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See? This is exactly why it needs to be put back into production, and military service. It doesn't seem like Canada and America are ever going to fight a war that isn't in this kind of terrain again. Seems perfect.
Ever hear of Operation Credible Sport? They were going to land one in a soccer field acroos from the US embaassy to rescue the Iranian hostages. Check out the takeoff around the 1 minute mark, I know the rocket assisted takeoffs are common at the air shows but they are pretty much leaving the ground when they start for this one. At the end the rockets pointing down never fire causing the crash.
If the public's perception of propeller planes were better we would have a lot more of them. Take a look at the De Havilland Q400.
However, public perception is the reason we have fuel guzzling 45 seat regional jets. Jets - People love jets. Yet when they board a 45 seat regional jet that weighs 60,000 lbs they say "Oh this plane is SOOOoooo Smallll....Barbie's plane..." Ugh.
Jets didn't hinder the props' development - people's misconceptions did and still do.
Hmmmmm, I wonder if part of that comes from how one grew up. I spent enough of my youth traveling on C-54's, -118's, and, of course, -130's. Add to that when I served, traveling space A on a P-3. To say nothing of the almost 20 years I spent when Dad flew Mooneys.
By then, it didn't matter as much what it took to get me there provided I got there.
Admittedly, I was probably like as described above to some degree up to about 14....but then I started to learn to fly, too.
And you know, there is a certain degree of charm to something that doesn't need much to take off or land on.
I was watching a TV show called "Restorations" that rebuilt a British Lysander Recon plane. It is a tail dragger that takes off an lands in the same nose up attitude as it taxis. It just rolls down the runway with the tail wheel on the ground until it levitates and climbs out in the same attitude. Astonishing airplane.
Ever hear of Operation Credible Sport? They were going to land one in a soccer field acroos from the US embaassy to rescue the Iranian hostages. Check out the takeoff around the 1 minute mark, I know the rocket assisted takeoffs are common at the air shows but they are pretty much leaving the ground when they start for this one. At the end the rockets pointing down never fire causing the crash.
Speaking of piston engine, propeller-driven aircraft the XF84H was a truly unusual aircraft. Claimed to be the fastest propeller driven aircraft its propeller tips rotated at above-Mach speeds causing mini sonic-booms, inducing malaise and nausea in the ground crew, regardless of hearing protection. I remember reading about this aircraft as a child. The Navy actually tested it and abandoned the idea. Interesting though. I have heard it referred to unofficially as the "Thunder-Puker" back when I was in the Air Force.
the Thunderscreech was not a piston engine aircraft!
SPECIFICATIONS: Span: 33 ft. 5 in. Length: 51 ft. 5 in. Height: 15 ft. 4 in. Weight: 17,892 lbs. Armament: None Engine: Allison XF-40-A-1 turboprop of 5,850 shaft hp Crew: One
PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed: 520 mph Range: Beyond 2,000 miles Service ceiling: Above 40,000 ft.
There were only two built; 12 test flights were flown, 8 of which resulted in emergency landings.
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