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Eric 'Winkle'Brown's Airacobra

baldy

SOH Staff
Recently read about this so I've 're-created' it - on 4th April 1945 Lt.Eric 'Winkle' Brown RN landed a P39 Airacobra, which had been fitted with a rudimentary tail hook, on HMS Pretoria Castle - the first time a tricycle undercarriage aircraft had landed on an aircraft carrier.

to recreate this I used Obio's updated version of the B24 Guy's P39D and Sopwith Chameleon's RAF skin which I altered to suit. The actual aircraft had had it's wing wheel doors removed but I was unable to do this using 'real green' as it left gaping holes in the wheel wells. I'm afraid the tailhook is only available via the cfg file. My HMS Gadila is standing in for HMS Pretoria Castle.

GCS0002.jpgGCS0003.jpgGCS0004.jpgGCS0006.jpg


a little known part of aviation history worth remembering

baldy


ps when he took off later the ship had to steam into the wind to to make as much deck head wind as possible otherwise the P39 wouldn't have made it off
 
why?

So, what's the back story here? Is it just us Brits looking for the cheapest way of checking out tricycle landing gear for carrier ops? And why such a small deck?

(Hmm, we'll be frowned on if we wreck a Meteor or prototype Vampire. - Oh, hang on a minute, I know, we've got a beat up old Airacobra MkI back at base, why not stick a hook on that & get Winkle-Brown to figure out if trike gear can stand the rigours of deck recovery first!")

...& then the crazy guy then decides to TAKE OFF again!:costumed-smiley-034
 
Got the book in front of me... seems it had already been tested on the land test cables (presumably at RAE Farnborough), and Eric wanted to be the first to put a tricycle gear aircraft on a carrier.

ttfn

Pete
 
Don't forget about the XFL-1 Airabonita. It was naval version of the P-39 with conventional tail-wheel undercarriage set up tested in 1941. So the thought of using a P-39 for carriers is not nuts as it sounds.

View attachment 9669
 
had another go at 'greening out' the wheel doors - better this time but you still have to pose the aircraft or you'll see holes

GCS0005.jpgGCS0006.jpgGCS0007.jpg


cheers

baldy
 
The P-39 has been on my to do list for a long time. I know it will need some work to the cockpit area as the stock is missing the Radio Deck behind the pilot.

View attachment 9704

I also know I will be making a Q model as the Q models we have do not show the under wing 50s in the cockpit views as they are added by use of DP.
 
Eating my words

I owe the USN and Lt Cdr Syd Bottomley an apology for saying Winkle Brown RN made first tricycle undercarriage landing on an aircraft carrier on 4th April 1945 -- the first person to achieve this was Syd Bottomley in a modified PBJ-1 on 15th Nov 1944 landing on USS Shangri La


PBJ_on_CV-38_3a(1).jpgB-25-on-USSshangri-la1944.jpg


this aircraft was also fitted with catapault lugs and was successfully launched off the Shangri La.

Happy to put record straight.

baldy
 
I'm sure Allen could make you a better version. With B24 Guys permission. If Allen is up to it that is.

View attachment 9739

I got all of the anim done thankfully. I'm thinking the stick and seat will not be making the exterior model as the Radio Deck eat up 140+ polygons. I still have to cut the model up to do the breaking parts and do the linking.

Messing around with things like tailhooks and converting to a Q model will have to wait tell I have the D fully rebuild.
 
Looking good Allen, Keep at it.

Regards,
B24Guy

If I could scasm edit I would be adding small parts to the OH model but I can't... So I have to do everything redo everything in gMax. Also would it be alright if I can use the VC panel and gunsite from the OH P-39?
 
You bet, use whatever you need.
I think your way is better in the long run.

Regards,
B24Guy

I took the VC pan, site and taller VC cockpit frame.

A good mix of gMax and scasm edit would be best for stocks as I can't use the bullet hole logic. Endcap logic is half baked at best and means endcaps have to be added to the main model and adds to the basic polygon count.
 
2nd apology

I am ashamed to admit I did not give credit for the USS Shangri La where it truly belongs --


Collin Glendenning


with apologies

baldy
 
I'm sure he'd forgive you. Might have a comment or two.

Allen,

Man you do some fast work. Are you going to use the OH skin set?
 
I plan to. I know I can't use the same p39d_airacobra_T.bmp and p39d_airacobra_R.bmp set up. The MakeMDL won't use the damage texture unless they the texture end in _T.bmp. I will have to use p39d_L_airacobra_t.bmp and p39d_R_airacobra_t.bmp. This mean the OH textures will work but the end users will have to rename to fix the new model.
 
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