Given it's inverted with no visible wheel wells, could it be an A6M2-N Rufe with the central float torn off?
Given it's inverted with no visible wheel wells, could it be an A6M2-N Rufe with the central float torn off?
I don’t think it is inverted. I think it just has a shoulder mounted wing.
LOL, this is why I love FR. Any subject will bring us in, but when the aviation related threads come up, we swarm to them like flies to honey!
Before I continue: I looked mostly at the aft end of the wing root to rule out an Avenger, because an Avenger wing appears to go straight in without tapering...same for a variety of other planes.
Also, I was certain there was no way it was inverted, but...I realize I could likely be wrong. Now I tend to agree that it IS inverted, because the forward side of the wing root is nearly flush with the fuselage, and at the aft end, it is more towards the center of the fuselage. That would be an EXTREMELY weird configuration if the plane were right side up, so...my apologies for the scare quotes around “expert”.
Also, if it were a purpose built variant of float plane, from a fighter platform then it would have no gear, only the struts for the floats.
I was clearly wrong there, I think...:)
Sorry. Therefore it likely is some Japanese variant...
Sheesh...you think they could have gotten a better photo of the darn thing?
Also, how on earth would a Japanese plane have lasted that long? you would thing the skin would have all disappeared a long, long time ago!
Great discussion though! Love it...:)