Comments on: The raiders http://airminded.org/2008/06/08/the-raiders/ Airpower and British society, 1908-1941 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:24:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/06/08/the-raiders/#comment-76070 Brett Holman Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:11:21 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=509#comment-76070 It is indeed reminiscent of a Brisfit, but if you click on the picture to get a higher-res version, I think you'll see that it is actually a two-engined aeroplane. Well, actually I can only see one engine nacelle clearly, but as it's in the middle of the wing (attached by a close grouping of 4 struts, which the Bristol didn't have) I think it's a reasonable inference that there's a second one on the other side :) And there's perhaps a hint of another one on the far side as well. It is indeed reminiscent of a Brisfit, but if you click on the picture to get a higher-res version, I think you’ll see that it is actually a two-engined aeroplane. Well, actually I can only see one engine nacelle clearly, but as it’s in the middle of the wing (attached by a close grouping of 4 struts, which the Bristol didn’t have) I think it’s a reasonable inference that there’s a second one on the other side :) And there’s perhaps a hint of another one on the far side as well.

]]> By: Roger Horky http://airminded.org/2008/06/08/the-raiders/#comment-76066 Roger Horky Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:40:31 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=509#comment-76066 It looks like a Bristol F.2 Fighter on non-stepped floats. The vertical tail has the same rounded shape, but with a strake beneath. The fuselage is above the lower wing. The engine cowling has the same upsloped lower contour and level upper contour. It is clearly a two-seater (is that what you meant by twin-engined? "cos the painting clearly shows but one). Of course, the Biff was a two-bay biplane, and the aircraft depicted is a single-bay. But I find that many non-specialist illustrators are more interested in impression than accuracy (ever seen a Dornier Do28 with its main gear retracted?--only in paintings by the uninitiated) so the painter may have been working from a photo of a Bristol, to which he added the floats. It looks like a Bristol F.2 Fighter on non-stepped floats. The vertical tail has the same rounded shape, but with a strake beneath. The fuselage is above the lower wing. The engine cowling has the same upsloped lower contour and level upper contour. It is clearly a two-seater (is that what you meant by twin-engined? “cos the painting clearly shows but one).

Of course, the Biff was a two-bay biplane, and the aircraft depicted is a single-bay. But I find that many non-specialist illustrators are more interested in impression than accuracy (ever seen a Dornier Do28 with its main gear retracted?–only in paintings by the uninitiated) so the painter may have been working from a photo of a Bristol, to which he added the floats.

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/06/08/the-raiders/#comment-75861 Brett Holman Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:31:13 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=509#comment-75861 Thanks -- the consensus <a href="http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=81535" rel="nofollow">over here</a> is also that it's not a real aeroplane. The idea didn't even occur to me! Thanks — the consensus over here is also that it’s not a real aeroplane. The idea didn’t even occur to me!

]]> By: Ian Evans http://airminded.org/2008/06/08/the-raiders/#comment-75583 Ian Evans Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:10:47 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=509#comment-75583 I agree with that assessment. There was a Short project design of 1919/20 (all metal) with a very similar layout, but rather more sophisticated floats. I agree with that assessment. There was a Short project design of 1919/20 (all metal) with a very similar layout, but rather more sophisticated floats.

]]> By: George Shaner http://airminded.org/2008/06/08/the-raiders/#comment-75539 George Shaner Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:24:01 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=509#comment-75539 To my eye it looks like a cross between a contemporary flying boat and some of the early floatplane torpedo bombers. I'd bet it's a period flight of fancy. To my eye it looks like a cross between a contemporary flying boat and some of the early floatplane torpedo bombers. I’d bet it’s a period flight of fancy.

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