Strangest RAF aircraft of World War 2.

The thread was started with a mention of the Libellula. The M.20? (can’t be bothered to go and look it up) had very impressive performance, almost on a par with the Hurricane IIRC, but as fighter production was adequate it was never needed.
The last one the designer must have been on an illegal substance. I have read about it but can’t remember now what the reasoning was – or if it made sense.

Did we get this one?

and

Or

Or even

Flood

[QUOTE=Skyraider3D]Just wondering now… are there any other single engine aircraft around with three tail fins like that?QUOTE]

Would the Gannet count?

Roger Smith.

Always thought that the pressurised Wellingtons looked pretty odd. What were the designers at Weybridge in the early 1940s drinking?

http://www.rafweb.org/SqnMark106-110.htm

(2/3 down the page)

Best wishes
Steve P

Bah! Dont you start Ronnie 😀 – if you’d flown in one you’d know it bloomin needs them!

I haven’t unfortunately, but if anybody gives me a ride in one I might change my mind 😀
Just wondering now… are there any other single engine aircraft around with three tail fins like that?
Staying in the three tail fins department, the Manchester is also a bit of an oddball :rolleyes:

DHFan – I indeed mentioned two service types, as most planes mentioned are prototypes only and i don’t think they really count 😉

Interesting one Scarecrow. I’ve never heard of the Spitifre?

Spitfire…definitely a strange bird.

Scarecrow runs and dives into a foxhole

. . . or perhaps even cogitate . . .

Mention of the Rotabuggy (not rota jeep) reminds me that Herr Hafner proposed a larger version of his concept – the Rota Tank, how about a Valantine tank with a 152 ft diameter rotor towed into the air by a Halifax which in turn would have been towed by a Dakota – honest.
Also if we’re mentioning Noel Pemberton Billing’s mad idea’s (Slip wing Hurricane) may I propose the Hillson Bi mono for the thread to codgetate on.

It’s a replica built on a real jeep, looks the part though!

Thought that had to be the case – what a wonderful thing to build a replice of, though. More power to their arm!

Now, we’ve had the inflataplane, and the plane for when you want to sling your hook – as we seem to have drifted slightly out of WW2 anyone got a shot of the Durex Delta? :diablo:

Adrian

“BOAC used a rare aircraft on the Luchars to Sweden ‘ball bearing run’ in 1941. They acquired the prototype Curtiss CW-20 36 passenger airliner.”
From http://airlines.afriqonline.com/airlines/560.htm

Strange as in…?

From http://www.tartanpixel.com/raf/ww2photo.asp

Flood

Well cheese me, I never knew that, ta oh sodden one.

TT

i personaly think the messenger is rather cute but at the same time strange.

I love the conspiracy-theory lunatic fringe!

The Goodyear inflate-a-plane was first developed at the request of the USAF for use by SAR to allow a pilot who was stranded in remote areas to fly himself out if a rescue aircraft couldn’t reach him (it would be air-dropped from a bomber or transport). The project was started in the early 1950s (when helicopters were unreliable and very short-ranged). A two-seat version was later developed for bomber crews. It had a belly skid that allowed for take-off from clearings or roads. The project was downgraded in priority after the CH-34 (Wessex) and similar longer-ranged and more reliable helicopters entered service in the late 1950s.

The design was then considered for the recovery of aircrew downed behind enemy lines, but that idea proved unworkable, as most uncaptured downed pilots would be hiding in hilly or forested areas that would prevent its use. It was tested on snow, and proved capable of take-off & landing on water, in an effort to attract USN interest (thus the Office of Naval Research markings).

Any considered use by Special Ops or the CIA was after the project was already under development, as the original RFP & contract were from the Air Rescue Command.

Always thought the C-46 was most ungainly, but thats not RAF either….

“BOAC used a rare aircraft on the Luchars to Sweden ‘ball bearing run’ in 1941. They acquired the prototype Curtiss CW-20 36 passenger airliner.”
From http://airlines.afriqonline.com/airlines/560.htm

Strange as in…?

From http://www.tartanpixel.com/raf/ww2photo.asp

Flood

Gotta be the ONR-CIA Rubber Airplane for me.

“Excuse me Sir, we’ve blown up your aeroplane for you”

http://www.unrealaircraft.com/qbranch/rubber_onr_cia.php

I’m still not sure if this is a wind up :rolleyes:

Nice one Brian! Is that the real thing, or a replica? I guess the latter – if so bet they had fun building it, though I somehow doubt that there were many volunteers for a test flight!

Adrian

It’s a replica built on a real jeep, looks the part though!

Bah! Dont you start Ronnie 😀 – if you’d flown in one you’d know it bloomin needs them!

I’m with DHF :p

Always thought the C-46 was most ungainly, but thats not RAF either….erm Windsor has it for me then…..

Speaking pedantically, I think the only ones mentioned above that entered service and became RAF aircraft are the two Ronnie “complained” about. I know the Messenger did but there’s nothing particularly strange about it.

The Airspeed and GAL eyesores were both for the Fleet Air Arm I believe.

Well, it does have too many tail fins to be normal! 😀

‘dissin the messenger matey …. 🙂