Arsenal VG-33

The Arsenal VG-33 was one of a series of fast French light fighter aircraft under development at the start of WWII, but which matured too late to see extensive service in the French Air Force during the Battle of France.

The original specification that led to the VG series was offered in 1936 in order to quickly raise the number of modern aircraft in French service, by supplying a "light fighter" of wooden construction that could be built rapidly in large numbers. The contract resulted in three designs, the VG-30, the Caudron C.714 and the Bloch MB-700. Prototypes of all three were ordered.
Named for engineer Michel Vernisse (V) and designer Jean Galtier (G), the VG-30 was all wooden in construction, using plywood over stringers in a semi-monocoque construction. The layout was conventional, a low-wing monoplane that bore a striking resemblance to the later Italian Macchi C.202. Armament consisted of a 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon firing through the propeller hub, and four 7.5 mm MAC 1934 M39 drum-fed machine guns, two in each wing. 

The design was supposed to be powered by the Potez 12Dc flat-12 air-cooled inline engine, but this ran into development problems. The prototype was then fitted with a Hispano-Suiza 12Xcrs instead, and flew in this form in October 1938.

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 8.55 m 
Wingspan: 10.8 m 
Height: 3.31 m 
Wing area: 14 m2 
Empty weight: 2,050 kg 
Gross weight: 2,655 kg 
Powerplant: Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 641 kW / 860 hp
Maximum speed: 558 km/h 
Range: 1,200 km 
Service ceiling: 11,000 m
Power/mass: 0.24 kW/kg 
Armament; 1 × 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon + 4 × 7.5 mm mg

In order to find some solution to the engine problem, the VG-31 was to use the 632 kW (860 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 and the VG-32 the Allison V-1710C-15. The VG-31 flew in 1939 and proved to have excellent performance. The prototype VG-32 was completed in 1940 and awaiting its test flight when it was captured by the advancing German forces at Villacoublay.

The VG-33 was a modified version of the VG-31 using the same 12Y-31, and first flew on April 25, 1939. It had surprisingly good performance of 560 km/h, and was ordered into production with a contract for 220 aircraft in September, later raised to 1,000. Production didn't take long to start, but most of the airframes never received engines and sat at the factory when it fell to the Germans.

Further developments continued while the VG-33 production started. The VG-34 mounted the newer 688 kW (935 hp) 12Y-45, the VG-36 used the 735 kW (1,000 hp) 12Y-51 originally intended for the VG-35, and introduced a new streamlined radiator bath that looked similar to the one on the P-51 Mustang. Single prototypes of all three were built and flown in early 1940. The VG-37 was an extended-range version of the -36, while the VG-38 was to have used the 12Y-77, but neither was built.

The last in the series was the VG-39, originally powered by the new 882 kW (1,200 hp) 12Y-89 using an extension shaft on the propeller to streamline the nose profile, giving the plane an excellent speed of 625 km/h (388 mph) even when loaded down with two more machine guns. The actual production version was to have been the VG-39bis, powered by the new 1177 kW (1,600 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Z-17, using the streamlined radiator intake design from the VG-36.

Two more designs were projected, both based on the VG-39bis airframe. The VG-40 mounted the Rolls-Royce Merlin III and the VG-50 the newer Allison V-1710-39. Neither was built.

Although using the same engine and being lighter, the VG-33 was capable of the same speed as the Dewoitine D.520. Somewhat under-armed compared to the Messerschmitt Bf 109, it matched it in terms of speed and maneuverability, but as was the case with the D.520, due to the limitations of the supercharger in use at the time, this could be achieved only below 5,000 m. In any event, plagued by continued production problems the aircraft never took part in combat. 

Only 19 of about 40 completed aircraft were actually received by the Armée de l'Air, while at the time of Armistice about 160 were close to completion. Only two machines ever flew in an active group - the GC 1/55 which began life under chaotic conditions four days before the capitulation – but did not have an opportunity to prove its capabilities. The Luftwaffe confiscated twelve VG-33s, perhaps for training use.

