Here's some Lippisch patent information and something from EAA's Sport Aviation:
His ground-effect patents include these:
#3,190,582, 6/22/65 (1/2/64) (pictured)
#3,627,23512/14/71 (12/3/69)
#3,661,111 (5/9/72)
#3,830,179 (6/20/72)
#3,830,448 (6/19/72)
These seem to be for variants of his X-112, which flew back in in Fall/1963.
That one is illustrated in two Sport Aviation articles (both pictured below):
Hardie, 9/73, p.19
Anon., 4/74, p.31
The second article remarks how the "new" Russian vehicle was a very close copy of the German X-113Am, which was a Lippisch design.
Each article shows the X-112 hanging in the former EAA Museum in Hales Corners Wisconsin, where I also photographed it not long before the move to Oshkosh. His original stick-and-tissue "Aerodyne" model was also there on the floor. Lippish did design the Me-163 and Me 263, as well as many other successful and less than successful tailless planes in design series. That included the DM-1 glider which, unlike his successful powered "Delta I" of 1931, was a true delta that was tested by him and later NACA, determining that deltas needed sharp leading edges. As a consultant, he helped develope this into the Convair XF-92A of 1948. The Delta Dagger proceeded from these, with help from Whitcomb to get it supersonic, with his "area rule", to which Lippisch was said to have responded, "Gentleman, a genius", or something close. Lots of people forget that Lippisch was a leader in the German glider development of the 1920's and into the 1930's with high performance standard designs. He delivered a very informative address on his progress to the British Royal Aeronautical Society in 1931. He was fiery, but very generous with information that was not proprietory to country or employers. He wrote booklets and contributed articles and information to modelers post war - used to speak at Oshkosh before his death in 1976.
Popular Science ran a cover story on the X-114 12/77, and something called the "Flarecraft" in 4/92 (70 mph on 40 hp).
I'm sure the intent of this design was for efficient water transport, rather than offensive weaponry. He wasn't at all ignorant or whimsical. Ground effect would give aircraft speeds on low h.p., but it certaily could be easily dealt with from above.
SK
Topic: Military Flying boats (Read 6062 times)