willedoo

Ok guys ... which one of you clever people knows the identity of this ugly aircraft?[ATTACH=full]45107[/ATTACH]

There's enough out there to start an ugly aircraft thread.

Burnelli UB-14.

Things With Wings - To fly or not to fly: Burnelli Lifting Fuselage

Short video of a test fit with the $400,000 helmet:

That's it, the Elitar Sigma. I heard they had some in NZ.

It looks like a fun little floatplane, enough room for a fishing rod and a bit of camping gear.

This one might be fairly easy. It can be configured with wheels as well.

Interesting history, Peter. I guess it would have no relationship to the Johnson Twin 60 from the mid 20's. I think it was a one-off.

I'll have to admit defeat on this one.

Well, I thought it might be made in the U.S., as it looks a bit like a Hartzell sticker on the prop. Searched quite a bit there but I'll have to give it another go with those clues in mind.

Cheers, Willie.

I'll have to fess up, Peter. I removed the markings and reversed the image to make it a bit trickier. So the image you found was the original.

Had a look at other photos, and I see what you mean about the undercarriage.

Cheers, Willie.

Ok, no takers - it's a Romanian I.A.R.81. I think at some stage during the War I.A.R. also license built Messerschmitt Bf-109's.

It's not Russian. Same company, post war, made some agricultural aircraft and light sports/trainers. Pre-war production was mainly fighters.

Enough of prototypes - this one was an operational warbird.

Apologies for the low resolution.

Correct, Peter.

I think the IP-4 had four 45mm. cannons and the first prototype tried two 75mm. cannon. They say that's why the horizontal stabilizer is so high, to avoid the cannon gases.

Cheers, Willie.

And I erased the prefix lettering and everything.

Ok, how about this one - not overly successful either.

That's the one, Peter. Latvian designed and built, flew with Soviet markings after the Soviet occupation, then with German markings after the German invasion.

This is an odd one - a one off prototype, circa 1939.

I think Bats has it - Bucker Bu 181 Bestmann.

Thanks Willedoo; I've heard of that great religious movement but hadn't taken much notice. Just googled it. The Pastafarian message deserves a wider audience. If God exists I'm sure it has a sense of proportion and won't be offended.

A core Aussie value is that we don't take anything too seriously (besides sport) so I don't blame anyone for losing interest in this thread.

All this talk about religion, and no-one has mentioned the Pastafarians.

B-29 'Doc' is scheduled for it's first post restoration flight tomorrow at McConnell Air Force Base.

Currently 'FiFi' is the world's only flying B-29, so 'Doc" makes two.

B-29 Doc remains “Go” for first flight; Public watch area and times released

does that first video shows the helo shooting first at 0:08?

Looking closely at it, it looks like the chopper is firing rearward with what is possibly anti missile munitions, then a clean hit takes the tail off.

Two Russian pilots have died after being shot down in a Syrian Mi-25 near Palmyra.

PressTV-Daesh downs Syria chopper: Video

2 Russian pilots killed as ISIS shoots down chopper near Palmyra – MoD

I forget the exact figures with Iran, but they have around 230 airliners and 220 need replacing. Airbus is selling them slightly more, around 110. A lot of money to be made there with the lifting of sanctions.

Iran and Russia are also discussing a potential joint venture to manufacture Sukhoi Superjets in Iran. For export, I'd assume, as Iran hasn't committed to any Sukhoi buy as yet, and are evaluating other options in the 100 passenger class.

Boeing would be feeling good; they've also just stitched up a deal to sell 100 Boeings to Iran.

On the subject of aerobatic teams, the Russian fleet of Su-27's was grounded after the fatal crash of one of the Russian Knights, on June 9th..

Su-27 Flanker of the Russian Knights aerobatic team crashes in Russia. Pilot killed.