Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Early evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


We all know the 1920’s and 1930’s were a time of change for aircraft of all kinds. This question involves a warbird, actually a series of warbirds, that was a groundbreaking aircraft in it’s day. Although it wasn’t the first designed to fulfill it’s mission, it was the first of its type. It caused quite a sensation when it was introduced; and it had a feature I personally find very interesting in the way its armament was mounted. And, it had a really boss nickname; which never hurts when it comes time for the public to decide what gets remembered and what gets forgotten.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:

(1) It had a number of innovative features; e.g., automatic trailing edge flaps and leading edge slats.

(2) It had four forward firing, and one rearward firing, machine guns.

(3) The first aircraft in the series had an inline engine. The second was a prototype with a radial engine. The third, and most numerous, series aircraft all had radial engines.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

This should help. Just look for a catchy name. Thanks; Ernie P.


We all know the 1920’s and 1930’s were a time of change for aircraft of all kinds. This question involves a warbird, actually a series of warbirds, that was a groundbreaking aircraft in it’s day. Although it wasn’t the first designed to fulfill it’s mission, it was the first of its type. It caused quite a sensation when it was introduced; and it had a feature I personally find very interesting in the way its armament was mounted. And, it had a really boss nickname; which never hurts when it comes time for the public to decide what gets remembered and what gets forgotten.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:

(1) It had a number of innovative features; e.g., automatic trailing edge flaps and leading edge slats.

(2) It had four forward firing, and one rearward firing, machine guns.

(3) The first aircraft in the series had an inline engine. The second was a prototype with a radial engine. The third, and most numerous, series aircraft all had radial engines.

(4) The aircraft’s name was really an attention getter; and the actual definition of it’s name was often used to describe another aircraft; one instantly recognized by almost any warbird fan.

perttime

Westland Lysander ... although I don't think all clues fit.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

No, sorry; although the Lysander does share a feature with the aircraft I'm describing. Thanks; Ernie P.


We all know the 1920’s and 1930’s were a time of change for aircraft of all kinds. This question involves a warbird, actually a series of warbirds, that was a groundbreaking aircraft in it’s day. Although it wasn’t the first designed to fulfill it’s mission, it was the first of its type. It caused quite a sensation when it was introduced; and it had a feature I personally find very interesting in the way its armament was mounted. And, it had a really boss nickname; which never hurts when it comes time for the public to decide what gets remembered and what gets forgotten.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:

(1) It had a number of innovative features; e.g., automatic trailing edge flaps and leading edge slats.

(2) It had four forward firing, and one rearward firing, machine guns.

(3) The first aircraft in the series had an inline engine. The second was a prototype with a radial engine. The third, and most numerous, series aircraft all had radial engines.

(4) The aircraft’s name was really an attention getter; and the actual definition of it’s name was often used to describe another aircraft; one instantly recognized by almost any warbird fan.

(5) It was the first low wing monoplane produced by its parent company.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Night clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


We all know the 1920’s and 1930’s were a time of change for aircraft of all kinds. This question involves a warbird, actually a series of warbirds, that was a groundbreaking aircraft in it’s day. Although it wasn’t the first designed to fulfill it’s mission, it was the first of its type. It caused quite a sensation when it was introduced; and it had a feature I personally find very interesting in the way its armament was mounted. And, it had a really boss nickname; which never hurts when it comes time for the public to decide what gets remembered and what gets forgotten.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:

(1) It had a number of innovative features; e.g., automatic trailing edge flaps and leading edge slats.

(2) It had four forward firing, and one rearward firing, machine guns.

(3) The first aircraft in the series had an inline engine. The second was a prototype with a radial engine. The third, and most numerous, series aircraft all had radial engines.

(4) The aircraft’s name was really an attention getter; and the actual definition of it’s name was often used to describe another aircraft; one instantly recognized by almost any warbird fan.

(5) It was the first low wing monoplane produced by its parent company.

(6) The engine change came about because the radial engine was considered to be less vulnerable to damage from ground fire.

drifter

My Feedback: (53)

Curtis A-8 Shrike?

