Womenfly2 0 Posted March 26, 2009 Now this would be cool for the next new plane in OFF, a S.P.A.D. with this canon just for the sheer fun of it! The Air Gun of 37mm Semi-Automatic Engine Deal. Enjoy, WF2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RAF_Louvert 101 Posted March 26, 2009 Cool article, Womenfly2. The cannon was an impressive idea but as mentioned there were engine problems with the design. That, and the fact that when Guynemer actually got to try out the weapon on an Albatros scout the recoil nearly tore the engine off it mounts and the fumes from the shell were poisonous and wafted right back into the Georges' face. He did blow the Alb to bits though. Cheers! Lou Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Womenfly2 0 Posted March 26, 2009 (edited) He did blow the Alb to bits though. Cheers! Lou I know ..... but how cool would that be !!!! The OFF team could do it so you would not know how long your engine would stay put. LOL, WF2 Edited March 26, 2009 by Womenfly2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zoomzoom 2 Posted March 26, 2009 Wow, pity it wasn't of a "blowback or semi-auto" type, or it might have worked with far less recoil, just like the one in the nose of the ME-109 ala-WWII. Being apparently a simple breechloader with fixed block type breech, (very similar to a breech-break shotgun) the recoil I'm sure was much-much more than was desirable! ZZ. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Waldemar Kurtz 1 Posted March 27, 2009 actually, now that I think of it, the French also used the 37 mm gun on some Voison's and Farman's for ground attack missions. hint, hint! ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duce Lewis 3 Posted March 27, 2009 I think this was a great idea, but it was abanoned very quickly for reasons mentioned above A simple breathing tube could have resolved the noxtious fumes issues Who knows what direction WWI aviation would have taken if more efforts were taken here Sure would be a great addition to OFF Not only strappin' her on, but imagine running into Georges in your Albie! Cheers, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RAF_Louvert 101 Posted March 27, 2009 Waldemar Kurtz, you mention the Voisins outfitted with the 37mm, and those were far more successful than the Spad attempt. Escadrille VC-110, (the 'C' designating "cannon"), was using them in the fall of 1915 for ground attacks with some fairly good results. The recoil was not an issue in that application and the gas discharged by the shell was dissipated much more quickly in the open front office of the Voisin. And I agree with both you and Duce Lewis, the 37mm WOULD be a nice addition to BHaH. Maybe in the next phase, eh what? (Nudge, nudge, know-what-I-mean, know-what-I-mean, say-no-more, say-no-more, wink's as good as a nod). Cheers! Lou Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest British_eh Posted March 27, 2009 Thanks so much WF2 for always coming up with new and interesting stuff. Cheers, British_eh PS My son used to like flying one of the WW2 jets with a 20 round (?) Cannon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olham 164 Posted March 27, 2009 Vell, I can only repeat myself, again and again: if you vant zis distructive ant impressive veapon power, zen djoin ze Kaiser's Jastas. Sign here! Viss our twin gunz ant 1.000 - 1.100 roundz of ammunition, , you can literally saw der enemy planez too piessez! Mmuahahahahaaa!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Waldemar Kurtz 1 Posted March 28, 2009 speaking of German guns-- I guess if you wanted some variety you could throw in the German GAST gun (which had a firing rate of 1600 rounds per minute from a double-barrelled gun arrangement). although it wasn't used in very large numbers, IIRC several aces in Jasta 5 experimented with them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
