Aircraft of the Republic

[Guinness]

Yep, that figure is for a 150 gr projectile.

[Carthaginian]

Anti-tank aircraft discuss sprouted this idea, not used for anti-tank but anti-TB. This idea is still unrefined so apart from empty weight/mtow weigh, engine HP, gun and shell weight; all the other numbers are estimates.

Name: TACO  Ca. III
Contractor: TACO (Tien-Day Aviation Corporation)
Type: Close-Air Support Concept Model (Mono)
Crew: 1 - Pilot
Length: 37 feet
Wingspan: 45 feet
Height: 13 feet
Empty Weight: ~2,600 lbs
MTOW: ~3,400 lbs
Engine: 1 x Dading 240HP Engine Water-Cooled Inline
Maximum speed: 100 mph
Range: 440 miles
Ceiling: 6,000 meters (19,685 feet)
Armament: 1 x37mm Cannon strapped in Pylon underneath Fuselage - 25 rounds
Payload: None

I'm thinking this would very much be impossible in 1917.
VERY MUCH.

Heck, it's almost as poor in performance as an Aerocobra.

[ctwaterman]

There are plenty of aircraft for use in Naval Combat.  The British and the French both used a 1914/16 pusher aircraft with an angled down 37mm Gun for sub hunting.

Charles

[Carthaginian]

There are plenty of aircraft for use in Naval Combat.  The British and the French both used a 1914/16 pusher aircraft with an angled down 37mm Gun for sub hunting.

Charles

One was mounted in a SPAD and fired canister; it was a smoothbore.
Basically a large, single-shot, manually loaded shotgun, and not too successful.
Others were mounted in twin-seat scouts, loaded by an observer.
These were also not successful enough to become widespread.

The British tried a semi-auto 37mm on an aircraft- specially built and very off-the-wall- but it was regarded as pretty unsuccessful, as were other attempts with 1-pounders. All had 'noticeable recoil effects.'

In fact, the only 'large bore' cannon which WAS successful was a recoilless rocket fired as an ASW weapon.
It was made for targets moving at only 12-15 knots, and required a large bomber-type aircraft to manage enough stability and operational manpower (gunner was a dedicated position) to make it practical and accurate.

http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/cannon_pioneers.htm

[Logi]

I'm pretty sure the aircraft could have been done in 1917, however, the airplane is not useful for its intended role. Its intended role calls for a much larger caliber which can not be mounted on an airplane, so the whole idea is scrapped.

Also with regards to the rounds, I see your point but that hardly makes a difference to the plane's performance.

[Carthaginian]

I'm pretty sure the aircraft could have been done in 1917, however, the airplane is not useful for its intended role. Its intended role calls for a much larger caliber which can not be mounted on an airplane, so the whole idea is scrapped.

Also with regards to the rounds, I see your point but that hardly makes a difference to the plane's performance.

Well, when the plane only has 200 h.p. to throw around, those 20 pounds or so would definately make a difference.
Remember, Formula 1 drivers began complaining that Danica Patrick had an unfair advantage because she was about 50 pounds lighter than the average male driver.

[Logi]

Range is underestimated to tank size, so that is easily made up.

[Logi]

A random idea, how would this fare?

A point-defense plane. All metal-construction with short wings powered by motorjet. The plane does not carry bombs nor machineguns but rather a nose with rockets. Point is flying off at high speeds and firing on a one-pass.

[maddox]

Replace the motorjet with a rocket, and you have the Bachem BA349 Natter.

[Desertfox]

[Walter]

I doubt that there would be a single Chinese person on this world who would be carzy enough to fly something like that...

...except when they're dealing with the Swiss. :)

That picture is no doubt a field somewhere in New Switzerland where one of those Chinese contraptions went down, piloted by a fanatic who tried to ram the plane into the NS government building . :D

[Logi]

Plane's structure is all-metal construction, rest is limited metal-construction. Heavy and expensive, the fighter is also heavily armed to deal with enemy fighters. It's true mission however, is to shoot down enemy airships with it's heavy "cannon", the 20mm Becker.

The two engines rest on the wing, heavily covered and protected by sheet metal. The MGs lie underneath them, synchronized fire. The 20mm Becker, which can not be adjusted for synchronization, lies under the center fuselage, where there is no propeller and thus no need for synchronization.

The 20mm Becker fires Incendiary rounds (Phosphorous) to ignite Airship gases.

Name: Model 1919
Contractor: ???
Type: Heavy Fighter
Crew: 3 - Pilot, MG Gunner, 20mm Gunner
Length: 38 ft
Winspan: 52 ft
Height: 12 ft

Empty Weight: 7,000 lb
Loaded Weight: 9,000 lb
Max Takeoff Weight: 13,000 lb

Powerplant: 2 x Dading 300hp Inline Engine


Maxium Speed: 122 mph
Range: 629 miles (314 miles combat radius)
Rate of Climb: ~500 ft/min
Ceiling: 4800m

Armament: 2 x twin 0.5" (12.7mm) Fixed Forward-Firing MG with 200 rounds each
1 x 20mm Becker (Automatic) Fixed Forward-Firing with 50 Incendiary Rounds - Phosphorous
Payload: None

Thoughts?

[Sachmle]

Interesting idea, if not a little overarmed for now. What RL plane(s) did you base it off of?

[damocles]

The kW to mass ratio might be off a bit.(1/9 really? You were lucky to get 1/11 in a twin engine in 1922!)  Max speed computes to around 175 k/h in at service which at this date is ~ 3000 meters. No reliable supercharger yet. Engines have to breath. at MSL to work as rated in those days.

A max altitude for an Albatross V for example was listed as where the engine quit because it choked out. That was usually around 4450 meters.       

[Logi]

Insert Quote
The kW to mass ratio might be off a bit.(1/9 really? You were lucky to get 1/11 in a twin engine in 1922!)  Max speed computes to around 175 k/h in at service which at this date is ~ 3000 meters. No reliable supercharger yet. Engines have to breath. at MSL to work as rated in those days.

A max altitude for an Albatross V for example was listed as where the engine quit because it choked out. That was usually around 4450 meters.    

Sorry, no metrics, only imperial. Please write everything in Imperial unless you talk about Ceiling, else I have no clue what you are saying.

Ceiling for Capronic Ca.3 at Military Factory is listed at 4,844m.
Ceiling for Airco DH.9 at Military Factory is listed at 4,730m.

Service records for WW1 airplanes also so records of going above 3000 meters in altitude. This went hand-in-hand with the anti-airship operations some planes carried out.

This is a twin engine- bomber aircraft fitted for fighter role. Which, I would think, is somewhat different from a single engine "light" fighter airplane.