Suspended runway for Army Aircraft

[Phil Perry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI2kmMhvub8

[kaz3g]

Hi Phil

 

Interesting footage. Did you notice that there were two different aircraft shown on the suspended runway...a J3 Cub (Grasshopper) and a Stinson?

 

The Brits also experimented with a suspended runway. They used a rubber mat on aircraft carriers to "catch" early jet aircraft. Winkle Brown carried out the trials of these using Vampire aircraft.

 

Kaz

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Looks like it would be less trouble to clear a runway on the plurry ground.

 

 

[derekliston]

Hi PhilInteresting footage. Did you notice that there were two different aircraft shown on the suspended runway...a J3 Cub (Grasshopper) and a Stinson?

 

The Brits also experimented with a suspended runway. They used a rubber mat on aircraft carriers to "catch" early jet aircraft. Winkle Brown carried out the trials of these using Vampire aircraft.

 

Kaz

If I recall correctly from one of my childhood aeroplane books, the Hawker Seahawk was originally designed to be catapult launched off a dolly and to land on the rubber deck. After several bounced into the ocean the idea was abandoned. Quite a surprise that, that they would bounce on a rubber deck don't you think!!!

 

 

[kaz3g]

Very worthwhile reading Winkle Brown's autobiography as he had the most amazing experiences during many thousands of deck landings and, later, in some of the experimental jets developed toward the end of the war by Germany.

 

The rubber decks were suspended at an angle and the aircraft literally flew into them...pretty exciting thing to do!

 

Note the story about the AUSTER being launched from a Tank landing craft...pretty good aircraft those Austers

 

Wings on My Sleeve

 

Kaz

 

 

[onetrack]

Great film find there, Phil! It's just amazing what WW2 produced by way of experimentation and results.

 

Does anyone recall the "snatching" of the survivors of a downed plane, and their paratroop rescuers, from the totally inaccessible valley in PNG during WW2?

 

There's a book been written about this incredible event, it's called "Lost in Shangri-La".

 

A WWII Survival Epic Unfolds Deep In 'Shangri-La'

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

...pretty good aircraft those Austers. Kaz

Yeah Kaz, but you're a bit biased!