What Cockpit? MK VI
OK, bri. I'll kick it off. German?
I presume the handle is for winding the rubber band?
I presume the handle is for winding the rubber band?
Oohh,you put your left leg `ein`,your left leg `aus`,ein,aus,ein ,aus,shake it allabout,you do the hokey-kokey and you turn the handle,that`s when you get off the ground ``! I think it`s an early autogyro/helo!!
A one-way machine ?
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Not a U-boat kite. Yes, it was a one-way machine.
The cockpit photo is of the 'A' version of the craft, in which the test pilot later lost his life.
The cockpit photo is of the 'A' version of the craft, in which the test pilot later lost his life.
Last edited by evansb; 9th Oct 2008 at 15:44.
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Sorry, not the piloted V1. The 'B' version of the mystery ship has more cockpit instruments. Here is a photo of a replica model 'B' instrument panel.
Last edited by evansb; 9th Oct 2008 at 23:49.
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The Japanese version of the piloted V-1, the 'Baka'? May have the spelling wrong. I know that the language printed in the cockpit is wrong for being Japanese, but........
Good test anyway Evan.
Good test anyway Evan.
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Yes, it is the Bachem Ba.349 "Natter" (Viper), a semi-expendable, vertically launched rocket-propelled and rocket firing interceptor. 
Last edited by evansb; 11th Oct 2008 at 21:47.
If my memory serves me right, the pilot of the aircraft was killed minutes after this photograph was taken.
I think it was covered in the Pan/Ballantine Illustrated History of World War II series, German Secret Weapons.
I think it was covered in the Pan/Ballantine Illustrated History of World War II series, German Secret Weapons.
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Yes, Stevef, the photo is of the first manned flight, which took place on March 1, 1945, at Lager Heuberg military training area, near Stetten am kalten Markt. After launch, one of the boosters failed to jettison, and the cockpit canopy pulled off as the brilliant, 23 year-old test pilot, Lothar Sieber, intended to bail out. He was radioed to keep flying and try to shake off the booster, but the craft entered cloud, and he lost orientation. In addition, the large parachute mounted at the tail failed to open due to the stuck booster. The aircraft crashed, killing Sieber. It is quite possible that the "Natter" went supersonic on the way down. Lothar Sieber was the first pilot to experience a vertical rocket launch.
Earlier, I said the aircraft wasn't a glider, but a portion of its mission profile was indeed spent gliding.
Earlier, I said the aircraft wasn't a glider, but a portion of its mission profile was indeed spent gliding.
