Aircraft Trivia Quiz

No, it is not the twin otter. Both DeHaviland and Viking are both Canadian. Furthermore, Viking has purchased the rights and tooling for the Otter.

Just to give you a hint. The country in which this aircraft is build is often accused of copying...

Ok so are we in China?

Yes, China is correct.

MA600?

Looks like a copy of a long nose dash 8. or even an atr.

You are close Scorpiomikey, but the Xian MA600 does not have a 300+ orders (I am not sure about any FAA certification) . I am looking for a bigger aircraft, the fuselage is the direct copy, the wings is a local development.

By the way, the MA 600 is not an ATR or Dash 8 copy but an An-24/26 copy.

Would I be correct in thinking that there is a bit more to it than a simple copy, more like a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy?

Is it the COMAC ARJ21?

F-8fanatic

Is it the COMAC ARJ21?

Yes, it is the Comac. The Chinese had a license for the MD-90 (which itself is a part of the MD-80, DC-9 familiy). For the ARJ21 they use the MD-90 fuselage (it has the exact same dimensions) but have a newly designed supercritical wings (supposedly of Ukranian desing). Comac has 300 on  order and want the put this aircraft on the international market. Hence the FAA certification.
Interestingly enough they have a least 1 USA based customer, GECAS (GE Capital Aviation Services). GE has an interesting busines model. They are the supplier of the engines but also a customer for the aircraft. So, in a way, they sell to themselves being both supplier and customer..... This way they insure that GE engines get used in a lot of airliners.

Anyway, F-8Fanatic, you have the floor.

ok,

I am looking for a plane.  I will try to keep this from getting confusing.  The manufacturer was in one country we'll call A.  This company was well known for building previous figher designs for another country that we will call B.  The plane's engine was supplied by a third country, we'll call C.  C and B were classic arch enemies.  The plane I am looking for was not built for either B or C--ironically, it flew in combat against B, and at the same time, B flew some captured examples as well.

This plane had 3 major shortcomings in its design.  Of these, there were attempts made to address two of them, with one example being modified for each attempt.  The plane was a solid design, and actually proved quite capable of defeating it's usual opponent, but with fewer than 300 built, it never really had a chance.  It did serve with several air forces, and found its greatest success in an air force that became known for having shocking success with planes that everyone else already had discarded as obsolete and crude.  I believe that only one example survives today in a museum.

Would it the Morko-Morane?, The French Morane-Saulnier 406 powered by the Soviet Klimov M-105P, modified and flown by the Finns?

Mike T.

Morko-Morane

country A = France (producer of the Morane-Saulnier 406)

country B = Finland (modified the aircraft because of lack of spare engines)

country C = USSR (the Klimov M-105P engine from downed or captured LaGG-3 aircraft)

incidently, the Russian pilots hated the LaGG-3 and used the initials LaGG as an anagram for "Certified Varnished Coffin".

Mike T.

No, it isnt the Morane.  But you are in the general time frame....

How about the Fokker D-21.

Build in the Netherlands, powered by a British engine, use against and by Germany.

Yes, it is the Fokker D.XXI...

This plane had three major flaws--it was underpowered, too lightly armed, and had fixed landing gear.  One was modified to have retractable gear, and one was modified to carry 20mm cannon.  Even with these flaws, it proved to be maneuverable enough that it could handle the early BF109's fairly well.  The Finns had the best success with it, just as they did with the outdated Brewster Buffalo against the Soviets.  It was powered by a british engine.  The Luftwaffe did end up capturing a small number and flying them, but it primarily flew against Germany.  Around 150 were built, and the last remaining example is in a museum in Finland.  A museum in the Netherlands has a replica as well.  

I have seen the D-21 replica often. I live about 15 minutes drive from Soesterberg. In fact, I am going there tomorrow because of the Nationale Modelbouwdagen (= national modelling days). The d-21 is pretty good but the G-1 that they have is losing paint...

Anyway, a question.

This aircraft was the first of a very famous manufacturer/designer. However, the initial design work was done by another designer who fell out of grace....

The famous designer was saved by the fact he had a brother in a high political function.  

Bump

To easy? To vague? Need a hint?

MiG-1 which was initially a Polikarpov design.  Polikarpov lost favour with Stalin and Artem Mikoyan,brother of the politician Anastas took over the design.

That is correct! The MiG-1 was intially a Polikarpov desing, the I-200.

Only 2 of these aircraft were built by a manufacturer closely related to their first operator.  Each had a type number and shared a name though three type numbers were used during their operational lives,  Revolutionary for their time, one eventually crashed and the other was withdrawn by their second owner.

Sounds like the Concorde

Please explain how any of the clues relate to Concorde

I think there where more then 2 Concorde's build....

My anwser is the Junkers G.38, two where build, one crashed. The remaining G.38 was transferred from the Lufthanse to the Luftwaffet ("the second owner"). And beeing the largest landplane (and sporting an "avant la lettre" blended wing design) thet where revolutionary.

Not the G.38 but you are in the right era

One of the aircraft had a short term military designation at the start of its career in adition to the model numbers already mentioned.

The manufacturer of these two aircraft had moved into civil aircraft though its main interest and much of its initial fame came from military projects

I'm surprised this is obviously causing problems.  Think of an evolutionary machine - a cross between old and new ideas with a number of revolutionary features

If no-one has a crack at this during the next 12 hours I'll give the answer and come up with another question

Ok. How about the Loire et Olivier LeO H-47, also know as the SNCASE SE-200 Amphitrite.

Try a trip across the ocean!!

I'll post the answer at 22.00 UTC today Monday.