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Old 11th Jan 2013, 12:56
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Molemot
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near the watter...
Age: 77
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A couple of years ago I went to "La Coupole", the WW2 German blockhouse intended as a V2 launching facility.
La Coupole Saint-Omer - History and remembrance center : La Coupole in Saint-Omer.
I have long wondered how the V1 could achieve in flight stability, as it lacks both ailerons and dihedral. When I entered the reception at La Coupole, there was a V1 hanging from the ceiling....and it had ailerons!! Then I moved around it a bit and saw the cockpit canopy.....and realised it must be one of the manned versions. So I still don't know how they got roll stability.
I would not have fancied trying to exit at 500+ knots, with the pulsejet intake immediately behind the cockpit, a suicide mission for sure.
I can recommend La Coupole for a visit, they also have a very accessible V2 rocket motor there, fascinating to see the way they dealt with cooling the chamber and injecting the fuel and oxidant.
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