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Ding, ding, ding!!!!! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. Good work, drifter; you are up and we await your question. I always thought "Shrike" was a cool name; and the Shrike bird is often called the "butcher bird". It caused a sensation when it first appeared, because it was the first USAAC low wing monoplane. And having the machine guns mounted on the wheel fairings? What was up with that? Thanks; Ernie P.


We all know the 1920’s and 1930’s were a time of change for aircraft of all kinds. This question involves a warbird, actually a series of warbirds, that was a groundbreaking aircraft in it’s day. Although it wasn’t the first designed to fulfill it’s mission, it was the first of its type. It caused quite a sensation when it was introduced; and it had a feature I personally find very interesting in the way its armament was mounted. And, it had a really boss nickname; which never hurts when it comes time for the public to decide what gets remembered and what gets forgotten.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:

(1) It had a number of innovative features; e.g., automatic trailing edge flaps and leading edge slats.

(2) It had four forward firing, and one rearward firing, machine guns.

(3) The first aircraft in the series had an inline engine. The second was a prototype with a radial engine. The third, and most numerous, series aircraft all had radial engines.

(4) The aircraft’s name was really an attention getter; and the actual definition of it’s name was often used to describe another aircraft; one instantly recognized by almost any warbird fan.

(5) It was the first low wing monoplane produced by its parent company.

(6) The engine change came about because the radial engine was considered to be less vulnerable to damage from ground fire.

(7) It had two open cockpits, although looking at a photo of the plane, you might be tempted to argue with that.

(8) The USAAC decided twin engine aircraft were preferable for attack aircraft, which gave this plane a limited service life.

(9) It was at Pearl Harbor, but did not see combat there.

(10) The surviving aircraft were grounded shortly after Pearl Harbor.

Answer: The Curtiss A-8 Shrike
Shrikes are passerine birds of the family Laniidae. The family is composed of thirty-one species in three genera. The family name, and that of the largest genus, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes were also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits.

The A-8 was a low-wing monoplane ground-attack aircraft built by the United States company Curtiss, designed in response to a 1929 United States Army Air Corps requirement for an attack aircraft to replace the A-3 Falcon. The Model 59 "Shrike" was designated XA-8 (the "Shrike" nickname was not officially adopted).

The XA-8 won a competition against the General Aviation/Fokker XA-7, after which 13 service test aircraft were ordered (five as YA-8s and eight as Y1A-8s). After the completion of testing, 11 of these aircraft were redesignated A-8.

The A-8 was the first Curtiss machine of all-metal low-wing monoplane configuration with advanced features such as automatic leading edge slats and trailing-edge flaps.
Four forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns were mounted in the wheel fairings, and an additional weapon of the same calibre was fitted in the observer's cockpit for rear defense. The standard bomb load was four 100 lb (45 kg) bombs.

One YA-8 was fitted with a radial engine and designated YA-10, while another was used for testing of the Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror engine as the Y1A-8A. This aircraft was redesignated A-8 upon the completion of testing.
46 aircraft were ordered as A-8Bs, however the order was changed to the Model 60 A-12s before production began.

The A-8 created a sensation in US aviation circles when it went into service with the 3rd Attack Group at Fort Crockett, Texas in April 1932. All other standard aircraft were of biplane configuration, and the first monoplane fighter (the Boeing P-26A) did not become operational until eight months later.

The Curtiss A-12 Shrike was the United States Army Air Corps' second monoplane ground-attack aircraft, and its main attack aircraft through most of the 1930s. It was based on the A-8, but had a radial engine instead of the A-8's inline, water-cooled engine, as well as other changes.

The Model 60 was developed from advancements of the A-8 and the experimental YA-10. However, it became obsolete after a short use period, mainly because of fast-improving aviation technology, as well as the USAAC's desire for multi-engined attack aircraft.

The most obvious difference between the A-12 and the A-8 is the air-cooled, radial engine in the A-12, which replaced the A-8's inline, water-cooled engine. This was a response to the USAAC's move toward a preference for radial engines, especially in attack aircraft. The rationale behind this preference is that the radial engine has a lower profile, making it less vulnerable to ground fire, and a simpler cooling mechanism, which is also less prone to groundfire, as well as overall maintenance problems.

