http://www.answers.com/topic/wsk-mielec-m-15-belphegor
http://www.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/3/3a/300px-M-15_belphegor.jpg
[:0]
Is all I can say…
blecch? why blecch?
that’s a change but 125mph? come on!
a WWII plane could shoot it down!
Well, it’s not the most beautiful aircraft ever designed, but not sure it rates a Blecch [:)].
regards, Rick
Dude its a jet biplane. As far as I know, the only jet biplanes ever made are the original Coanda 1910 Jet, this crazy M-15 Belphegor, and to a lesser extent, that aerobatic standard biplane with the jet engine slung under it that appears at airshows. This plane is incredibly cool. I’ve only seen vague pictures of it before, thank you very much for the link!
Someone should make a model of it. And the Coanda 1910.
-Ben.
[#dots] Interesting plane, sort of like an American Bull Terrier in that it is so ugly that you have to like it. Thanks for the link.
Cheers,
Eric
jinithith2
No self respecting fighter pilot is going to get down on the level that thing because A. that’s fling wing country and B. it’s entirely too close to the mud. (Note I don’t mention Harrier or Warthog pilots - they revel in being down there)
Actually there are several reasons it operates that slow. Faster you go, the more the spray pattern changes (don’t get enough chemical on a given acreage at higher speeds), At higher speeds it’s harder to get into and out of smaller fields and still get proper coverage. And actually higher speed causes you to take longer to spray most fields. In aerial application, like everything else, time is money. At the end of his spray run, the pilot shuts off his spray, starts to climb and to make a 180 degree chandelle turn. At the end of the turn he has moved over one spray width, dropped back to his flight level and turns on his spray system. The more speed you have, the bigger the radius of the turn and the more time it takes. Pawnees and Agwagons operate between 90 and 120 knots and at around 100 knots a good experienced pilot will shut off his spray, make the turn and turn on the spray in 8 to 10 seconds. And that’s what they try for every time.
And besides, that thing is so damned ugly you almost have to love it.
I’m going to paraphrase Oddball’s statement in Kelly’s Heroes “It’s a mother-beautiful tank!”
Well, I’ve just seen the mother-in-law of all airplanes… 
Yes, it’s not pretty…but it still flies. Granted, I think Cessna 140s are super-cool too…
Jeff
The nose and cockpit kinda remind me of an OV-10, but I bet it’s not as fast.
Ugly but practical. I wonder why it fell out of use? Did the jet engine cost too much to look after? I can’t imagine a farmer with his head under the cowling of a jet engine somehow…
Ugly yess… but interesting!