Empty Handed's Profiles

[apophenia]

Point taken. I was thinking there'd be value added if Charlie's first hint that his day was going pear-shaped was the patter of falling submunitions 

[Empty Handed]

Oh I absolutely agree but in this instance, I'll have to settle for the 2nd hint that Charlie's day was going pear-shaped was the patter of falling submunitions! 

Apologies if you already know of this, but the YO-3A makes for an interesting study in quietude.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_YO-3

YO-3A Osborne-Vietnam 1971

How well it would up-scale is an open (and fascinating) question!

[apophenia]

Apologies if you already know of this, but the YO-3A makes for an interesting study in quietude.

It does indeed. On a slightly larger scale was DHC's experiments with the Otter. At one stage they mounted huge mufflers and very broad blades on what looks like a Spitfire's five-bladed propeller hub. It wouldn't have been a patch on the YO-3A, of course.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Oh I absolutely agree but in this instance, I'll have to settle for the 2nd hint that Charlie's day was going pear-shaped was the patter of falling submunitions! 

Apologies if you already know of this, but the YO-3A makes for an interesting study in quietude.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_YO-3

How well it would up-scale is an open (and fascinating) question!

I worked with a guy that used to fly the second seat on the YO-3 as the sensor operator.  He said that they used to fly low enough to look under the forest canopy along the river at night.  Doing that in a quiet aircraft gives you a significant advantage when you are trying to locate your antagonists without alerting them.  Since the FLIR sensor was mounted under the aircraft that means they were flying quite low and I would imagine it took no small amount of effort and courage to pull that off without a failure of your starfish gasket. 

I like the idea of an Otter or Beaver with a propeller sporting many blades.  The more the better!  With companies such as Quick Boost and others that provide resin replacement propellers it would be easy to source a propeller from a Griffon engined Spitfire or maybe a Sea Fury.

[elmayerle]

Hmm, that suggests a Mitsubishi LR-1 derivative with a modified pair of Garrett turboprops driving comparatively slow-rotating eight-bladed props and IR-surpressed exhausts.

LR-1 = Unpressurized JGSF "amy co-op" version of the MU-2 including weapons capability.

[apophenia]

I like the idea of an Otter or Beaver with a propeller sporting many blades.  The more the better!  With companies such as Quick Boost and others that provide resin replacement propellers it would be easy to source a propeller from a Griffon engined Spitfire or maybe a Sea Fury.

Doh    I hadn't thought of a Sea Fury origin for the RW prop. Thanks, that makes way more sense!

[Empty Handed]

Would the LR-1 not run straight into the NIH syndrome? What home grown aircraft could be modified to fulfil a similar role? Rockwell Aero Commander? The Otter has already got a foot in the door so I could definitely see that.

Also observation is all well and good but these are gonna need interoperability with some heavy prosecution platforms. So what do people see bringing the rain? I think the Intruder would be ideal but since trail interdiction seems to have been primarily a USAF thing, the Grumman product could also run into NIH and the USN would probably be reluctant to release the airframes too!

[elmayerle]

Would the LR-1 not run straight into the NIH syndrome? What home grown aircraft could be modified to fulfil a similar role? Rockwell Aero Commander? The Otter has already got a foot in the door so I could definitely see that.

Also observation is all well and good but these are gonna need interoperability with some heavy prosecution platforms. So what do people see bringing the rain? I think the Intruder would be ideal but since trail interdiction seems to have been primarily a USAF thing, the Grumman product could also run into NIH and the USN would probably be reluctant to release the airframes too!

Well, considering that all MU-2s delivered outside of Japan were assembled, checked out, and delivered in the US (San Angelo, TX - I know, I worked for them once upon a time as Chief (and only) Powerplant Engineer), I don't know that the NIH syndrome would be quite as powerful.  Having said that, the same engines and propellers mounted on the OV-10 (since the T76 is the military version of the TPE331) would make more sense and permit more stores possibilities.

[Empty Handed]

^ I didn't know that. Dis-regard my last then.

It is certainly the best what if idea for an MU-2 I've encountered. If I ever get my grubby little mitts on one, I'll definitely do something along those lines.