Variants
VG-30 - The original powerplant was the Potez 12Dc flat-12 air-cooled inline engine, but the prototype was fitted with a Hispano-Suiza 12Xcrs, and flew in this form in October 1938.
VG-31 - Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 powered prototype.
VG-32 - Allison V-1710C-15 powered prototype.
VG-33 - First production model with Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 engine (160 near completion at Fall of France. Unknown number completed.)
VG-34 - 697 kW (935 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Y-45 engine. 360 mph (600 km/h). Prototype only.
VG-35 - VG-33 variant with newer engine. One built.
VG-36 - 746 kW (1,000 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Y-51 engine. Prototype only.
VG-37 - Extended-range version of the VG-36. Not built.
VG-38 - projected for Hispano-Suiza 12Y-77 engine. Not built.
VG-39 - 954 kW (1,280 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Z engine. 393 mph (655 km/h). 6 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns. Prototype only.
VG-39bis - proposed production version powered by a Hispano-Suiza 12Z-17.
VG-40 - projected variant powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin III.[1]
VG-50 - projected variant powered by an Allison V-1710-39. (N.B. The designation VG 50 was also used for a projected four-engined trans-atlantic transport)
VG-60 - The ultimate projected variant powered by a 1,000 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y-51 supercharged by a two-stage Sidlowsky-Planiol turbo-charger.

Miles M.39B Libellula

The M.39B Libellula (from Libellulidae, a taxonomic family of dragonflies) was a Second World War tandem wing experimental aircraft built by Miles Aircraft, designed to give the pilot the best view possible for landing on aircraft carriers. A scale version of the M.39 design was proposed by Miles to meet Air Ministry specification B.11/41 for a fast bomber. The M.39B was used by Miles to generate data from which the M.39 design was improved, but the M.39 project was cancelled and the B.39B broken up.

Though it had some problems, the earlier M.35 proved sufficient to show the idea had merits, and the larger M.39 was drawn up as a twin-engined design prepared to meet Specification B.11/41 which had been issued by the Air Ministry for a high speed bomber. The specification had been written for the P.1005 proposal by Hawker, powered by two Napier Sabre engines, estimated to achieve 400+ mph at 25,000 ft and deliver a 2,000 lb bomb load over 1,600 miles. The P.1005 was cancelled after several delays on behalf of the Air Ministry and before Miles submitted his design to the Ministry in July. In November 1943 a full-size prototype (to use the serial RR910) was ordered, but not built.

Until the intended (three) Power Jets W.2/500 turbojets were available the M.39 would have had two Rolls-Royce Merlin 60 inline or Bristol Hercules VIII radial piston engines. The M.39 would have a crew of three in a pressurized cabin. As well as the bomb-bay amidships, the M.39 would carry two fixed 20 mm cannon in the roots of the forward wings.

To prove the concept Miles designed and built a 5/8th scale version, the M.39B, which flew on 22 July 1943, showing no "undesirable handling" characteristics. It coincided with interest by the authorities in unorthodox designs for large aircraft. The rear wing was higher than the forward one to avoid downwash and give ground clearance for the propellers. The M39 design had inboard flaps and outboard ailerons on the rear wing and the front wing had an auxiliary aerofoil/flap/elevator device, which could vary the wing area without changing lift coefficient.

The Ministry of Aircraft Production agreed a development contract and purchase of the M.39B. Miles continued testing, generating more flight data and submitted an improved M.39 design in early 1944. Meanwhile, the sole M.39B passed to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough in 1944, where it carried the serial SR392, being damaged and repaired after two accidents, only to be broken up with the full-sized bomber project’s cancellation.

The Miles M.39B Libellula
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 6.76 m
Wingspan: 11.43 m rear wing, front wing
Height: 2.82 m
Wing area: 17.42 m2 rear wing 5.73 forward wing
Aspect ratio: Front wing 10.1, Rear wing 7.5
Airfoil:
Front wing: NACA 23018 at root, NACA 2412 at tip
Rear wing: NACA 23021 at root, NACA 2415 at tip
Empty weight: 1,091 kg
Gross weight: 1,270 kg
Fuel capacity: 113.65 l
Sweepback on leading edge rear wing 21° 0′ 48″
Powerplant: 2 × de Havilland Gipsy Major IC inline piston engine, 140 hp (100 kW) 
Maximum speed: 164 km/h
Stall speed: 95 km/h flaps down
Rate of climb: 5.6 m/s
Wing loading: 55 kg/m2
Power/mass: 0.16 kW/kg

Loire 46

The Loire 46 was a French single-seater fighter aircraft of the 1930s. A high-winged monoplane designed and built by Loire Aviation, it was purchased by the French Air Force. It was also supplied to the Spanish Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War, but was almost out of service by the outbreak of World War II.

The Loire 46 was an improved modification of two previous Loire fighters—the Loire 43 and 45. Although improved, it resembled the earlier machines retaining their gull mono-wing configuration, open cockpit, and fixed landing gear. The first of five prototype Loire 46s flew in September 1934. It demonstrated excellent handling characteristics and 60 production aircraft were ordered by the Armée de l'Air.

