I wonder how original the Yak-28's design was. It looks like it has some Sturmvogel genes.
Posted on 05/28/2005 10:57:08 AM PDT by yooling
You've heard the rumors, perhaps even seen a magazine article or two -- several Me 262 jets are now under construction in the United States!!
This incredible project is the result of a decade of privately-administered effort to create flight worthy examples of the Messerschmitt 262 fighter, and is now entering its final stages. Formerly subcontracted to the Texas Airplane Factory and administered by Classic Fighter Industries, Inc. the WTMF owner's group has now assumed watch over the final, and most critical, phase of the project. Our Seattle-based team of expert designers, engineers and technicians recently completed the flight test program for the first of our five jets, while the second machine is rapidly approaching similar tests.
There was a great show on the MIG 15 on Modern Marvels (History Channel) a couple of nights ago---did you catch it?
Didn't put in the part which said that this was an unfueled flight.
I saw a program on the History Channel a while back in which they claimed the British gave them the engine based on losing a pool game.
I thought at the time that was probably total nonsense. The British government was full of Commies. I suspect that is how they got it. Anyway they got the best jet engine in the world without doing any development work. We then paid the price in korea.
I wonder how original the Yak-28's design was. It looks like it has some Sturmvogel genes.
Here's an interceptor version, Yak28P (perekhvatchik).
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I've never seen that cockpit style before. Is that a trainer?
The 2-engine ME-262 used Junkers Jumo 004B axial Turbojets with a thrust of 1,980lb. Its maximum speed was 870 km/h (461 mph) and a range of 1050 km (560 Mi). It used four 30 mm MK 108 cannons in the nose. Two cannons had 100 rounds and two were with 80 rounds (260 total). Rockets could also be loaded on the wings in later versions.
By comparison, The most common Mustang, the P-51D, powered by RR Merlin V-12 engine, had a max speed of 437 mph and a combat range of 950 mi (1,855 if equipped with drop tanks). Arnament was 6 .50 machineguns with 1880 rounds of ammo. It could carry 2 1,000# bombs or 10 rockets.
Yeah, the ME-262 was max 25 mph faster, but acceleration wasn't great on those early jets because they took a long time to spool up. Given that the Mustang has over 7 times the ammo, 2x or more the range - and was probably more maneuverable - I'm not so sure I wouldn't have rather been in the cockpit of a Mustang.
I'll never forget being a wee lad..in the middle of Charleston Harbor on a boat, and watching the Blue Angels flying F4s(!).
A6s used to "strafe" us on the beach all the time, we would wave and they would give us a little wing wag.
I also got to see the Angels many years later in Upstate NY..spectacular show.
Whenever we were playing on the beach and a guided missile cruiser would steam out of the Naval Base under full power, we kids knew the "big wave" was coming, and everyone would run into the water to body surf the monster Kona wake wave!
More like 540mph; is generally agreed upon as the max speed of the 262...am I mistaken?
Well, heck. Maybe we can start one!
The Russian 'bard' Vysotskiy had a nice song about the the Yak-9:
Ya - 'Yak', istrebitel', Motor moy zvenit. Nebo - moya obitel'. No tot, kotoriy vo mne sidit, Schitaet, chto on - istrebitel'. I'm the "Yak" fighter, My engine whines. The sky is my abode. But the one who sits inside of me, Thinks that he's the fighter.
How many times have you watched "Twelve O-Clock High?"
Watched it again last night. Hairs go up on the back of my neck every time I hear (the whine-clank-clank-fart-fart-snort-snort-rumble-rumble as) those magnificient R-1820s come to life as Harvey is standing on the tarmac at the beginning of that movie.
The fact that I have several thousand hours sitting behind (T-28) and next to R-1820s (S-2, E-1B, C-1A) may have something to do with the nostalgia.
But dammit! I will FReely admit that the sound of an(y) unmuffled round aircraft engine turns me on!
France surrenders!
Thanks, A. :))
I was at the 1975 CAF airshow when "FiFi" made here first public appearence. AWESOME!
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