Back to B-36s in the UK. The ‘Wiltshire’ B-36 (B-36H 51-5719):

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And a couple of bits in my collection, including Aileron trim tab balance weight, piece of aluminium alloy and a short length of tube with rubber hose & clamps attached:

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So it could be a Soviet type or Japanese, but likely not Northrop Gamma or Lockheed Sirius, unless a great deal of redesign, modification and re-manufacture – including re-positioning wing spars in relation to fuselage structure (for what use?) was done. Or sensibly it could be some other type. Thus could we re-start from there and not get stuck on previous closed discussions?

No point getting p1ssy either – so far no-one seems to know what it is, but a few knowledgeable souls have put forth good reasons that it isn’t those so far mentioned.

And on the basis that we don’t know what we don’t know, any suggestions welcomed!

Ian_,

Wouldn’t be one in Chippenham would it? 🙂

Well this is Spanish, low-winged and with a big radial. OK the Rata has retractable gear but the colour scheme is interesting for a start.

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I can’t speak for what is the status quo now, but a complete, unfinished 146 (nose, centre section & tail section, along with wings and pylons) was delivered, and I was told that all would be displayed as an ‘exploded’ view of an airliner, with parts of it furnished and others laid bare so that the structure could be seen. It does make sense to use a scrap 146 for the ‘furnished’ bits, but I wonder of the whole will come together in future?

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Interesting that the landing gear trousers extend down from a lump on the wing leading edge: not a feature of the Northrop Alpha or Beta, but does occur on the Gamma.

Also that the centre section appears to have no dihedral while the outer wing panels do (this is a feature of Alpha, Beta and Gamma). But though that would possibly point to a modified Gamma, it’s still too ‘weedy’ for the image we’re looking at.

Sadly the spatted Lockheed Sirius has no ‘flat’ centre section so I think we can rule that out.

If it is a modified machine, I’d expect both of those features to be unavoidable areas where the original design would have been difficult to modify (why does the Gamma have those fairings – anyone?).

It’s strange that no obvious record of this aircraft survives and I’m now leaning towards a Japanese one-off or a similar Soviet creation. Philippines could easily fit – or even China 🙂

Too many differences: this is a beefy-looking machine and apart from the Sirius, Gee Bee and Gamma they’re all too puny-looking.

That colour scheme makes me think that this is a famous aircraft (or should be) and probably along-distance racer. But I’m out of suggestions. It does look like a Granville Brothers-inspired type though.

Should be some interesting additions in the next few months/years (Freighter, F.2b, 146 etc): is the Bolingbroke restoration on view (the large bits that is)?