1. #1
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jphYnNJQAnw

    I just saw an engine plus cowling of this thingy at Berlin's "Deutsches Technik Museum" this past week-end, and I gotta say "jebus!".

    It's the only airplane I know with a cowling heavier than the actual engine

    The Cowling is made out of 2-3mm thick plates of steel
    Share this post

  2. #2
    Considering how the thing looks like it barely gets up into the air, I wonder if our in-game version is a bit over-powered. The Il-2 is a very big plane and has tons of armor too.

    On topic, it's amazing to see one of these flying again. It's about time, I think, considering how many were produced and their overall historical significance.

    Apparently this bird still has a few of the original bullet holes it earned in battle.
    Share this post

  3. #3
    Yup IL-2 carried more armour than an A-10 does.
    Share this post

  4. #4
    Tully__'s Avatar Global Moderator
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    17,367
    Originally posted by Luno13:
    Considering how the thing looks like it barely gets up into the air, I wonder if our in-game version is a bit over-powered. The Il-2 is a very big plane and has tons of armor too.
    He used a technique I've never seen anyone use in the game - 3 point takeoff. His lift from the runway must have been at close to absolute minimum airspeed so climb performance would be rather a lot less than spectacular until he'd accelerated closer to best climb speed.
    Share this post

  5. #5
    At 2:26 they show the rear gun, anyone know what the short and long tubes above and below the barrel are?
    Share this post

  6. #6
    Based on my limited knowledge of guns, those could be tubes which siphon off the exhaust gasses to push another round into the firing chamber.


    He used a technique I've never seen anyone use in the game - 3 point takeoff. His lift from the runway must have been at close to absolute minimum airspeed so climb performance would be rather a lot less than spectacular until he'd accelerated closer to best climb speed.
    I've never seen or heard of a 3-point take-off. I haven't flown a tail-dragger though (that's what they call a real plane ) If it's close to stall speed, that seems risky in this unique aircraft.
    Share this post

  7. #7
    Tully__'s Avatar Global Moderator
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    17,367
    Originally posted by Woke_Up_Dead:
    At 2:26 they show the rear gun, anyone know what the short and long tubes above and below the barrel are?
    The long one is the gas piston, it siphons off some of the propellant gas from the barrel to drive the action loading the next round. The short one looks like it's either the action return spring, or a shock absorber to smooth out the gun action making aiming easier.

    Originally posted by Luno13:
    I've never seen or heard of a 3-point take-off. I haven't flown a tail-dragger though (that's what they call a real plane ) If it's close to stall speed, that seems risky in this unique aircraft.
    The attitude of the IL2 on its wheels is not as steep as many tail draggers so it's probably not that close to stall speed. It's still a steep enough angle of attack to be well below best rate of climb speed (V<sub>Y</sub>) though, it's probably pretty close to best angle of climb (V<sub>X</sub>) or designed lift off speed (V<sub>LOF</sub>).
    Share this post

  8. #8
    Originally posted by Luno13:
    Based on my limited knowledge of guns, those could be tubes which siphon off the exhaust gasses to push another round into the firing chamber.


    <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">
    He used a technique I've never seen anyone use in the game - 3 point takeoff. His lift from the runway must have been at close to absolute minimum airspeed so climb performance would be rather a lot less than spectacular until he'd accelerated closer to best climb speed.
    I've never seen or heard of a 3-point take-off. I haven't flown a tail-dragger though (that's what they call a real plane ) If it's close to stall speed, that seems risky in this unique aircraft. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
    A 3 point takeoff was the preferred method in a B-17.

    Takeoff Training:
    <span class="flash-video"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"
    codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0"
    height="315"
    width="420"
    ><param name="wmode"
    value="transparent"
    ></param><param name="allowScriptAccess"
    value="never"
    ></param><param value="transparent"
    /><param value="never"
    /><param value="transparent"
    /><param value="never"
    /><param value="transparent"
    /><param value="never"
    /><param value="transparent"
    /><param value="never"
    /><param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HTBoYTy_M2o?version=3&hl=en_US"
    name="movie"
    /><param value="true"
    /><param value="always"
    /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash"
    pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"
    wmode="transparent"
    allowScriptAccess="never"
    height="315"
    width="420"
    src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HTBoYTy_M2o?version=3&hl=en_US"
    /></object></span>

    Full Version:
    (The 13:00 minute mark is where the explantion of why the three point takeoff is used starts.)
    <span class="flash-video"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"
    codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0"
    height="315"
    width="420"
    ><param name="wmode"
    value="transparent"
    ></param><param name="allowScriptAccess"
    value="never"
    ></param><param value="transparent"
    /><param value="never"
    /><param value="transparent"
    /><param value="never"
    /><param value="transparent"
    /><param value="never"
    /><param value="transparent"
    /><param value="never"
    /><param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fdc8MJHB0Cc?version=3&hl=en_US"
    name="movie"
    /><param value="true"
    /><param value="always"
    /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash"
    pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"
    wmode="transparent"
    allowScriptAccess="never"
    height="315"
    width="420"
    src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fdc8MJHB0Cc?version=3&hl=en_US"
    /></object></span>

    Very cool video of the restored IL-2 Brems.


    Wheels
    Share this post

  9. #9
    Tully__'s Avatar Global Moderator
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    17,367
    Originally posted by wheelsup_cavu:

    (The 13:00 minute mark is where the explantion of why the three point takeoff is used starts.)
    Wheels
    Same logic applies for the IL2 which was frequently loaded to gross weight limits on short, hastily prepared strips.
    Share this post

  10. #10
    joeap's Avatar Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    3,999
    Amazing!!!
    Share this post