This aircraft was a prototype fighter aircraft tested by the military shortly after World War II; it was directly inspired by the (modest) successes experienced by Axis seaplane fighters. In theory, seaplanes were ideally suited to conditions in the Pacific theatre, and could turn any relatively calm area of coast into an airbase. Their main disadvantage came from the way in which the bulk of their floatation gear penalised their performance compared to other fighters. This company realized that advances in technology presented an opportunity to overcome this drawback. The company approached the military with the idea which led to a development contract for three prototypes in May 1944. The first prototype flew in 1947, and while it and its two sisters proved to have good performance and handling, the need for such aircraft had completely evaporated with the end of the war. Furthermore, the success of the aircraft carrier in the Pacific had demonstrated a far more effective way to project airpower over the oceans. In addition, the cockpit canopy was small and heavily framed, giving the pilot a poor view outside the aircraft. The project was finally abandoned in May 1951. The first prototype has been preserved, and is on museum display; both other aircraft were lost in accidents
during the four-year flight test program.
Name this aircraft. Answer by PM only. Do not answer " Was It " or with a question mark. No changing of an answer after your original submission. Any answer submitted after 1200 hrs E.S.T on the day the answer will post will not count. Answer will post on 07/26/07 at 1200 hrs E.D.T.
Brian [C):-)]