These aircraft retained the open cockpit introduced in the A-8 production batch, and carried the same weapons load. In an attempt to improve pilot/observer co-operation the rear cockpit was moved forward sufficiently for its glazed covering to form a continuation of the fuselage decking behind the pilot's cockpit.

Nine USAAF A-12s were still in service at Hickam Field on 7 December 1941, but they saw no combat.

A-12s served with the 3rd Attack Group plus the 8th and 18th Pursuit Groups. Surviving Shrikes were grounded just after Pearl Harbor was bombed in December 1941.

drifter

My Feedback: (53)

I'll yield. Perhaps someone who hasn't been able to answer first has a good question they wish to ask.

tunakuts3d

O.K. I'll give it a try. Name this plane,
1- Was a twin engine bomber /reconnaissnce of all metal construction.

2- Non-retractable landing gear.

3- A wide chord monoplane with a deep airfoil section that provided access to the engines in flight.

Paul

Mein Duff

Smells like something Italian?

tunakuts3d

Nope not Italian.

1- Was a twin engine bomber /reconnaissnce of all metal construction.

2- Non-retractable landing gear.

3- A wide chord monoplane with a deep airfoil section that provided access to the engines in flight.

4- Six fuel tanks that could be jettisoned (this feature discontinued after the 41st production aircraft)

Paul

tunakuts3d

This could be a big hint.
1- Was a twin engine bomber /reconnaissnce of all metal construction.

2- Non-retractable landing gear.

3- A wide chord monoplane with a deep airfoil section that provided access to the engines in flight.

4- Six fuel tanks that could be jettisoned (this feature discontinued after the 41st production aircraft)

5- Had enormous speed fairings on the main gear(7ft in length)

Paul

Ram-bro

My Feedback: (101)

catalina PBY.....

tunakuts3d

Not the PBY.

Paul

Ram-bro

My Feedback: (101)

sounds russian

tunakuts3d

Nope, not Russian,

Paul

makmov

My Feedback: (1)

humm I was thinking Russian too.

zippome

Sounds French to me. All that room in the wings was just more room to hide.


Zipp

tunakuts3d

Another hint.

1- Was a twin engine bomber /reconnaissnce of all metal construction.

2- Non-retractable landing gear.

3- A wide chord monoplane with a deep airfoil section that provided access to the engines in flight.

4- Six fuel tanks that could be jettisoned (this feature discontinued after the 41st production aircraft)

5- Had enormous speed fairings on the main gear(7ft in length)

6-Had a two deck fuselage

Paul

tunakuts3d

Getting warmer now, Zipp. French it was.
Paul

tunakuts3d

Last clue for tonite.

1- Was a twin engine bomber /reconnaissnce of all metal construction.

2- Non-retractable landing gear.

3- A wide chord monoplane with a deep airfoil section that provided access to the engines in flight.

4- Six fuel tanks that could be jettisoned (this feature discontinued after the 41st production aircraft)

5- Had enormous speed fairings on the main gear(7ft in length)

6-Had a two deck fuselage

7- Was used to bomb Germany with propaganda leaflets until May 10 1940.

Paul

tunakuts3d

Maybe this will help,

1- Was a twin engine bomber /reconnaissnce of all metal construction.

2- Non-retractable landing gear.

3- A wide chord monoplane with a deep airfoil section that provided access to the engines in flight.

4- Six fuel tanks that could be jettisoned (this feature discontinued after the 41st production aircraft)

5- Had enormous speed fairings on the main gear(7ft in length)

6-Had a two deck fuselage

7- Was used to bomb Germany with propaganda leaflets until May 10 1940.

8- Was said to beone ofthe ugliest planes produced by the French in the inter-war years.

perttime

Amiot 143

tunakuts3d

Thats it, you're up perttime.

The Amiot 143M was a late 1930s French medium bomber designed to meet 1928 specifications for a bomber capable of day/night bombing, long-range reconnaissance and bomber escort.

Despite being of an ungainly two-tiered structure, slow and lacking maneuverability, and of obsolescent architecture, the Amiot 143M was a sturdy plane which was popular with its pilots

(thanks to Ernie P. for saving me the effort to type this short description)

perttime

Amiot 143 certainly isn't cute Let's say different?

I'm trying to decide between two aircraft I ran into while looking for the Amiot...