Name This Plane

[jchastain]

Anyone recognize the following:

[RBWhite]

I'm pretty sure it's a Vought. Not completly sure.

The retreval hook says it's Navy.

Not sure of it's designation UO or FU.

[jchastain]

ORIGINAL: RBWhite

The retreval hook says it's Navy.

One might think. But one would be wrong. The history is far more interesting. [:D]

[Terminus]

That's one of those parasite fighters they built to launch and recover from airships. Can't remember what they were called or who built them.

But apparently lots of different countries and companies experimented with the concept.

[CapnDarwin]

A Sperry Messenger used on US Army Blimps in the 20's.

[RBWhite]

You got it Capn.

[jchastain]

Yep. That's it. There's no fooling this group.

[chief]

One minor adjustment......BLIMPS are non-rigid (NO Airframe) and could not carry an aircraft.[:-]

An AIRSHIP, rigid (has Airframe) Could and did carry retrieveable aircraft in the early 20's & 30's[&o]

I'm sorry if I'm critical on this point but being a crewmember on Naval Blimps I just had to add my two cents. Just to keep the record straight. By the way I couldn't have ID'd that bird. I also suspect that the only Airships of the time were NAVY, not Army, but who's nitpicking anyway ?[:D]

[jchastain]

ORIGINAL: chief

I also suspect that the only Airships of the time were NAVY, not Army, but who's nitpicking anyway ?[:D]

Actually...

The hook mounted above the upper wing is the one used in the first successful contact between an airplane and an airship while in flight. This occurred on September 18, 1923 over Langley Field, Virginia, when a Sperry Messenger piloted by Lt. Rex K. Stoner, "landed" on a trapeze suspended from the D-3 Army Air Service airship.

SOURCE LINK

[CapnDarwin]

chief,

The Navy did use the rigid airships with the ability to store the aircraft aboard. In this case however, the Sperry was used by the Army on non-rigid airships as shown below.

[Terminus]

The parasite fighter concept didn't end there either. Check this out:

[RBWhite]

Chief

1930

US Navy Giant Airships

USS Akron - Went down in 1933
USS Macon - Went down in1935

Each Carried 4 Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawks in an onboard hanger[;)]

Rick White

[chief]

RB White: No argument on that statement. My first comment was made on the use of the description BLIMP, and now I see I was wrong. (see below)

Capn Darwin: darn you ......you destroyed all my dreams[>:] and Navy Propaganda, they never told me about the US Army Blimps, well at 72 I'm still not too old to learn. Thank you for setting me straight. My bad........[&o]

[RBWhite]

Chief

Were talking about Real Navy Giant "Airships" not some oversized Army gas bag[:)].

They probly used Navy pelican hooks to to secure the plane anyway.[:D]

But could the pilot get out of the plane?


GO NAVY

Rick White

[chief]

From what I remember ....yes the pilot, was able to get into the airframe but not the bird. I Believe from Naval training films that after the hookup and A/C engine was secured they brought the A/C up as close to the envelope as possible and the pilot climb out onto the upper wing and so on. I assume they relaunched the bird for landing of the Airship. I wish I could have crewed on an Airship instead of a GasBag.

[sysrkm]

Hi guys,

Neat discussion on parasite planes and fi/con configurations. But here's probably the most famous (or infamous, depending on POV) of them all.

Here's the XF-85 Goblin, on it's trailer and on it's trapeze below an ED-29









If you ever get to watch the Discovery Channel or Wings, watch the show called Strange Planes. You'll actually get to see the Goblin flying.

Regards all,

Rob