WHAT THE ! - Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze (Wagtail)

[Venatore]

Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze (Wagtail) :o

The Fa-330 was one of several German "gyro-kites". It consisted of a seat and an un-powered overhead rotor. The pitch of the blades is such that as the wind strikes them they produce lift. The intent of the Fa-330 was to permit it's launching from the conning tower of a moving U-boat attached to a cable. The cable would be let out until the Fa-330 had reached sufficient altitude to scan the horizon for merchant ships.
If time permitted, the pilot would be winched back aboard. In an emergency he could disconnect the tow-line in mid-air and either ride the Fa-330 down (it would descend in a controlled manner like an autogiro or a modern helicopter in "auto-rotation") or come down in a parachute. Perhaps the U-boat would get a chance to re-surface later and pluck him from the sea. :lurk:

http://robroy.dyndns.info/targetkites/Fa-330/intro.html
http://www.uboat.net/technical/bachstelze.htmI wonder if this will ever make it into a future mod :hmm:

[Camaero]

Wow, I never knew about such a thing.

I think I would hate that job!

[Venatore]

Imagine being the poor bastard up there flying that.....then seeing a bloody enemy aircraft...... then seeing the Captain cutting like mad to cut you away so he can save his crew and boat and order CRASH DIVE ! ........:eek:

[_Seth_]

A perfect "Bernard"-job! Lets hope those bombers fly right into him...:up:

[Jimbuna]

Yeah def a 'volunteers only' job that one :up:

[andy_311]

I would have thought it would be absolutely maddness to surface a u-boat in late war assemble one of them and launch it while you could be hit from enemy planes at any time.

[Corsair]

From the Uboat.net page :

"The scheme was abandoned because it cost too much time to recover it and the observer on it when the U-boat was attacked."

No wonder, imagine the scene...:

Observer : Aircraft spotted coming our way
Kaleun : Crash dive - Ahead flank, 70m depth, rudder 25° starboard ...

a couple minutes later :
Kaleun: Oh Scheisse, we forgot something...:D

[Hakahura]

Might make your crash dive a little slower as well:rotfl:

[Morts]

From the Uboat.net page :

"The scheme was abandoned because it cost too much time to recover it and the observer on it when the U-boat was attacked."

No wonder, imagine the scene...:

Observer : Aircraft spotted coming our way
Kaleun : Crash dive - Ahead flank, 70m depth, rudder 25° starboard ...

a couple minutes later :
Kaleun: Oh Scheisse, we forgot something...:D

__________________________________________________ ________________

Observer : Aircraft spotted coming our way
Kaleun : Crash dive - Ahead flank, 70m depth, rudder 25° starboard ...

a couple minutes later :
Kaleun: Oh Scheisse, we forgot something...
crew: what did we forget ?
kaleun: you guys remember Hans ? the observer
crew: yea
kaleun: well, we kinda forgot to get him down inside the sub when we started to dive
crew: so thats him banging on the hull ?
kaleun: sure is

[Oberon]

Or:

(Bernard is on watch duty.)

BERNARD: "Enemy aircraft spotted!" (points)

KALEUN: "No Bernard...that's our own aircraft, Dumkopf!"

[Morts]

i still like mine better;)

[Cerberus]

Yeah def a 'volunteers only' job that one :up:

Spare a thought for the (mostly RAF) pilots on a CAM Ship.

Get launched from a catapult on the forecastle of a merchant ship, knowing that your only options were to either try out your parachute or crash into the ocean & hope to escape the cockpit before the plane sinks & then be picked up before hypothermia kills you.

So there you are, mid atlantic, mid winter, gale force winds, mountainous seas.....

[Hartmann]

Imagine being the poor bastard up there flying that.....then seeing a bloody enemy aircraft...... then seeing the Captain cutting like mad to cut you away so he can save his crew and boat and order CRASH DIVE ! ........:eek:

Or see the boat in crash dive with you attached with a cable, like a fish .:dead:

[Jimbuna]

Imagine being the poor bastard up there flying that.....then seeing a bloody enemy aircraft...... then seeing the Captain cutting like mad to cut you away so he can save his crew and boat and order CRASH DIVE ! ........:eek:

Or see the boat in crash dive with you attached with a cable, like a fish .:dead:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[nightdagger]

BERNARD: I spy something...blue.
KALEUN: Not this again. Crash dive to 70m. I hope you don't "forget" to release the cable on Bernard. Just like you "forgot" to pack his parachute.

[KevinB]

Does anyone remember seeing the film "Where Eagles Dare"? There was a scene in the castle where they showed a helicopter. I thought it was ridiculous, but after seeing the above picture, have different thoughts now.

[Jimbuna]

Have a look here :up:

http://www.helis.com/types/gunship.php

[KevinB]

Thanks Jimbuna. That sure clears up everything, very interesting.

[Jimbuna]

Your welcome kaleun :up: