This version had two Lycoming engines, but it was found to be under-powered, so a single French built Turbomeca turbine was installed. You could say it is a VTOL, but not a tilt-wing. Although not a helicopter, it was built by a helicopter company, but not Bell.

Got it! The Piasecki PA-59K AirGeep.

http://xs121.xs.to/xs121/07470/Geepfrst.gif

evansb's challenge
 

ozbeowulf is correct:ok: Well done:D The AirGeep was one of several flying platforms developed during the 1950s. Although not a success, the idea has died hard. You have control.

That was a great challenge, Evansb!

Let's see how long this one lasts....

Note: Ignore the superfluous wires and struts seen through the windscreen. They do not belong to this aircraft.

url=http://xs.to]http://xs321.xs.to/xs321/07470/wotzit_2.jpg[/url]

Don't know what this is.. but it looks like a civilian "working" aircraft circa 1960..... Crop sprayer perhaps?

"Working", yes, but more utilitarian than a crop duster. Also, this aircraft's cockpit differed significantly from the civilian version.

Just some thoughts...

Cockpit colour indicated US mil, ac is single piston engine, interesting control column lock so I guess this one is probably in a museum. From Ozbeowulfs comments there is a civilian variant but the cockpit layout is quite different.

Very, very longshot here... QU 22 Pave Eagle?

Not the Beech Pave Eagle, Kitbag, but you're on the right track, i.e., this aircraft was a military version of a standard model from a major manufacturer. It had an unusual military designation.

A bit of background to keep things fair. I found this photo and attached info on a website with an excellent pedigree, but I have also seen inflight photos of this aircraft with two side-by-side crew seats, not the single crew position shown.

In any case, the structure surrounding the central instrument panels appears to be the same as the civilian version, which I have flown. This is certainly not the only civilian aircraft to be adopted by the military and retro-fitted with a single central pilot's seat. I don't know, but I suspect this mod involved only some of the several dozen -A, -B and -C military variants.

General hints: Think 1950s, US Air Force, and an engine with an odd number of cylinders.

[Edited to confirm Kitbag's assessment as a US military aircraft]

ozbeowulf's challenge
 

As you say the military layout is vastly different to the civil version. I also think this the screen framework doesn't even match the more common.miltary version. Please check PMs.
Mel

I'll go for the Cessna LC126 assuming a radial engine.

ozbeowulf's challenge
 

kitbag
ozbeowulf's challenge photograph comes from the National Museum of the USA website - Media associated with the Cessna LC-126. However, I am not too sure about it's authenticity as I have never seen a L-126 aircraft with a central windsceen panel. I think this may well a one off.
Mel

Well done, Kitbag. You have control.

Mel, Kitbag, Windriver, et al...

The photo came from the USAF Museum website.

See http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/pho...ID=2283&page=2

and select the photo in the lower right corner.

See also: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/fac...eet.asp?id=370

I hope this challenge was not misleading and assure you it was posted in good faith. I just wish I could find another, similar, photo to confirm or repudiate the USAF Museum's identification.

Glenn

ozbeowulf's challenge
 

Glenn
Thanks for your PM, I agree with you the aircraft windscreen was most probably modified to remove the central windscreen post for the single pilot conversion. Looking at a LC-126 undergoing restoration I agree the structure shown in your photograph matched that of the aircraft being restored. I found the attached photograph of N195SE which is a L-126C now in civvy colours. I would be interested to know how many single pilot LC126s were built.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...onsLC-126C.jpg
Yours was an interesting challenge which got the old grey matter working. :ok:

ozbeowulf's challenge
 

The Airforce museum has made an error in the caption of the photograph.
It is a Grumman OA-12 (J2F Duck). The Air Force museum have made errors before, and I have e-mailed them to correct their mistakes.
There is just no way the photo on thread #325 is a Cessna 195 (LC-126).
Here is the USAF museum's Grumman OA-12. Note the fenestration.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...-1234P-019.jpg

I have to say my guess, and that is what it was, was based purely on the use the ac had been put to rather than anything else. Looking at the museums external pic of the LC126 it does seem a little unlikely from here. If evansbe is right, and looking at a different source I suspect he is, he better get posting a new challenge :D

Here is the next 'What cockpit?':

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...40/4012173.jpg

Bell XV3a?

evansb's challenge
 

Kitbag is spot on in one:D. Well done. The Bell tilt-rotor XV-3 it is. You have control.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...ir640/xv-3.jpg

Amazing to think that that tilt rotor technology demonstrator of the late 40's (I think) is only now maturing into a usable aircraft.

Anyway, my last few attempts have been guesses but I am sure someone knows what this one is:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...eston/WC22.jpg

Apologies for the poor quality but that just adds to the fun doesn't it?:8

No idea really, but something says very bare...

Kamikaze aircraft? No idea what type