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Speed,Combat,Scale,Racing => Scale Models => Topic started by: John Rist on February 28, 2011, 12:41:46 PM

Title: Spad A2
Post by: John Rist on February 28, 2011, 12:41:46 PM

Ever seen a scale of this one?    #^

Spad A2
One of the more outlandish attempts to design an aircraft with forward firing capabilities. The gunner/observer sat in a small cabin that was attached in front of the prop of the engine. There were many problems with this design, ranging from lack of communication between crew members, to a safety issue for the observer. Many of these planes were exported to Russia.

Type: Fighter Reconnaissance
First Introduced: 1915
Engine: 1 x Rhone 9C 80 hp.
Wingspan: 9.55 m
Length: 7.29 m
Weight: 535 kg/815 kg
Max. speed: 112 km/h
Ceiling: 3000
Crew: 1
Armament: 1 x machinegun

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SPAD_A2.jpg

Title: Re: Spad A2
Post by: Tim Wescott on February 28, 2011, 01:32:40 PM

I've seen 3-views of this one in a book on the air war in WW-I.  Very impressive, in an "I think I'll hide under a table" sort of way  :o.  If you do it, you need to find a pilot figure for the gunner that looks like this guy.

Title: Re: Spad A2
Post by: Will Hinton on February 28, 2011, 05:54:18 PM

Very interesting, but it might be a bear to start!

Title: Re: Spad A2
Post by: John Rist on February 28, 2011, 06:50:04 PM

Quote from: Will Hinton on February 28, 2011, 05:54:18 PM

Very interesting, but it might be a bear to start!

That's why they invented electric power!!   LL~

Title: Re: Spad A2
Post by: Bill Little on March 21, 2011, 10:44:48 AM

Quote from: John Rist on February 28, 2011, 06:50:04 PM

That's why they invented electric power!!   LL~

Hi John,

Electric would DEFINITELY be the way to go on that one!  A very unique subject.  Seems the prop would want to suck the gunner back into it all the time. ;D

Big Bear

Title: Re: Spad A2
Post by: Tim Wescott on March 21, 2011, 11:19:43 AM

Quote from: Bill Little on March 21, 2011, 10:44:48 AM

Hi John,

Electric would DEFINITELY be the way to go on that one!  A very unique subject.  Seems the prop would want to suck the gunner back into it all the time. ;D

Big Bear

Apparently they met with a lot of resistance from prospective gunners when it came time to load up and fly.

This was SPAD's attempt to answer the "fighter fires forward" problem, before interrupter or synchronizer gear was invented.

Title: Re: Spad A2
Post by: LARRY RICE on March 21, 2011, 02:05:33 PM

The "Interrupter" gear was invented several years before World War I by both the British and the Germans.  Since aeroplanes did not carry guns and most machine guns were to heavy to be carried aloft no one thought about using them.  Fokker reinvented the wheel when he made his.

Larry