Morning David. It looks like a jet powered glider, but that bulge underneath the fuselage is odd. An experimental job? Unconventional power source?

Morning Ken.

It is indeed a jet-powered glider. Not experimental, just a jet-powered version.

I don't think many of the jet-powered version were built.

Although I can't find any information, I think the bulge is a small fuel tank.

The photograph shows it to be under the wing root, not the fuselage - therefore there must be another on the other side.

edit: moving to our other building - back shortly.

Would anyone like the photograph as a clue?

ah, go on, be a devil ......

Standby then........

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/u.../photoclue.jpg

A NASA machine?????

Not American.

Edit: going home, back soon.

Sorry to leave you but I have to get off early to see a gas man! With no internet at home I'll catch you on Monday! Have a good one!

M

Not been able to look in since this morning...busy workwise unfortunately.

I kept looking at the Caproni-Vizzola A-21 series of gliders, but the A-21J and A-21SJ featured retractable jets.....however....I think this is a one-off A-21J that was converted by Lockheed/Mississippi State University to a fixed jet arrangement.

I guess LM has closed down now for the night, and no one around to second my suggestion. Closing down now, and not around tomorrow, so if correct it will have to be Open House. Good night.

Just missed ya mate.

Can't find LM's photo but the general layout looks like the Caproni and I have found mention of the Lockheed/Mississippi conversion in a few sources which also mention the two under-wing fuel tanks.

Happy to confirm, but I don't know if it received a different designation?

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/594/img014di.jpg

Still here Graeme:ok: But was just about to turn the pc off when I thought I'd have one last look. David's photo is on Minijets website: The Minijets Website: Caproni A21J Calif where you'll see it referred to as a A-21J modified by Lockheed. I did a bit more investiagation and it is the only one and was purely experimental. Not sure if it should be classified as American or Italian?

Anyway take a look at the link and I'll leave you confirm or not - as I said it will have to be OH anyway.

Have a good day mate - cheers:)

Definite confirmation now. :ok:

Sleep well. :)

Good morning/g'day.

I had to go out unexpectedly last night.

Great shot Ken - it's the Vizzola A21SJ. :D

Pity you're not around - please take the OH Graeme, because Martin won't be around either and TC is probably working.

Good morning David. :)

So what happens on the weekends these days? Trevor and Ken work and Martin is without a computer? Sad state of affairs. I lost my GIMP program and have to improvise I'm sorry...

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4486/img019vm.jpg

I don't work at weekends mate.

Martin has just moved and I suspect is awaiting internet connection.

Trevor is simply a workaholic.

edit - can't you download GIMP again?

Yep. Sometime soon.

Probably not the best illustration, so...

Trees are most likely Eucalyptus and the birds at bottom right, Currawongs. :)

Did that actually fly?

.....and wossa apparent cables on the fuselage do?

Yes, it flew.

Dunno mate, but you can see the same apparatus in the bottom photo...

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/7883/img020fe.jpg