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Old 13th Jul 2010, 18:45
  #11161 (permalink)  
 
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Got to break for dinner....
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Old 13th Jul 2010, 18:48
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See you later....
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Old 13th Jul 2010, 20:19
  #11163 (permalink)  
 
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Well its not in any of my books, and if its not on the net I guess I may have to call it a day.

Slightly academic therefore, but just in case I've missed something:
- it is based on (but not converted from) a Piper Cub variant. So in otherwords it was, at the time, a new build aircraft (hence I can't find any reference to it under Piper)
- it is American
- it was used for research purposes
- you can't find any reference to it on the net (so no point in searching Aerofiles.com!)

As for research....I'm just trying to think what it could research...stall speeds??!!

And "based on" a Cub variant....would that variant be the PA-18?

Care to give another clue....year/decade of manufacture maybe?
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Old 13th Jul 2010, 20:54
  #11164 (permalink)  
 
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stall speeds??!!
Now there's lead! Not a PA-18 though being a Cub it is close! It was a conversion (for research) of a standard(ish) Piper machine.

It was one of only two constructed, only one in this config.

Original year of registration 1951

I'm surprised that it doesn't appear in a Piper Book!!!

RR

(NB: Aerofiles shows it only as the original variant and therefore pointless to look there!)

Picking up on one of LM's clue styles.... think Moon River.....
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Old 13th Jul 2010, 21:05
  #11165 (permalink)  
 
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I'm heading off to my pit now.... Good luck!!!!!! I've left a couple of clues, one of which will help with the operator. The other big one will help with the purpose of the research....... Night, night......

I'll be up at 0530 BST!!

RR
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Old 13th Jul 2010, 22:40
  #11166 (permalink)  
 
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Interesting....so a conversion of a variant of a Cub.. as the original was a taildragger I guess it could be converted from any one of a number of machines. I guess its coincidental that it was first registered in 1951 which was the same year that the PA-22 series appeared.

As I cannot find it any references to Piper I'm assuming it does not bear the Piper name?

I do have something in the back of my mind....but I have a feeling that was a Tri-Pacer conversion (not the twin one).

As for "Moon River" I now have the song in my mind!

Time to sleep on it....perhaps Graeme or Bri will have the answer.
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 05:29
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I guess its coincidental that it was first registered in 1951 which was the same year that the PA-22 series appeared
No link to the PA-22 as far as I know. Also "registered" may be the wrong term.

does not bear the Piper name?
Yes it does, hence my request for the operator at the time, which pins it down to this machine.

I now have the song in my mind!
Quite right!

RR
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 05:58
  #11168 (permalink)  
 
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I have found a refernce to it on the web (but no photo)! There is hope!
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 07:23
  #11169 (permalink)  
 
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Mornin'

I'm sure it's got something to do with "drifter", if you get my drift!
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 08:24
  #11170 (permalink)  
 
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No drift as far as I know, David!

I'll leave it until 1000 and then feed in another clue........
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 08:26
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Morning RR.....was this a military derivative?

I ask as the only variant I can find where only 2 were produced was the YL-21. I've found a photo of 1 of the 2, and that just looks like a normal PA-18/L-21. Is it the other one (s/n 51-6496) that was perhaps modified?

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Old 14th Jul 2010, 08:56
  #11172 (permalink)  
 
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Disregard my last...have now found a photo of the other one!

Its out there somewhere..
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 09:10
  #11173 (permalink)  
 
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Hi Ken,

Yes, it was 51-6496 a YL-21 (only two built). However, the aircraft config in the image came later and was for a specific project with a specific organisation

RR

(I've wthdrawn the offer of a clue for a couple more hours because you are getting there Ken!)
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 09:15
  #11174 (permalink)  
 
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Morning RR,

Is it the Mississippi State University ? (the eponymous river is "wider than a mile")

They ran a research program into Boundary Layer Control on behalf of the US Army (who had the YL-21) and it's said they used a modified Schweizer Glider, a Piper L.21 (Sic) and Cessna O-1 in the early 1950's.
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 09:21
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Was it anything to do with the MARVEL programme?

edit - just seen TCs post above.
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 09:24
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It is indeed TC! (Sorry LM!)



During the twelve years of research that culminated in the construction of the XV-11A Marvel, the Mississippi State University used a number of aircraft to research and prove Boundary Layer Control principles. One of those aircraft was the MSU-Piper YL-21. The aircraft used was one of the two YL-21s built (serial 51-6496). This aircraft had a BLC system that sucked air used in the wing system via a double-windscreen and around the cowl to keep the engine cool, hence the deep nature of the cowl. The intakes of the cowl were sealed. Full BLC was available at high RPM at take off but not for landing. This system gave a 42 percent reduced take off roll and a stall speed of 28 mph. It had a TAS of 35 mph. The MSU fitted a sprung tri-cycle landing gear.

I don't know how you do it mate! I'll flatter you by saying that you have a canny knack of getting these challenges. Your head must be like an encyclopedia of aviation given that you don't have time aside from your short tea breaks!!! I had been wondering if you were a syndicate of collective knowledge!!!

Well, over to you . YOUR CONTROL

Last edited by Ridge Runner; 14th Jul 2010 at 09:37.
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 09:34
  #11177 (permalink)  
 
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Well done Sinco...!

Incidentally it seems this aircraft had all sorts of mods.....!

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Old 14th Jul 2010, 09:48
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Now I see why it had an alpha probe a long way ahead of the wing.

BLC has significant effects on upwash ahead of the wing.

Yes, I know, the world loves a smartass.
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 09:51
  #11179 (permalink)  
 
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I really hate to say this; but coffee break's over, so Open House please, and apologies to Ken, who's done all the hard work!

Thanks for the complement RR, I do have a good memory but it's far from encylopedic, I don't have any access to books here (or many at home apart from an attic full of Flightg going back to the early fifties and mostly still tied up from the last move). I just come in and carefully look at the clues and other posts, then try to cut straight to the chase with my carefully honed search algorithms, plus a lot of luck lately with the timing of the clues (sorry again).

Last edited by SincoTC; 14th Jul 2010 at 10:07. Reason: Just read Martin's generous comments
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Old 14th Jul 2010, 09:53
  #11180 (permalink)  
 
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Yes, that's the SChweizer competitor for a USAF low-observable recce machine. (early 1970s) YO-3?
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