F9C Sparrowhawk

[ACarey]

Couple of F9C Sparrowhawk pics.

[cooper9411]

Didn't the navy recover the two from the blimp that went down in the pacific?

[John Dupre]

First I ever heard of Sparrowhawks being recovered. Would be great if true. I have always liked that design and think it would be a great project for a reproduction or replica.

[cooper9411]

I seem to recall a few years ago reading a story about the blimp (can't remember if it was the Akron or Macon) that went into the Pacific off of the coast of San Diego and was recently found. There was photos of the wreckage and of the 2 aircraft. The talk was salvaging the aircraft. Just wondering if the navy ever did.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Not recovered yet and I think I recall the Navy doesn't want to recover them. I believe that there are more than two down there. i think I remember 6 went down with the airship. BTW, the Akron and Macon were airships (dirigibles) not blimps. Metal frame inside kept the shape and held the gas bags.
Jerry

[JOMiller]

At one time there was a plan in place to recover at least some of them.
In the course of the permitting process they were hooked by shrimp
nets and that ended the efforts.

[cooper9411]

Not recovered yet and I think I recall the Navy doesn't want to recover them. I believe that there are more than two down there. i think I remember 6 went down with the airship. BTW, the Akron and Macon were airships (dirigibles) not blimps. Metal frame inside kept the shape and held the gas bags.
Jerry

O.K. sorry for mis-speaking, dirigibles, dirigibles, dirigibles, got it. Thank you for the correction, I got this round

[Tiger Tim]

Anybody know what the thingies at the front end of the wheelpants are there for?

-Tim

[Randy Wilson]

Found this site http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/missions/2006macon/discovery.html with more info on the 2006 discovery and exploration of the wreck of the USS Macon. It says that four F9Cs were found with the wreck.

Randy

[shrike]

Anybody know what the thingies at the front end of the wheelpants are there for?

-Tim

Arresting wire deflectors for carrier trials. The Sparrowhawk has tiny wheels (and pants) compared to any contemporary carrier based aircraft.

[RickH]

And they will be preserved In situ for future generations !

[shrike]

Not recovered yet and I think I recall the Navy doesn't want to recover them. I believe that there are more than two down there. i think I remember 6 went down with the airship. BTW, the Akron and Macon were airships (dirigibles) not blimps. Metal frame inside kept the shape and held the gas bags.
Jerry

O.K. sorry for mis-speaking, dirigibles, dirigibles, dirigibles, got it. Thank you for the correction, I got this round

Dirigible means 'steerable', that includes blimps and semi-rigids as well as Zeppelin-types. As opposed to 'free' balloons which go with the wind and are controllable only to altitude (hopefully)

Blimps are non-rigid airships. They have no internal structure, and maintain their shape by inflation of the gas bags and ballonets. The gondola is supported by cables.
Semi-rigid airships (like the Norge, Roma etc) have a keel structure to which the gondola, gas cells, engines etc are attached, but still maintain their shape mostly by inflation.
Rigid airships, generically 'Zeppelins' use a complete framework to maintain shape and distribute the loads of flying equipment.