Aircraft Trivia Quiz

trexx · March 8, 2009, 1:47pm

Red hot.

trexx · March 8, 2009, 1:48pm

The Germans were testing wire-guided missiles at the end of WW1.

I disagree–the first examples of any such testing I have found show that the first flight of a wire-guided missile took place in August 1944, when an X-4 missile was launched from an FW-190. The design of this missile was started in 1943. I cannot find any reference to any other wire-guided weapon before this. The only other wire-guided weapon developed during that time was the Hs-293B, and that was never actually put into production.

The first guided missiles were introduced in WWI, but neither was designed in Germany. America designed the Kettering Bug, while England came up with the A.T. missile. These were simply-guided, and neither one used any sort of wire guidance. The earliest reference to rocketry in Germany was in the mid-1600s, and that was with unguided rockets.

nuh uh

Brews · March 9, 2009, 2:19am

I must remember to have a look at my references in the morning. I have a soft-cover pictorial called “The German Naval Air Service in WW1” or words to that effect, and “The Imperial Army Air Service in WW1” or something like that. Each about 64 pages. One of them shows a photo of the guided-missile set-up. It may not have been rocket-powered, but I think it was.

trexx · March 9, 2009, 12:33pm

nary your mind about power vs. unpowered, concentrate on the guiding principle…

mojodoctor · March 9, 2009, 1:59pm

Arrggh, ya crafty devil!

I believe you may be talking about the Siemens Schuckert 300kg Torpedogleiter built between 1915 and 1918. It later grew to 1000kg which was dropped from an airship in August, 1918. Yes?

trexx · March 9, 2009, 2:04pm

A: Siemens Schuckert 300kg Torpedogleiter

Correct! BRAVO!

…and with super-cool actual pictures too! …right outta the ballpark, Mojodoctor! You’re up!

extra info:

credit:

http://warbirdsforum.com

From the Book (in English language), Gray/Thetford, “German Aircraft of the First World War”, maybe you even have this.

About the Siemens-Schuckert torpedo glider, re-translated it reads this: “Between 1915-18, Siemens-Schuckert built more than 100 ‘glider bombs’ of different look. The development went until 1918 to a gross weight of 1000 kg and without doubt they were the forerunners of contemporary guided missiles.
The first take-offs were perfomed from the Siemens-Schuckert hangar in Biesdorf, later successfull inflight launches from airships followed. On 2 August 1918, a 1000 kg missile was dropped from airship L35, control could be kept for a distance of 7,5 km .
The size of these machines varied from 4.1 m for the 300 kg glider to 7.4 m for the 1000 kg missile.”

Another picture, from the website of the Zeppelin Museum in Tønder, Denmark (German until 1920, famous airship base in WWI, German name: Tondern

AND________

credit:

http://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.com

The company Siemens-Schuckert worked on remote-controlled torpedoes and air-dropped missiles during 1907 and 1911

Wilhelm von Siemens worked on wire and radio-controlled missiles in the First World War with considerable success, including a radio remote control for a motor boat of the Fa. Röver (a company).
The more spectacular examples were remote-controlled gliders (radio or wire guidance) which carried torpedoes to be released close to the target ship.
This technology was revived for the Second World War, but the fire control problem was insurmountable for the human operator - the technology itself works. It’s simply difficult to aim right with such a glider in the terminal phase and to time the release well.

mojodoctor · March 9, 2009, 3:35pm

I found this last week but was hoping someone else would before me and post a new question because I don’t have any cool questions, so I’m going to post an ID question.

It will probably be an easy one, but all you need to do is ID this aircraft.

Brews · March 9, 2009, 10:35pm

Is it the Eurofighter Experimental Aircraft Project?

mojodoctor · March 9, 2009, 11:21pm

Sorry Brews, this is not in any way associated with the Eurofighter.

Much earlier!

F-8fanatic · March 10, 2009, 12:53am

That looks to be the Ye-8, a MiG derivative of the MiG-21. Still has the wings and vertical tail of the -21 from the looks of it. Two were built, the 8/1 crashed and the 8/2 was later used to help design the MiG-23. These flew in the early 60’s if I recall right. They barely made any flights at all too, I think one of them only flew like 10 times or something.

mojodoctor · March 10, 2009, 8:18am

You got it F-8fanatic!

What have you got for us?

F-8fanatic · March 10, 2009, 9:52am

ok, who can identify this plane?

Lucien_Harpress · March 10, 2009, 11:40am

That wouldn’t be the MXY6 glider fitted with an engine to test the feasibility of the Kyushu J7W “Shinden” fighters, would it?

F-8fanatic · March 10, 2009, 11:47am

No sir, but great guess! I hadnt even thought of that one…

scorpr2 · March 10, 2009, 10:50pm

A very, very, very sick and tired DUCK!!!

mojodoctor · March 11, 2009, 9:33am

Uh,… I think I posted a successor to this aircraft a year or so ago. But of course I can’t find it! [banghead]

WarHammer25 · March 11, 2009, 5:28pm

The CW-24B? The flying testbed for the XP-55 Ascender.

F-8fanatic · March 12, 2009, 12:13am

No sir, the CW-24B had a tube frame and was fabric-covered. A hint–the plane I posted is not American, but was from a friendly country back then.

F-8fanatic · March 20, 2009, 8:07am

wow, I didnt think this would stump everyone…

ok, a couple hints. The plane was designed in the 1930s. Only one was ever built, and it wouldnt even fly. The project was cancelled in the late 30’s. It was designed by a company in one of the allied nations, if you want to use early WWII battle lines.

trexx · March 20, 2009, 3:18pm

Me stumped.

Is from a country that changed sides at all during the World War Two Conflict?