airship. For recovery, the biplane would fly underneath its mother ship, until beneath the trapeze, climb up from below, and hook onto the cross-bar. The width of the trapeze cross-bar allowed a certain lateral lee-way in approach, the biplane's hook mounting had a guide rail to provide protection for the turning propeller (see photo), and engagement of the hook was automatic on positive contact between hook and trapeze. More than one attempt might have to be made before a successful engagement was achieved, for example in gusty conditions. Once the Sparrowhawk was securely caught, it could then be hoisted by the trapeze back within the airship's hull, the engine being cut as it passed the hangar door. Although seemingly a tricky maneuver, pilots soon learned the technique and it was described as being much easier than landing on a moving, pitching and rolling aircraft carrier. Almost inevitably, the pilots soon acquired the epithet "The men on the Flying Trapeze" and their aircraft were decorated with appropriate unit emblems.
Once the system was fully developed, in order to increase their scouting endurance while the airship was on over-water operations, the Sparrowhawks would have their landing gear removed and replaced by a fuel tank. When the airship was returning to base, the biplanes' landing gear would be replaced so that they could land independently again.
For much of their service with the airships, the Sparrowhawks' effectiveness was greatly hampered by their poor radio equipment, and they were effectively limited to remaining within sight of the airship. However, in 1934 new direction-finding sets and new voice radios were fitted which allowed operations beyond visual range, exploiting the extended range offered by the belly fuel tanks and allowing the more vulnerable mother ship to stay clear of trouble. One interesting use of the Sparrowhawks was to act as 'flying ballast'. The airship could take off with additional ballast or fuel aboard instead of its airplanes. Once the airship was cruising, the aircraft would be flown aboard, the additional weight being supported by dynamic lift until the airship lightened. Specifications (F9C-2)
Data from The Airships Akron & Macon: Flying Aircraft carriers of the United States Navy
General characteristics
· Crew: 1· Length: 20 ft 2.0 in (6.147 m)· Wingspan: 25 ft 6.0 in (7.772 m)· Height: 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m)· Wing area: 172.79 sq ft (16.053 m2)· Empty weight: 2,089 lb (948 kg)· Gross weight: 2,776 lb (1,259 kg)· Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-975-E3 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 438 hp (327 kW)
Performance· Maximum speed: 176.5 mph (284 km/h; 153 kn) · Range: 297 mi (258 nmi; 478 km) · Service ceiling: 19,200 ft (5,900 m) · Rate of climb: 1,700 ft/min (8.6 m/s) · Wing loading: 16 lb/sq ft (78 kg/m2) · Power/mass: 0.086 hp/lb (0.259 kW/kg)
Armament· Guns: 2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns