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

Venatore · 12-31-06, 12:47 AM

Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze (Wagtail)

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.

http://robroy.dyndns.info/targetkites/Fa-330/intro.html

http://www.uboat.net/technical/bachstelze.htm

I wonder if this will ever make it into a future mod :hmm:

Camaero · 12-31-06, 01:27 AM

Wow, I never knew about such a thing.

I think I would hate that job!

Venatore · 12-31-06, 01:37 AM

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 ! ........

_Seth_ · 12-31-06, 01:40 AM

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

Jimbuna · 12-31-06, 06:16 AM

Yeah def a 'volunteers only' job that one

andy_311 · 12-31-06, 08:24 AM

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.

Cerberus · 01-01-07, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Yeah def a 'volunteers only' job that one

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 · 01-01-07, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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 ! ........

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

Jimbuna · 01-01-07, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartmann

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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 ! ........

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

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

nightdagger · 01-01-07, 01:35 PM

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.

12-31-06, 12:47 AM	#1
Venatore Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Australia:- Sydney Posts: 2,049 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 0	WHAT THE ! - Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze (Wagtail) Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze (Wagtail) 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. http://robroy.dyndns.info/targetkites/Fa-330/intro.html http://www.uboat.net/technical/bachstelze.htm I wonder if this will ever make it into a future mod :hmm:

12-31-06, 01:27 AM	#2
Camaero The Old Man Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA, Massachusetts Posts: 1,477 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	Wow, I never knew about such a thing. I think I would hate that job! __________________

12-31-06, 01:40 AM	#4
_Seth_ Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In Tromsoe, @Tirpitz' final resting place.. Posts: 3,277 Downloads: 94 Uploads: 0	A perfect "Bernard"-job! Lets hope those bombers fly right into him... __________________

12-31-06, 06:16 AM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,552 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Yeah def a 'volunteers only' job that one __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

12-31-06, 01:37 AM	#3
Venatore Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Australia:- Sydney Posts: 2,049 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 0	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 ! ........

12-31-06, 08:24 AM	#6
andy_311 The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oldham, Lancs,England Posts: 1,312 Downloads: 82 Uploads: 0	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.

01-01-07, 01:35 PM	#10
nightdagger Officer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 243 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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.