The initial machines arrived at fighter Escadrilles in August 1936. In September 1936, the five prototype Loire 46s were sent to the Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War.

By the beginning of World War II, the Loire 46's gull wing configuration was recognized as obsolete and most of these fighters had been relegated to Armée de l'Air training schools, where they were used as advanced trainers. However, one fighter Escadrille was still equipped with the Loire 46 during the early weeks of the war. Their performance against modern German fighters was predictable.

Loire 46
Single-seat fighter/trainer aircraft.
Operators: 
France, Armee de l'Air
Spain: Spanish Republican Air Force

Specifications Loire 46
Crew: 1
Length: 7.88 m 
Wingspan: 11.83 m
Height: 4.13 m 
Wing area: 19.50 m² 
Empty weight: 1,450 kg 
Loaded weight: 2,100 kg 
Powerplant: 1 × Gnome-Rhône 14Kfs 14-cylinder, air-cooled radial piston engine, 694 kW (930 hp)
Maximum speed: 370 km/h 
Range: 750 km 
Service ceiling: 11,750 m
Rate of climb: 12.09 meters per second 
Climb to 3,000 m / 3.3 min
Guns: 4× fixed forward-firing 7.5 mm  MAC 1934 mg, mounted in the wings

Flettner Fl 282

The Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri ("Hummingbird") is a single-seat intermeshing rotor helicopter, or synchropter, produced by Anton Flettner of Germany.
According to Yves Le Bec, the Flettner Fl 282 was the world's first series production helicopter.

The Fl 282 Kolibri was an improved version of the Flettner Fl 265 announced in July 1940, which pioneered the same intermeshing rotor configuration that the Kolibri used. It had a 7.7 litre displacement, seven-cylinder Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radial engine of 150-160 hp mounted in the center of the fuselage, with a transmission mounted on the front of the engine from which a drive shaft ran to an upper gearbox, which then split the power to a pair of opposite-rotation drive shafts to turn the rotors.

The Sh 14 engine was a tried-and-true design that only required servicing every 400 hours, as opposed to the nearly 27 litre displacement, nine-cylinder BMW/Bramo Fafnir 750 hp radial engine powering the larger Focke Achgelis Fa 223 helicopter, whose outdated design required maintenance every 25 hours. The Fl 282's fuselage was constructed from steel tube covered with doped fabric, and it was fitted with a fixed undercarriage.

The German Navy was impressed with the Kolibri and wanted to evaluate it for submarine spotting duties, ordering an initial 15 examples, to be followed by 30 production models. Flight testing of the first two prototypes was carried out through 1941, including repeated takeoffs and landings from a pad mounted on the German cruiser Köln.

The first two "A" series prototypes had enclosed cockpits; all subsequent examples had open cockpits and were designated "B" series.

In case of an engine failure, the switch from helicopter to autorotation was automatic.

Three-bladed rotors were installed on a test bed and found smoother than the vibrating 2-blade rotor, but the concept was not pursued further. The hover efficiency ("Figure of Merit") was 0.72 whereas for modern helicopters it is around 60%.

After the war, Anton Flettner emigrated to the United States[6] and became the chief designer for Kaman Aircraft, creating the Kaman HH-43 Huskie. Intermeshing rotors have become noted with Kaman helicopters, which continues this concept with the Kaman K-MAX.

Model of the 282
Intended roles of Fl 282 included ferrying items between ships and reconnaissance. However, as the war progressed, the Luftwaffe began considering converting the Fl 282 for battlefield use. 

Until this time the craft had been flown by a single pilot, but by then a position for an observer was added at the very rear of the craft, resulting in the B-2 version. Later the B-2 proved a useful artillery spotting aircraft and an observation unit was established in 1945 comprising three Fl 282 and three Fa 223 helicopters.

Good handling in bad weather led the German Air Ministry to issue a contract in 1944 to BMW to produce 1,000 units. However, the company's Munich plant was destroyed by Allied bombing raids after producing just 24 machines.

Towards the end of World War II most of the surviving Fl 282s were stationed at Rangsdorf, in their role as artillery spotters, but gradually fell victim to Soviet fighters and anti-aircraft fire.

Variants
Fl 282 V1/7
Prototypes.
Fl 282A-1
Single-seat naval reconnaissance type, for operation from cruisers and other warships. Tested in the Baltic, Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.
Fl 282A-2
Single-seat reconnaissance type for submarines equipped with special deck hangar, project only.
Fl 282B-1/B-2
Two-seat land reconnaissance-liaison helicopter
Operatos
Luftwaffe
Survivors
A single Fl 282 was captured at Rangsdorf by Soviet forces
Two, which had been assigned to Transportstaffel 40 (TS/40) — the Luftwaffe's only operational helicopter squadron — at Mühldorf, Bavaria, were captured by U.S. forces.

