SM93

[peperez]

Another Italian plane by Mr. Giulli. Three versions. Believe it or not, can carry FIVE bombs and dive attack!


View attachment 64560View attachment 64561View attachment 64562

 

[bearcat241]

Hmmm...

A most interesting design, with a uniquely fine exterior, but also a couple of unfortunate, glaring defects. The guy on the design team who came up with the pilot's positioning should have had a very generous a$$-kicking before it ever went to the drawing board, along with the head of the company who also signed off on this insane idea. I mean, i'm all for courage under fire and all, but damn, give the pilot a fighting chance man.

Let's follow the logic here: In order to prevent pilot blackout in high G dive recoveries, let's put the pilot in a position that basically exposes his entire body to ANY shrapnel or bullet or cannon shell that enters the forward cockpit...yeah man, that's a great idea, i can't wait to fly this one in REAL combat!!! :isadizzy: :mixedsmi:

Furthermore, what's up with having the pilot lying on top of that hot engine ?!?!?

 

[Shessi]

Ha ha ha!...not a great fan then BC?

And with the pilot prone to prevent blackouts in high-g pull-outs, guess what the seated rear gunner (your only defence) is going to do when the pilot does that.........blackout!

I think all nations have had those Dohhh! design moments.

Shessi

 

[peperez]

The idea was keep pilot safe from dive bombing blackouts. The biggest problem was pilot weariness. Despite a 580 kph speed, the concept was obsolete in the first flight in 1944.

Cheers

Pepe

 

[bearcat241]

The idea was keep pilot safe from dive bombing blackouts. The biggest problem was pilot weariness....

Yes, i can imagine how fatigue would play a big part in test flights, especially with the guy lying prone over a hot, droning engine for long periods, working ailerons, ECU and rudder with hands only. But had this one made it past its trials and into production, i can also imagine a high number of pilot combat casualties as the greatest cause of aircraft losses. Think about it. Forget the engine and other vital parts, an aerial attacker would only need to put a single round anywhere inside the forward cockpit to end this show. You can't say that about most aircraft from this period. Most require a more precise aim to fatally wound the pilot due to the protections of normal seating and protective armor in some form.

Ha ha ha!...not a great fan then BC?

At first glance yes i was, Shessi. I saw this one early on in the FS2004 category and had a mind to convert it (for private use) simply on its good looks alone. It does have a beautiful profile for a WW2 design. But that pilot positioning was a turnoff. :mixedsmi:


CheerZ!

 

[Discus]

Question on pilot figure

Pepe

Really a strange design. Many Luftwaffe designs (although most of them ) adopted that prone position for the pilots. Look in Luft 46:

"For the mostly two dimensional movements that are used to control an aeroplane, we usually have the pilot in a sitting position. It is a common and a natural position. It gives the pilot a great deal of freedom to guide the aeroplane. Yet, the Wright brothers used the forward reclining position for their first flying attempt.
There are several alternatives to the standard sitting position:
1. To lay: prone on the chest, either fully stretched or in a kneeling position;
2. To lay supine: on the back;
3. To be seated in a tilting seat.
Lying on the back is the most favoured for high-speed manoeuvres. Unfortunately, very limited forward and downward visibility as well as placing the pilot in a psychologically vulnerable position (It is well known that animals will lie on their back as a sign of surrender), this position is not practical.
A tilting seat combines both the usual comfortable sitting position as well as a forward tilted position for higher acceleration manoeuvres. Unfortunately, a tilting seat needs extra room as well as its associated kinematic mechanism. Further, moving the position of the pilot causes mechanical and operating problems with the aircraft’s controls.
When lying prone, the pilot gains an excellent downward view, which most pilots find rather unusual...."

Some links to this intersting subject:
http://www.luft46.com/prototyp/berlin9.html
http://www.luft46.com/prototyp/dfs228.html

Anyway:

What pilot figure are you using? It could be a great addon for the He111 and He115, or any other plane with prone bombardier positions!!

Cheers
Discus

 

[SPman]

It sort of looks like a Short Seamew........

 

[peperez]

Pepe

Really a strange design. Many Luftwaffe designs (although most of them ) adopted that prone position for the pilots. Look in Luft 46:

"For the mostly two dimensional movements that are used to control an aeroplane, we usually have the pilot in a sitting position. It is a common and a natural position. It gives the pilot a great deal of freedom to guide the aeroplane. Yet, the Wright brothers used the forward reclining position for their first flying attempt.
There are several alternatives to the standard sitting position:
1. To lay: prone on the chest, either fully stretched or in a kneeling position;
2. To lay supine: on the back;
3. To be seated in a tilting seat.
Lying on the back is the most favoured for high-speed manoeuvres. Unfortunately, very limited forward and downward visibility as well as placing the pilot in a psychologically vulnerable position (It is well known that animals will lie on their back as a sign of surrender), this position is not practical.
A tilting seat combines both the usual comfortable sitting position as well as a forward tilted position for higher acceleration manoeuvres. Unfortunately, a tilting seat needs extra room as well as its associated kinematic mechanism. Further, moving the position of the pilot causes mechanical and operating problems with the aircraft’s controls.
When lying prone, the pilot gains an excellent downward view, which most pilots find rather unusual...."

Some links to this intersting subject:
http://www.luft46.com/prototyp/berlin9.html
http://www.luft46.com/prototyp/dfs228.html

Anyway:

What pilot figure are you using? It could be a great addon for the He111 and He115, or any other plane with prone bombardier positions!!

Cheers
Discus

You must talk with Giulli...

 

[peperez]

Yes, i can imagine how fatigue would play a big part in test flights, especially with the guy lying prone over a hot, droning engine for long periods, working ailerons, ECU and rudder with hands only. But had this one made it past its trials and into production, i can also imagine a high number of pilot combat casualties as the greatest cause of aircraft losses. Think about it. Forget the engine and other vital parts, an aerial attacker would only need to put a single round anywhere inside the forward cockpit to end this show. You can't say that about most aircraft from this period. Most require a more precise aim to fatally wound the pilot due to the protections of normal seating and protective armor in some form.



At first glance yes i was, Shessi. I saw this one early on in the FS2004 category and had a mind to convert it (for private use) simply on its good looks alone. It does have a beautiful profile for a WW2 design. But that pilot positioning was a turnoff. :mixedsmi:


CheerZ!

You use the feet in the usual way... But it's ready to upload.

Cheers

Pepe

 

[Discus]

You must talk with Giulli...

I will. Thank you.