Name that Flying Machine

[Asturias56]

is the challenge German?

[meleagertoo]

Verdammt, nicht!

[thnarg]

Looks like it was designed by the Farnborough chaps?

[Noyade]

A Bloater?

[meleagertoo]

That must rate as one of the worst-named aircraft ever

Noyade has it.

[Noyade]

Cheers Mel.

Try this.

[thnarg]

OK I’ll start. The front end and engines looks like a Kangaroo, but not the back end.

[Noyade]

Originally Posted by thnarg

looks like a Kangaroo

It certainly does have a Joey-like pouch up front for the pilot and one passenger. The tail can fit six more passengers. Smaller than it looks with a wingspan of only 38'.

[Asturias56]

Is it Australian then?

[Noyade]

Not this time.

[thnarg]

38’ wingspan for eight people and two motors? That’s some wing loading, even with two.
In spite of the peaky blinders they look American?

[Noyade]

Yes - American.
Small motors.

[thnarg]

Oh well that narrows it down to a few thousand!

A big name like Curtiss or a couple of obscure guys working in a garage somewhere?

[Noyade]

Originally Posted by thnarg

Oh well that narrows it down to a few thousand!
A big name like Curtiss or a couple of obscure guys working in a garage somewhere?

Let me try and narrow it down for you.

Check out this guy - Jake Moellendick - apparently a bit of a dick in real life, but he funded an aeronautical company with a few "obscure guys" who later branched out on their own and eventually became big names in American aviation.
The machine above with the twin OX-5 engines, was involved in a crash with Walter Beech flying it - eventually re-engined with a single 300 hp Packard. All this was somewhere around 1921.

https://airbornerambler.wordpress.co...e-air-capital/

[thnarg]

Thanks for the hint and the link - Jake did indeed know a few “obscure guys” who went on to better things. I found the machine in question (and two became one!) but again will let others play for a while while I do Other Stuff today.

[meleagertoo]

It's the Laird Limousine, designed by Emil Laird in a company financed and part-run by Moellndick. Though highly innovative it was grossly underpowered with two Curtiss OX5s, fared little better when remodeled with a 250Hp Liberty, and same again with the final engine, a 300Hp Liberty

In twin OX5 mode



In interim Liberty mode

[Noyade]

Over to you Mel.

[meleagertoo]

[Asturias56]

not a glider then...............

[Noyade]

Turned out to be a bit of a 'bomb' during the test phase.



I'm not sure why Gunston captioned it "recoverable" - my impression is it hits the ground with 1,000lbs of explosive - nothing remains?




https://www.designation-systems.net/...sperry-fb.html