Barracuda photos

[coronado]

Hello !

Something went wrong when I tried to send the photos of my Barracuda last week, I apologize, here they are

Have a nice sunday

Pierre

[Graham T]

Nice job....but the Barra with it's wings folded still looks like it's just crashed!

[stevehnz]

Did they need their wings folded to look like that?

Nice bit of modelling, I reckon you've got it about right. One of my favourite aeroplanes, but then, I like Rocs & Bothas too

Steve.

Edited February 28, 2010 by stevehnz

[coronado]

You wonder what they have smoked to design such a thing with it's folded wings !! We french have also designed in the past very strange flying things : look at Farman's designs for example : in total contradiction with aerodynamic rules and beauty was only an option !!

[Greenshirt]

You wonder what they have smoked to design such a thing with it's folded wings !! We french have also designed in the past very strange flying things : look at Farman's designs for example : in total contradiction with aerodynamic rules and beauty was only an option !!

By today's standards it does look quite unconventional. The thinking was probably, "we must design and make a monoplane that seats 3, carries a torpedo so must sit high to be able to load using standard support equipment, it has to use the 'standard' mark engines and it has to fit inside the hangar bays of HRH' fleet carriers while also fitting on those damn small lifts." I'm always amazed at the solutions that seem to work.

When you consider Fairey's other combat FAA aircraft, it's not that unconventional, just an evolutionary development. The Swordfish pivoted back on its TE, the Albacore did, then the 'Cuda. The Fulmar's wings did as well, but the Firefly's look more like the Grumman design with it's rotation as it folded back.

Grumman did the same with its wing-fold design, using it even today on the E2D Hawkeye.

Tim

[Alex Gordon]

What do those who had to work on it think?Could they reach in?Were the electrics simple?Was it a t*at to work on?

Splendid job by the way,well done Sir.

Edited February 28, 2010 by Alex Gordon

[gingerbob]

You wonder what they have smoked to design such a thing with it's folded wings !! We french have also designed in the past very strange flying things : look at Farman's designs for example : in total contradiction with aerodynamic rules and beauty was only an option !!

Well, I won't comment on French planes for fear of starting an international incident (I'm from the US, so I could sell arms to both sides... hmm, on second thought!)

I think it is analogous to the frequent claim that the Zero and Japanese designs in general were just rip-offs of Western technology. Clearly the designer of the Barracuda was heavily influenced by origami.

What you really have to admire is the Barracuda Mk.V. You can imagine some design office conferences: "OK, folks. We've got a tough assignment this time. We have to somehow make the new version even more grotesque than the regular one."

bob