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Check out this strange aircraft!

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  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Thursday, October 24, 2019 1:15 PM

Blohn und Voss, in particular Dr. Richard Vogt, were convinced that an asymetrical engine/fuselage layout would solve the trim issue with propeller driven aircraft.  With normal single engine aircraft, the propeller creates a torque opposite to the prop rotation, causing the aircraft to turn.  Multi-engine airctaft experience the same effect if their props all turn in one direction.  Aircraft like the P-38 have opposite handed props which cancel out the torque.  The disadvantage to this solution is that the gearbox and propeller have to be different, which can be a minus in terms of parts suppy.  The intent of the asymetrical placement of the engine is to naturally cancel out prop torque, relying on the offset weight and drag of the airframe.

Blohm und Voss apparently got it right in the Ha-141 http://www.unicraft.biz/bigph1/ha141-wilson.htm and BV-141A machines - pilots were reported to have praised their handling and aerodynamic balance at all speeds.  However, changes made to the BV-141B series threw things out of balance.  The horizontal stabilizer was changed to an asymetrical layout to give the rear gunner a better field of fire.  The wing planform was altered to cope with the larger, heavier BMW-801 engine, which itself caused vibration problems.  All of this combined to sully the handling qualities of the original aircraft.

Many years later, Burt Rutan built the one of a kind Boomerang, a light twin boom aircraft with a cabin in one of the booms, and forward swept asymetrical wings.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_Boomerang  The aircraft used the same priciples as the BV-141, and was (is) a successful design.

I believe the dearth of asymetical aircraft is that most people don't like weird ideas, and that tried and true conventional designs are good enough.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: UK
Posted by PatW on Thursday, October 24, 2019 1:02 AM

Yes a weird aircraft. I look on the Unicraft web site (Unicraft.biz)for weird and wonderfull 'X planes' that were mostly designed and only one was built and only flown once! 

Remember , common sense is not common.

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Vancouver, the "wet coast"
Posted by castelnuovo on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 11:52 PM

What could have been the point of building or planning these bizar looking machines? Its not that the Germans had a lack of recon planes.

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by PFJN on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 6:13 PM

Hi,

Was it maybe the BV P170 or th P194

P194

 

1st Group BuildSP

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • From: Malvern, PA
Posted by WillysMB on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 11:50 AM

It was another BV project, can't remember the designation though. Somebody built an RC model of it and there is a flight video. Really ugly looking thing in the air, and doesn't appear too stable either.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 9:22 PM

Just screams pod racer kit bash

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Central Ohio
Posted by Ashley on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 6:49 PM

That would be the Blohm und Voss BV 141. It was a recon bird, so the unobstructed cockpit made sense. Don't think the airplane on the box art actually existed

Have you flown a Ford lately?

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 4:54 PM

The closest I've seen was a twin boomer- engine on one and cockpit on the other.

This is the same geniuses who built two aircraft carriers with no AAA destroyers or meaningful carrier capable aircraft.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 4:37 PM

What is it?

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 4:36 PM

Hmmm;

 That is definitely strange. But, Didn't they actually have something like that?

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 4:29 PM

Looks like it would have been a handfull to fly, and probably a lot of stability issues....  And even more forward visibility issues than most tail draggers with the pit that far back.

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 4:12 PM

That's something. They should have spent more energy just cranking out FW-190's, but I'm glad they didn't...

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    March 2005
Check out this strange aircraft!
Posted by philo426 on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 3:52 PM

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