Hauksbee 103 Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) I'm coming up with a blank on this one. I vaguely recall Lloyd designing similar planes. There was a theory at the time that if the depth of the fuselage took up the whole space between the wings, there was an advantage in speed, or handling, or...? In any case it was a design fad that soon disappeared. Edited February 12, 2013 by Hauksbee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ataribaby 18 Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) Its experimental fighter DFW T28 Floh. I think main advantage was small size and thus high speed. At least that was planned. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DFW_Floh I know cos i finished 1/72 kit of this some time ago. Edited February 12, 2013 by ataribaby Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hauksbee 103 Posted February 12, 2013 Thanks, ataribaby.'Floh', is it? (Flea) Looks like one. Probably would have flown like one, had the prototype not crashed. Thanks for the link. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hasse Wind 46 Posted February 12, 2013 There must have been something in the water the designer used to drink. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hauksbee 103 Posted February 12, 2013 There must have been something in the water the designer used to drink. Amen. From most any angle, it had the look of something that wasn't going to work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ataribaby 18 Posted February 12, 2013 Yeah, interesting plane. Thats why it got my attention. Here is my 1/72 buils. Saddly i botched that black rims. Was lazy to mask by tape and i made it freehand with brush. Very bad idea. As i totaly moved my models hobby into WW1 1/32 planes i want to make it in that scale. http://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?p=1215648#p1215648 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjw 48 Posted February 12, 2013 There must have been something in the water the designer used to drink. Looks like it could have been an early precursor to the WWII Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet based on its profile in the photo, albeit a stubby one!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flyby PC 23 Posted February 14, 2013 (edited) Scratching my head, but I'm sure I've seen a Flea in a simulator somewhere ... Light blue in colour, and the cowling looks like a smiley face from head on. Now where did I see it??? Hmmm....... It'll come to me. Edit - Microsoft FS9 I think.... Edited February 14, 2013 by Flyby PC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hasse Wind 46 Posted February 14, 2013 Now imagine Olham chasing crumpets in that crate! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olham 164 Posted February 14, 2013 (edited) "Huh!!! Why do you ssink I'm only flyink der Albatros? Ze answer is: because itt iss so beautifull! Huh!!!" Cute Floh video - lovely! Edited February 14, 2013 by Olham Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maeran 20 Posted February 15, 2013 I can imagine what Voss would have done with the 'face' on that cowling. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flyby PC 23 Posted February 15, 2013 I can't look at it without thinking of Dick Dastardly and Muttley stopping the pigeon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hasse Wind 46 Posted February 15, 2013 It really does look like something out of a cartoon. If it had been a success, would the skies of Europe have been full of such fat little fighters? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olham 164 Posted February 15, 2013 It really does look like something out of a cartoon. If it had been a success, would the skies of Europe have been full of such fat little fighters? Maybe the skies of Europe would have been full of laughter? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hasse Wind 46 Posted February 16, 2013 It would have been the perfect aircraft for Gert Fröbe! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flyby PC 23 Posted February 16, 2013 (edited) http://tma-aircraft....loh-purice.html Seems it wasn't completely without it's merits... The stubby shape was to reduce the drag from struts and wires, and even the deep fuselage got rid of struts below the upper wing and also meant the guns were inside the fuselage. In 1915, the EIII was making all the running, so the Flea did have some innovations which you could say were ahead of it's time perhaps... 112mph in 1915, when the EIII was around 90mph and a Be2 around 70mph. (Incidentally, the text in the link is Hungarian if you're text translation struggles.) Seems the big problem was the poor visibility on the ground, and a high landing speed. Edited February 16, 2013 by Flyby PC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olham 164 Posted February 17, 2013 Yes, indeed, Hasse Wind - Fröbe would have suited the Floh. I wonder how they built the fuselage - I guess it was "Wickelrumpf" technology. When you see the Mercedes D.I engine, which was fitted into the "Floh", you may understand why it is so unproportionally high. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjw 48 Posted February 17, 2013 Yes, indeed, Hasse Wind - Fröbe would have suited the Floh. I wonder how they built the fuselage - I guess it was "Wickelrumpf" technology. When you see the Mercedes D.I engine, which was fitted into the "Floh", you may understand why it is so unproportionally high. Olham; That is an interesting photo of the mercedes engine. Do you have any details/background on that photo? Looks like it is in someone's livingroom. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olham 164 Posted February 17, 2013 Naw, there was no info with the pic. Could it be in a museum? No idea... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hasse Wind 46 Posted February 18, 2013 I think it's a museum. You can see some reflections on the glass, if you look closely. Of course the museum could be operating in a living room. That Mercedes engine was quite popular in many other early German aircraft designs of WW1. It was used in Albatros and Aviatik two-seaters, for example the Aviatik B.I, below: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
