This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:49 pm
This is the first time I've seen this. The center pontoon retracts as the bottom of the fuselage. What is this?
http://www.strangemilitary.com/content/item/130988.html
Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:32 pm
Blackburn B-20
Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:35 pm
What's the advantage? Prop clearance?
Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:53 pm
TBDude wrote:What's the advantage? Prop clearance?
Less drag while flying.
Regards,
Mike
Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:09 pm
Actually its designed to keep mechanics busy!
Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:52 pm
But why bother with the added weight and mechanical complexity of an enormous extending center pontoon -- rather than a conventional flying boat hull?
Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:08 pm
wacky looking thing. how many prototypes?? any additional pics?? or history??
Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:08 pm
Seems ridiculous to me. I want to hear the rationale behind it.
A agree that the added weight of the contraption totally offset the gain in aerodynamics.
Cheers,
David
Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:55 pm
The Float was designed to keep the props clear of the water without excessive hull depth, and to obtain large angles of wing incidence on take-off without the penalty of an awkward nose-down . drag producing cruising attitude. Quoted from Putnam Blackburn Aircraft since 1909.
Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:10 pm
Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:44 am
respectable speed with all that drag. the profile shot does it more justice.
Sat Oct 13, 2007 8:40 am
Wow, I'm impressed. That is quite a decent speed for something like that.
-David
Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:58 pm
Way to go Trae. Not many flying boats are totally new to me but that gobbler was a total surprise!
The B-20 came out in a time when number of flying boat designs were around, both good and bad. Wikipedia says two were built. The crew got scared of it and baled out. geez! It lost the competition to the Saunders-Roe Lerwick, which was a big enough turkey in its own right. Only 21 of those were delivered and withdrawn by mid '41 except for one short strength sqn. flying Arctic convoy patrol. The Lerwick was replaced by the CATALINA * (No I'm not biased at all.)
Canso42
* The Encylclopedia of Aircraft, Thunder Bay Press, 2004. p. 434.
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