PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Plane with the engine connected to the wheels
Old 29th May 2014 | 10:50
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ShyTorque

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: ATPL
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It certainly worked for the Harrier - I was once asked by an Senior Army Officer passenger in the T-bird how we got the drive down those narrow legs to the wheels, ho-ho-ho..........
I was once at an air show standing by my Puma. A young lad of about five years old was asking me various questions about my aircraft and others nearby. A two seat Harrier taxied past. The lad asked me why it had two seats and I explained that it was used for training new pilots.

He nodded wisely. "Aha", he said. "So when the pilot is good enough to fly by himself, they'll take off those little stabiliser wheels, just like my daddy will do with my bike!"
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To answer the original question:

Yes it is quite possible. Look up the Mercedes Le Mans racer from a few years back. It took off, did a complete back flip and managed to fly completely out of the race track in the process. The driver was extremely lucky to survive intact.
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