Aircraft walkaround vol.17:Fieseler Fi156 Storch

Subject: Fieseler Fi156 Storch

Location: Deutches Museum, Munich, Geramany 2012 and Fantasy of Flight Museum, Orlando, USA 2013.

Comments:The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (English: Stork) was a small German liaison aircraft built by Fieseler before and during World War II. Production continued in other countries into the 1950s for the private market. It remains famous to this day for its excellent STOL performance. French-built later variants often appear at air shows.

     In 1935, the RLM (Reichsluftfahrtministerium, Reich Aviation Ministry) invited tenders from several companies for a new Luftwaffe aircraft suitable for liaison, army co-operation (today called Forward Air Control), and medical evacuation. This resulted in the Messerschmitt Bf 163 and Siebel Si 201 competing against the Fieseler firm's tender. Conceived by chief designer Reinhold Mewes and technical director Erich Bachem, Fieseler's design had a far better STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) performance. A fixed slat ran along the entire length of the leading edge of the long wings, while a hinged and slotted flap ran along the entire length of trailing edge. This was inspired by earlier 1930s Junkers "double-wing" aircraft wing control surface designs, including the ailerons. A design feature rare for land-based aircraft enabled the wings on the Storch to be folded back along the fuselage. This allowed the aircraft to be carried on a trailer or even towed slowly behind a vehicle. The primary hinge for the folding wing was located in the wing root, where the rear wing spar met the cabin. The long legs of the main landing gear contained oil-and-spring shock absorbers that had a travel of 450 mm (18 inches), allowing the aircraft to land on comparatively rough and uneven surfaces. In flight, the landing gear legs hung down, giving the aircraft the appearance of a long-legged, big-winged bird, hence its nickname, Storch. With its very low landing speed the Storch often appeared to land vertically, or even backwards, in strong winds from directly ahead.

Military aircraft vol.54

Subject: Messerschmitt BF109F-2
Scale: 1/72
Manufacturer: Italeri
Construction: Out of the box, painted with Tamiya acrilics and decorated with Italeri´s decals.

Comments: I know that Italeri´s BF109F is far from being the best Friedrich to build. However, it is not hard to find and has a low price tag anywhere in the world. I could not resist building one with Adolf Galland´s markings, despite the fact that the General considered this a step back in evolution when  compared to the Emils. 

Military Aircraft vol.53

Subject: Messerschmitt BF109G6
Scale: 1/72
Manufacturer: Academy
Construction: Out of the box, painted with Tamiya acrilics, decorated with Academy´s decals.

Comments: I enjoy building Academy kits. They have nice fit and detail. This BF109G6 is just like that: overall well detailed, with good fit, almost a weekend project. For me Academy´s models have only one problem: the decals. Silvering is very common and they don´t react to any decal solvent. Other then that, this Messerschmitt was a pleasure to build.

 

Aircraft walkaround vol.16: Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw ( Model S-55)

Subject: Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw ( Model S-55)
Location Deutches Museum, Munich, Germany 2012.

Comments: The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw, (also known by its Sikorsky model number, S-55) was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the United States Army and United States Air Force. It was also license-built by Westland Aircraft as the Westland Whirlwind in the United Kingdom. United States Navy and United States Coast Guard models were designated HO4S, while those of the U.S. Marine Corps were designated HRS. In 1962, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Marine Corps versions were all redesignated as H-19s like their U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force counterparts.The H-19's first flight was on November 10, 1949 and it entered operations in 1950. Over 1,000 of the helicopters were manufactured by Sikorsky for the United States. The H-19 Chickasaw holds the distinction of being the US Army's first true transport helicopter and, as such, played an important role in the initial formulation of Army doctrine regarding air mobility and the battlefield employment of troop-carrying helicopters. The H-19 underwent live service tests in the hands of the 6th Transportation Company, during the Korean War beginning in 1951 as an unarmed transport helicopter. Undergoing tests such as medical evacuation, tactical control and front-line cargo support, the helicopter succeeded admirably in surpassing the capabilities of the H-5 Dragonfly which had been used throughout the war by the Army. The U.S. Air Force ordered 50 H-19A’s for rescue duties in 1951. These aircraft were the primary rescue and medical evacuation helicopters for the USAF during the Korean War. The Air Force continued to use the H-19 through the 1960s, ultimately acquiring 270 of the H-19B model.