Fl 282 V-10 28368 Midland Air Museum, Coventry, England. Partial aircraft, frame with rotor head & wheels.

Fl 282 V-23 was at one time to be found at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio.
Specifications (Fl 282 V21)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 6.56 m 
Height: 2.2 m 
Empty weight: 760 kg 
Max takeoff weight: 1,000 kg 
Powerplant: 1 × Bramo Sh.14A 7-cyl. a-c radial piston engine, 119 kW (160 hp)
Main rotor diameter: 2× 11.96 m 
Main rotor area: 224.69 m2 
Maximum speed: 150 km/h  at sea level
Range: 170 km 
Service ceiling: 3,300 m 
Hover ceiling: 300 m 
Rate of climb: 1.52 m/s 
Rotor loading: 8.84 kg/m2 

SA-kuvia - FA-photo

Morane-Saulnier 406

                                                                 Polikarpov R-5 "nerve-saw"

                                                                      DB-3 "dropped"

                                                          DB-3 forced landing

SB-2M "dropped"

                                                                 DC-3

Avro Anson

                                           Polikarpov R-5 "nerve-saw" (forced landing)
________________________________

                                                                   Fokker CX 1941

                                                          Heinkel He59

                            Fokker XXI  Finnish ground attack aircraft, continue-war

                                    Bristol Blenheim Mk-1 Short-nose (license made)

                                   Bristol Blenheim Mk-1 ready to fly

                                              FIAT G50, shoot down ratio 1:44

                                                                  decoy 

                                             beach, behind the airplane field

Junkers W-34 floatplane pick-up wounded long-patrol man to wilderness

                                          Fokker XXI with skis, ground attack role

                                               Ripon II-F

                                       Fokker XXI squadron ID, kicking donkey

                              Westland Lysander tactical air reconnaissance plane
     Finland ordered 17 aircraft, of which 12 arrived in Finland in March-May 1940.

                                                      Fokker CX, with skis

                                            Morane-Saulnier patrol start

                                     Dropped soviet Hurricane Mk-II going to renovate

                                                  Junkers F-13

                                                    Morane-Saulnier 406 patrol to go

                                                      Gloster Cladiator and Fokker CX 

                                              Junkers Ju-52 german transport plane

                                                      Hannelore, Junkers Ju-52 

                                                fighter pilot boot and mascots

                                       The captured Polikarpov 153 maintenance

      Heinkel He 115 waiting for the starting command of the Russian wilderness,
      transporting long-patrol service, or pick up patrol off

                                              Fiat G50, wearing a hood, wait to starts

                                            VL Tuisku Finnish made training machine
                                   flight, bombing, shooting and communication role
                                   VL = Valmet = valtion metalli = State metal

                                     Small International tractor and Blenheim Mk-1

                      Dornier Do22 transport equipment and service long-patrol man

                Brewster engine has been renovated and soon mounted in place

  Brand new Me109 G-6 in finland 1943, soon German ID is blue swastika symbols.
 Small pilot waiting for their own shifts, a mother waiting for her husband

                                                     Ripon II with skies, Sea of Bothnia area

                                     Fokker C.V.E   long-patrol (wilderness) inservice

                                                             Yak-3

                                                     New model Yak-9

                                                       LaGG-3, dropped and renovated

                                                  Smolik, primary education airplane

                                                      Brewster 239 / F2A-1

                                                              Douglas DC-2

                                                         Morane-Saulnier MS-410

                                                           Fokker C.V.E

Ripon II - anti submarine patrol airplane

----------------------------------------

One department Kuhlmey maintenance machine, Savoia Marchetti S.M.81 Pipistrello

                            German Junkers Ju-88,  Soviet pilot shot down

                          Department Kuhlmey, service and communication plane

                                  Department Kuhlmey, Ju-87 D5 and 700 kg bombs

                 Department Kuhlmey, Ju-87 D5 bombing flight to Karelian Isthmus
                           Target is, soviet tank centering and transport

                                Department Kuhlmey Me 109 F-4 - Fighter 
                      G-10 version are reconnaissance and photographic machines

Arado Ar-66, two-seat training biplane It also used for night ground-attack missions 

          Pilots, duty and sleeps. Northern summer are light and warm, no sunset 

                       Fieseler Fi 156 Storch headquarters communication machine