facthunter

These days everyone gets the revs right back to save fuel on that sort of stuff. I hear some very low revs radials going over sometimes. Give an impression of just loafing along. You need a blower and CS prop. Nev

Prop tip speed and an open exhaust and probably no soundproofing.  An Otter or Beaver would be able to be quieter if it's fully lined.  Nev

An Aeroplane that looks right and is right. It's construction would allow rebuilding and repair although it's a lot of fabric and wood. (OLD fashioned skills). Nev

Maybee even it's mother wouldn't like it. Nev

They weren't cheap when they were new, especially the VH ones.  You have to put it in today's dollars also. Nev

Guns firing through  the prop.  Nev

The original versions were Tailwheel but had difficulty  getting the tail up on takeoff and overran the strip due the extra drag combined with low engine thrust. They resorted to using brakes to help raise the tail but that was a bit dicey.. Early on the engine was notoriously unreliable and had a short life expectancy due to substandard materials used in it's construction.  Nev 

Incredibly  LOW thrust figures. Nev

The original Toyota factory was equipped with Hughes Tooling He became a recluse. Nev

I want one. Put it next to my Grumman  tracker. Nev

Yes he (was) keen and enthusiastic when I met  him and how he's making out is something i'd like to know. Regardless of how some (in the upper echelons) wish to regard his efforts he HAS BEEN a significant contributor to the movement.. Bagging rather than aiding innovators is the "way" the system works in Oz. We have a long history of it. (to our significant detriment) Nev

That's certainly full on and reminds me of some of  my past associations. Phew.  Freedom of religion must include freedom FROM religion. They are out there and ready to take over your mind. throw rocks or cut off your head. Atheism seems to "problem" them more than having some other one.  AAaarrRGH. You've ruined my day .Nev  

it's only the dorsal fin that gives it that look and that type of fin does work to make the rudder more effective. I met Gary in the early days of the type when he demo'd it at Lethbridge where he managed to break one leg off the U/C. A very pleasant and keen bloke. Anything that might be judged to be wrong with THAT plane had absolutely nothing to do with it hitting the Ferris wheel which was essentially piloting and the questionable placement of a Ferris wheel relative to the runway. and maybe a sea breeze. Nev.

Without sound deadening lining they will be noisy. They weren't designed for taking people and responsibly you should have had ear plugs provided. Pressurised planes take the cabin  to about 8,000 feet but the pressurised system usually has the  descent rate of the CABIN quite slow 

  IF you have an upper respiratory system infection you shouldn't fly anyhow,  A forced yawn or chewing some thing helps.  Shake can come from the nosewheel or any flats on the tyres or a rough surface runway,  Nev

Thanks I wonder how I missed it. They keep saying crew of four. Here it was operated with two unless on extended flights where 3 were carried to enable much longer duty times. (Up to 23 hours) They didn't use a flight engineer either.  At one stage one was the US Presidential Plane and I think Mac Arthur flew to Japan in one  to sign the treaty with the Japanese. They were not pressurised but had obviously had intentions. as some of the structure showed. It's successor the DC-6 WAS. . TAA's last one left in  1969. There's one at HARS which was a flyer but last time I was in it it looked a bit sad but should take to the skies again. Weather radar was installed in the local ones and the nose is slightly more pointy on the ones  so fitted. Douglas airframes at that time were considered to be the ones that set the benchmark  The controls were unboosted and quite heavy and the brakes had no antiskid. so easy to blow a tire in the wet. Nev.

You are right. Cruise speed not stated but the DH 82 A with gypsy 1C of 130 HP is only 78 knots.. Nice thing to have and bring out on a fine day. Nev 

Tail heavy gives better lift/drag  at the risk of pitch instability. The gypsy 6 is a period engine  also fitted to the Dragonfly,  I think the queen is much more developed and supercharged. Used in the Dove and Heron.(4 engines). Smooth and lovely sounding but a bit heavy

They quote the stall speed lower than that but you are right about the visibility over the nose. You would probably have to fly a low turn to a small flare when landing . When full of fuel  the mass distribution would affect pitch reaction like many stretched jets exhibit.

  Carrying fuel in the wings  makes a lighter structure possible.

These thin wings with taper would certainly call upon some skill by the pilot. No dorsal fin. Spin recovery might be an issue. Nev

I don't know what armament a Mossie carried but many were used for high alt. photo  reccie. Many are unaware they eventually made a metal one called a Hornet that operated from Carriers. Nev

You might also say an aluminium plane is made from white clay or a locomotive out of red brown rocks.. Nev

It's not really fast although they have gone to a lot of trouble with fairings etc, The main problem with wood was the glues used at the time (Mainly casein) I don't know why the nose is so long. Maybe fuel there but that would need  careful managing. if there is. Nev

Thanx. Corny.the fuel light coming on is pretty authentic. Nev

I recall the autogyro's more vividly.   Wasn't that James Bond stuff "corny"? Nev

The BD5 has to be one of the best looking designs ever. I'm not surprised there was a lot of interest in them. Nev

It's to  all intent a taildragger. The Main wheels are in front of the C of G and has the usual characteristics except   the 3 point is shallow and you'd probably put too much weight on it if you were used to more conventional tailwheel landing 3 point attitudes as I was.. I rarely did wheelers. I haven't flown any four seater versions or even seen one to my knowledge.  I recall the Walter motor had particularly fine finning on the heads and cylinders and looked well made. nev