Silhouette challenge
Flying Tunnan? You've got me over a barrel on that one!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany
Age: 74
Posts: 883
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Blimey, that was quick. The Christmas Bullet it is.
Over to you RETDPI.
Doctor William Christmas believed that struts were unnecessary and that an aeroplane's wings should be free to flap like a bird's. Unfortunately, on the first flight of his 'Bullet' fighter, also known as the Christmas Strutless Biplane and by other names, the wings did exactly that and then came adrift. The pilot was killed instantly. A second Bullet did exactly the same thing a few months later. Christmas claimed all sorts of things, among them that he had 'hundreds' of aeronautical patents and that he was swamped by orders for Bullets from Europe and by million-dollar offers to rebuild Germany's air forces. None of them were true, but he did get the US Army to pay him handsomely for his wing design. Or so he said.
Jim Winchester "The World's Worst Aircraft", 2005
Over to you RETDPI.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Nottingham UK
Age: 85
Posts: 5,575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
S'land's challenge
Unfortunately, on the first flight of his 'Bullet' fighter, also known as the Christmas Strutless Biplane and by other names, the wings did exactly that and then came adrift. The pilot was killed instantly.
Mel.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South of Penge
Age: 74
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Christmas Scout - later "Bullet" saga (scam) is described in detail in an article by Robert Casari in Air Enthusiast December 1973 . Apparently Dr Christmas was paid $100,000 by the USG in a contract dated 18 Dec 1923. Christmas died in 1960 aged 94.
One of his staff was the young Vincent J Burnelli as Chief engineer .
Not a Buffalo Madbob.
One of his staff was the young Vincent J Burnelli as Chief engineer .
Not a Buffalo Madbob.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South of Penge
Age: 74
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well done Diesel addict It's the P.Z.L. P.50 Jastrzab.
An attempt was made during the German Invasion of Poland to fly the prototype out to Rumania. Unfortunately account was not taken of Polish anti -aircraft defences, a battery of which shot it down.
Probably a local version of the old Brit AAA adage:
"Two bob for every one you shoot down lads: Half a crown if it's German!"
Open House and a Merry Christmas to you all.
RETDPI
An attempt was made during the German Invasion of Poland to fly the prototype out to Rumania. Unfortunately account was not taken of Polish anti -aircraft defences, a battery of which shot it down.
Probably a local version of the old Brit AAA adage:
"Two bob for every one you shoot down lads: Half a crown if it's German!"
Open House and a Merry Christmas to you all.
RETDPI
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Timbukthree
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry, not from Messerschmitt. Some say the design resembles the Heinkel He.162 Volksjaeger. Alas, the subject aircraft is not from Germany.
Regards,
Bri
Regards,
Bri
Last edited by evansb; 27th Dec 2008 at 09:37.
