Name that Flying Machine
OWDAX THEN...
well if those that think they know will post the correct name we can move on.............. asw seems closest
Noyade is correct - but I'm sure asw did have it earlier
it's the PV4 - a good idea but it just wasn't competitive and by early 1935 the RAF were looking at monoplane bombers
it's the PV4 - a good idea but it just wasn't competitive and by early 1935 the RAF were looking at monoplane bombers
Very distinctive aileron in the first picture suggested a Slingsby product. The second picture and the "pivotal capability" clue leads me to the Kirby Kite, which was used in radar trials at Worth Matravers.
I found this wonderful article by Phillip Wills about his participation in the trials:
https://www.key.aero/article/battle-...glider-flights
I found this wonderful article by Phillip Wills about his participation in the trials:
https://www.key.aero/article/battle-...glider-flights
Very distinctive aileron in the first picture suggested a Slingsby product. The second picture and the "pivotal capability" clue leads me to the Kirby Kite, which was used in radar trials at Worth Matravers.
I found this wonderful article by Phillip Wills about his participation in the trials:
https://www.key.aero/article/battle-...glider-flights
I found this wonderful article by Phillip Wills about his participation in the trials:
https://www.key.aero/article/battle-...glider-flights
Strange, it is not behind a pay wall for me.
Phillip Wills describes early radar trials flights with his Minimoa and some Viking gliders, using Avro 504Ns as tow planes. Later they used Kirby Kites.
Phillip Wills describes early radar trials flights with his Minimoa and some Viking gliders, using Avro 504Ns as tow planes. Later they used Kirby Kites.
Now the key Belgian fort of Eben-Emael had just been captured almost without a struggle by a small force of glider-borne troops, who had arrived in complete silence. What the Air Ministry needed desperately to know was whether wooden gliders, which might form the spearhead of the expected invasion of England, would also act as aerials and would therefore be detectable at a distance by radar.
Our main radar research station was positioned at Worth Matravers, high on the cliffs above Swanage, some 60 miles from the nearest piece of the enemy-held coastline of France, and it was to be our task to be towed out by the Avro 504Ns to a distance of some 40 miles and up to a height of about 10,000ft, where we would be cast off to make our lonely, undefended way back while the boffins at Worth Matravers tried to detect us.
Our main radar research station was positioned at Worth Matravers, high on the cliffs above Swanage, some 60 miles from the nearest piece of the enemy-held coastline of France, and it was to be our task to be towed out by the Avro 504Ns to a distance of some 40 miles and up to a height of about 10,000ft, where we would be cast off to make our lonely, undefended way back while the boffins at Worth Matravers tried to detect us.
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~24 hours have elapsed, it is the Kirby Kite, the radar trials story is fascinating and what prompted the challenge. Plus, what thing of beauty:
The gentleman in the CUGC Kirby Kite is a Mr. Slazenger taken in the 30's. I had the honour to be awarded the CUGC Slazenger trophy many decades later for early cross-country prowess.
India42 has control.
The gentleman in the CUGC Kirby Kite is a Mr. Slazenger taken in the 30's. I had the honour to be awarded the CUGC Slazenger trophy many decades later for early cross-country prowess.
India42 has control.
Thanks asw.
I think I first read about the glider radar trials in RV Jones' "Most Secret War".
What impressed me most in Phillip Wills' article was the fact that they were towed 40 miles from the English coast, and were therefore only 20 miles from German-occupied France!
Here's an aircraft with a lot more struts than the Kite:
I think I first read about the glider radar trials in RV Jones' "Most Secret War".
What impressed me most in Phillip Wills' article was the fact that they were towed 40 miles from the English coast, and were therefore only 20 miles from German-occupied France!
Here's an aircraft with a lot more struts than the Kite: