Sorry fastaviation, were you trying to post a challenge? I was obviously putting mine together at the same time you posted...

Time for a clue? This is a twin-piston aircraft.

G'day TheiC.

A twin in green - military? USAAF aircraft in a museum?
The little squirrel cage - what's that for may I ask?

G'day to you too...

Yes, a twin in green (and black, top right of the image).

Not USAAF.

I'm not sure what the squirrel cage is for, though I could hazard a guess. I'll try to find out tomorrow.

Morning mate.

No idea what I'm looking at...is that the port or starboard engine? I tried Googling aviation museums around Hampshire (looks very nice!) but keep getting an Army one full of choppers and single-engine types...

British?

In haste: Yes, British designed and manufactured.

A further clue:

This was the third in a series of four aircraft with similar purpose in mind built in the 1970s and 80s. Perhaps ahead of their time..?

Evening.

Looking closer at your photo mate - trying to figure out what that curved opening could be?

http://i44.tinypic.com/11lr9rp.jpg

I've worked on this aircraft and all I can say is 'TheiC you are a very naughty boy.' :D And as for Noyade 'Keep going, you've been close.':ok:

UAV or Drone????

VX275, I'm not sure why I've been naughty... It's a very historic aircraft, in its way, isn't it?

It is a piston twin...

It is in a museum...

Etc.

I think the squirrel cage is an air filter or separator, can't find a definitive answer but perhaps 275 can help.

Port or starboard engine? Well, there's an assumption there that the aircraft has port and starboard engines, isn't there?

...and I'm afraid that I've no idea what the opening is, unless simply for cooling.

That's OK mate.

Gonna start making some wild stabs. Twin engine but not in the traditional sense - I was thinking of a co-axial helicopter...like the Cierva Grasshopper, but that doesn't fit your clues.

Military machine?

Red hot!!!

Westland Wisp or the smaller Mote

Sorry kitbag, but no.

Is dixi188 and Kitbag on the right path though? Did it carry a pilot?

Unrelated, but I found the Westland WG 33 - interesting machine!

...two scientists were racing
For the good of all mankind
Both of them side by side
So determined
Locked in heated battle
For the <answer to the challenge> that is their prize...

Actually, I'm cooking eggs mate and making a cuppa tea......:)

Forgive me, those are the lyrics of 'Race for the prize' by the breathtaking Flaming Lips...

They're into the final furlong, Kitbag's leading on the inside but Dixie looks strong on the rail and that's Noyade making a strong surge towards the line...