[elmayerle]

For heavy interdiction bringing the rain, how about a USAF buy of Intruders much as they later bought Corsair IIs?  Alternatively, given the relationship McAir and Blackburn had fostered over the British Pahntoms, perhaps a buy of McDonnell/Blackburn A-8 Buccaneers?

[Empty Handed]

I will definitely have to do some USAF Intruders.

First though, I had an idea yesterday that I just couldn't get out of my head of using the outline of a Martin B-10 as a basis for a single-seat, single-engine fighter. This was the result...


Martin XP-41 USAAC by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

[arc3371]

I like it and it got that late 30´s feel

[elmayerle]

^ I didn't know that. Dis-regard my last then.

It is certainly the best what if idea for an MU-2 I've encountered. If I ever get my grubby little mitts on one, I'll definitely do something along those lines.

Well, cross the radar-nose from Hasegawa's Mu-2S with their Mu-2J to do a drug interdictor for the US Customs Service.  The fiberglass fairings in front of the main gear sponsons would allow you to mount sensors there and neatly fair them in, or as a start for mounting more aggressive capabilities.

[elmayerle]

I will definitely have to do some USAF Intruders.

First though, I had an idea yesterday that I just couldn't get out of my head of using the outline of a Martin B-10 as a basis for a single-seat, single-engine fighter. This was the result...

Very nice and looking the part and period very well.  'Twould be fascinating to see an evolved version as Martin met the demands of the frontlines.

[apophenia]

First though, I had an idea yesterday that I just couldn't get out of my head of using the outline of a Martin B-10 as a basis for a single-seat, single-engine fighter...

Dang that's nice  :)

[Empty Handed]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

I wasn't planning on it but several Martin fighter ideas snuck up on me overnight. Please stay tuned!

[apophenia]

I was hoping that you were gonna say that 

[Empty Handed]

Martin P-43A USAAF by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

The Martin P-43 was a straightforward development of the XP-41. Featuring a P&W R-2180 Twin Hornet of 1400hp, the P-43 Myrmidon was reasonably fast and maneuverable but was quickly left behind by more advanced pursuit aircraft (including some of Martin's own). By the second half of the war, many had been relegated to squadron hack status, as with the above example.


Martin B2M-1 USN VB-1 by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

The Martin B2M-1 was an early attempt at a multi-role aircraft, supposedly being equally at home in the dive-bomber and torpedo-bomber roles. In reality, while it was competent in either role, it never really excelled and was quickly superceded by later aircraft. In the early Pacific campaign however, the R-2180 powerplant gave it a fair turn of speed for it's size and combined with it's stocky construction, allowed many a B2M through picket lines that might otherwise have been shot down.

[GTX_Admin]

 :) :)

[Doom!]

Both of these are great!  :)

[Empty Handed]

Martin P-49E USAAF by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

The Martin P-49E was a modification of the basic P-49A (then as yet unflown) to fulfil an urgent requirement for a high altitude interceptor. When the threat of high-altitude bombers did not materialise, the P-49Es found useful employment with several photo-reconnaissance squadrons.

Here the turbo-supercharged Packard V-2240 Griffon sings as the P-49E reaches it's service ceiling of 46,397ft.

FYI This one came to me while looking at a B-10 fuselage upside-down and thinking it looked reminiscent of the BV-155C. There is a B-10 in there somewhere!

[The Big Gimper]

This is so cool. 

[Jeremak]

These Martins look like they came from scenario where P-47 doesn't exist form one or another cause. P-49 E look particulary nice. Maybe other versions?

[GTX_Admin]

 :)

[Empty Handed]

Thanks! The early Martin fighters are indeed very much similar to the P-47's forebearers. The B-10 outline I used as a basis shares the same pot-bellied look of the Seversky/Republic fighters so it seemed natural to have a similar progression. I hope the P-49 is a sufficient departure from this quasi-plagerism! 

While doing the P-49E, it struck me as quite pretty in it's own way and so, working backwards, I came up with a 'standard' variant for the E to be developed from. I'm quite pleased with the result!



Martin P-49C Meteor USAAF 456th FS by mtpalmer1, on Flickr