What is this Picture?

[Graeme]

And another one. Rene Leduc and his amazing ramjet aircraft.

[B-17engineer]

Hahaha thats wierd
Odd, very odd

[Njaco]

Thats great Elvis. Sometimes something is so common that when something similar comes along you forget what you're snickering at!

[Elvis]

Thanks, Njaco!
I figure the idea was probably inspired by the German's efforts, though.

...wouldn't be the first time.




Elvis

[Milos Sijacki]

Those Mistel configurations were really weird. I believe the first picture shows the proposed piloted version of a V-1 flying bomb.

[A4K]

No, it was the Me 328 V1 in it's test mounting.
The piloted version of the V1 flying bomb was the Fiesler Fi-103R Reichenberg, which although similar in concept, has a number of noticable differences.

[A4K]

According to ’Mistel; Die Hucke-pack-Flugzeuge der Luftwaffe bis 1945’ (’The piggy-back aircraft of the Luftwaffe’) by Hans-Peter Dabrowski:

Aircraft mounted in ’Mistel’ set-up for flight testing (ie, not intended for use as Mistel)

Messerschmitt Me 328 V1 atop a Dornier Do 217E (1943)
Messerschmitt Me 328B atop a Do 217E-2 (1945)
DFS 228 atop a Dornier Do 217K-3 (194?)
Bachem Ba 349 Natter atop a Heinkel He 111 (194?)

First Mistel aircraft test combinations (codes as per photos):

1. DFS 230 (CB+ZB) with Klemm KL 35 (D-EXCM) control aircraft
2. DFS 230 (CB+ZB) with Focke-Wulf Fw 56 Stösser (GA+GN) control aircraft
3. DFS 230 (D-IEXX and D-14??) with Messerschmitt Bf 109E (no visible codes)

Foreign ’Mistel’:

The first to use the Mistel idea outside of Germany were the Italians, who used Savoia Marchetti Sm.79 aircraft as ’Grossbomben’ (’Giant bombs’)

The USAAF used „Aphrodite” aircraft, which were remotely controlled bombers (mostly war-weary Boeing B-17s) filled with circa 10 tons of Torpex explosive and painted bright yellow or white.

(More info in book if anyone's interested)

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by A4K

The piloted version of the V1 flying bomb was the Fiesler Fi-103R Reichenberg, which although similar in concept, has a number of noticable differences.

Was that the same "vehicle" that was the subject of the movie "Operation Crossbow"?
I seem to remember them shooting that one off the ramp (ala V-1), but we all know how Hollywood like to take "Artistic Liberty's".



Elvis

[Graeme]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Was that the same "vehicle" that was the subject of the movie "Operation Crossbow"?Elvis

That's the one.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by Graeme

That's the one.

YES!
I FINALLY REMEMBERED SOMETHING CORRECTLY!

"...I would like to thank the academy for this prestigeous award..."


Thanks Graeme.




Elvis

[Njaco]

[SoD Stitch]

Originally Posted by B-17engineer

I need more info, Like was this plane or design ever used? I know its a Do-217

I know that, toward the end of the War, the Germans were experimenting with their own version of the Ohka Japanese kamikaze rocket plane; called Reichenbergs, they were, essentially, piloted V-1 bombs. Hanna Reitsch was big proponent of the Reichenbergs, and promoted them as the only way to stop the massive Allied air attacks on her homeland. The unit on top looks like a Reichenberg, but made by a different manufacturer.

[kool kitty89]

The Manned V-1 had better performance than the Ohka, and much better range. (2-300 miles, 400+ mph at full throttle at low altitude)
They would have been much more useful as kamikazi weapons for the japanese with bombers not having to get too close (and getting shot down) and the possibility of land based operations. Or maybe an Ohka powered by a pulse jet. (the engines being very chap and simple to build)

Though the whole discussion of this is a bit morbid...


The only problem with a pulse jet fighter (besides vibration and fuel consumption) is a large drop in thrust with altitude.

[A4K]

Interesting, thanks Kool Kitty!

..And Elvis...!

[Krabat42]

400+ mph at full throttle at low altitude

The problem with most Pulsojets is: There's only full throttle or full stop. I've seen this once on a model He-162 in Dachau. About 5 people were working hard to get it started and then it was extremely loud and with a big flame burning the grass. Great!