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Flight Replicas Project Status'

mike_cyul

mike_cyul

SOH-CM-2025
Just thought I'd bring you up to date on the Douglas C-47 formation, Messerschmitt Me-163B and De Havilland Heron, and post a few screenshots. One post per aircraft type, to keep things neat. :)

First, as it's likely to be the first released, the freeware 36 ship C-47 "Vic of Vics" ai formation. This will come with at least 4 paint schemes, USAAF and RAF both with and without D-Day/Normany stripes. Does anyone know of other countries which flew the standard 36 ship formation?

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Secondly, the Me-163B. Working on a few paint schemes, have to write the Manual, and it's complete. Of course, I'll probably find a few more details needing doing before release, but that's par for the course....

Seen here in RAF markings after capture.

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And thirdly, the Dh.114 Heron, which, now having her gear, is essentially done. The fixed-gear versions (there are two, one with early fin and rudder and one with the later larger ones) are still to be completed.

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Don't worry, static dischargers straighten up with airspeed. :)

Voila, that's the news for now.


Mike
 
Mike, that Heron really is coming to life, that is seriously looking Great ! :encouragement:

The 163, I'm sure the Brits did not test fly it because thought it was to dangerous, I'm not sure, one type I have not read up on much lately.

As for you Dak formation, with the recent photo shoot of the C-47 at Wigram, I said to Barf just how or what it must have felt like flying in a formation on D-day and how vulnerable they must have felt, that's going to be a choice package to with Manfred's teams and Jan's cockpit combination :cool:
 
Thanks for the update Mike.
I cant wait for the Heron. Are you going to include the one with the high forehead instead of the fin like the one outside Croydon Airport ?
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Dangerous Beans said:
Thanks for the update Mike.
I cant wait for the Heron. Are you going to include the one with the high forehead instead of the fin like the one outside Croydon Airport ?
Click to expand...

Yes, the "high forehead" version will be in there (including the Morton airline scheme shown in your photo).


Mike
 
Ian Warren said:
Mike, that Heron really is coming to life, that is seriously looking Great ! :encouragement:

The 163, I'm sure the Brits did not test fly it because thought it was to dangerous, I'm not sure, one type I have not read up on much lately.

As for you Dak formation, with the recent photo shoot of the C-47 at Wigram, I said to Barf just how or what it must have felt like flying in a formation on D-day and how vulnerable they must have felt, that's going to be a choice package to with Manfred's teams and Jan's cockpit combination :cool:
Click to expand...

Hi Ian,

The RAF 163 was flown at least once, by Capt. Eric Brown RN, Chief Naval Test Pilot. So you might have to imagine that's him in there. :)

And yes, when you think how low those C-47 formations flew, it's a picture of courage.


Mike
 
mike_cyul said:
The RAF 163 was flown at least once, by Capt. Eric Brown RN, Chief Naval Test Pilot
Click to expand...

More than once! And a number of times without fuel, towed to height behind a Bf110: he said it was an excellent high-speed glider. For his account of flying the Komet, see Wings on my Sleeve. The Heron is looking really impressive! :applause::applause::applause:
 
mike_cyul said:
Hi Ian,

The RAF 163 was flown at least once, by Capt. Eric Brown RN, Chief Naval Test Pilot. So you might have to imagine that's him in there. :)
Click to expand...
Thanks Mike, ole Wrinkles, dang near tested everything in that period.

More than once! And a number of times without fuel, towed to height behind a Bf110: he said it was an excellent high-speed glider. For his account of flying the Komet, see Wings on my Sleeve.
Click to expand...
Thanks Hairy, maybe a book I need to source.
 
Looking superb, Mike, all around! As always, your project choices and craftsmanship are fantastic. I'm looking forward to seeing the various color choices for the eventual paint schemes on the Heron.

Here's the "Wings of the Luftwaffe" episode on the Me-163, including clips from an interview with Eric Brown (the only allied pilot to fly the aircraft): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-cFNjWZUiw

Eric Brown (currently 95) states in the documentary that, of the 5 different tailless aircraft he ever test flew (including the DH 108), it is the only one which had good flying characteristics. He only ever flew the aircraft, powered, once, and that was unauthorized. All later test flights were unpowered.

Today, there is a Me-163 still flying, but it is a full-size replica, built only as a glider, and operated in Germany.
 
Thanks for the update, they're all looking great. The C-47 formation actually reminds me of when I used to fly Aces High and enemy squadrons would try to take over an enemy base just by overwhelming the system with paratroopers. The few times I encountered them doing that and I was in a fighter I felt like a great white shark at a seal pup smorgasbord. :)
 
I'll just add one more formation, seeing as it's the 70th anniversary of D-Day this year. Having some good drawings of the Waco CG-4A glider, there will also be a formation of 16 C-47's towing 16 gliders, in the formation style they used. Even the nylon tow line is to scale (equivalent to 11/16-inch-diameter (17 mm), 350 feet (107 m) long)!

Mike

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I think these AI formations you're doing are the coolest thing ever. Amazing! Now I'm wondering if it would be possible to record a formation of B-17s and then do a Me163 ground start to intercept them.
 
Amazing and thank you very much.

I set up the B-17's as a tanker in TacPack so can spawn anywhere so love these AI formation releases you do. 163 will be bought on release day.

Iain
 
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