Air Force Essay Example: Secret Allied Aircraft of WW II

The Forke-Wulf Fw 200 condor and U-boats mission in the summer of 1940 was initially used by Luftwaffe in a bid to support the Kriegsmarine. It would make great and long loops across the North Sea. Secondly, it was in a huge way used for reconnaissance, maritime patrols and for the search of warships and allied convoys that were reported for targeting U-boats. Not to mention, the Fw 200 had the ability to transport heavy bomb loads (Akkon, 2015).

For the new aircraft development, Winston Churchill invited a secret research unit based in England. The unit was known as the Royal aircraft establishment and would provide suggestions on how to improve the ship.

The suggestions provided by the Royal aircraft establishments involved equipping the already existing ship with steam-powered catapults that would have the capability to launch Sparta planes.

This suggestion by RAE was not all perfect as it was expected. It had one major flaw that involved the steam-powered catapults. As such, there were no existing catapults that were heavy enough to launch heavy fighter hurricanes (Akkon, 2015).

Charles H. Zimmerman then came up with another invention during the heated up WW II. The invention would basically see the birth of an aircraft that was nicknamed as flying flapjack. Specifically, he developed the VI 73.

During the first flight of the flying flapjack, the aircraft was faced with a number of issues. Among them were; very low speed, the wrong wiring of the controls and blockage of the fuelling pipes.

Despite the problems that were associated with the VI 73 flying flapjack, the outcome of the 1st prototype proved to be exactly as it had been predicted by Charles H. Zimmerman. Other modifications and corrections were however made thereafter.

The VI 73 had many interesting paradigms some of which could not be implemented for a successful. There was, however, one that was implemented and that is used up to date in certain aircrafts. This was the vertical take-off of the flapjack.

In August 1939, the first jet was developed. This was done by the legendary Nathan Prince and Willis Hackens. The two worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the first jet ever to be made.

Every aircraft that was made had a prototype that would help and facilitate procedural and well-conducted construction of the real jet prototype. The first jet prototype to be made was known as Lucky Model L1 33 but was basically ahead of its time (Akkon, 2015).

In December 1942, Jack Northrop did propose and design a unique aircraft. This was a conventional plane known as the N-9. All this he did before the invention of the computers. It was tested the same year.

The N-9 had special features that were designed particularly by Northrop. Some of these features included; its ability to fly non-stop, its stability while flying and a rocket mortar with the ability to take out German Jets (Akkon, 2015).

Over time, there were various aircrafts with varying speeds that were created. In particular, the P-80 aircraft proved to have one of the fastest speeds. It could file with over 500miles per hour. This was the advent of speed jets.

The development of the P-80 had a very tight schedule and would be required during the war in a period of very few months after its construction began. Its timeline was 160 days after the signing of the contract.

With the Second World War intensifying at its peak, the US-navy saw the need to create and come up with its own jet prototype. The first prototype to be made by the US Navy was known as the Squirt (Akkon, 2015).

The squirt had unique capabilities that made it stand out from the rest. For instance, it could fly at an average 500 miles per hour, the fastest during its time. Also, it was very favorable in the air thus easier to operate.

The British Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 squirt also had several unique features. They included 2 axial engines that facilitated its speed, well located and fitted arms, and a great performance.

Later on, Churchill received an incredible invention design that involved the use of ice and sawdust. The invention was known as Pykrete. It would be as strong as concrete and the presence of sawdust would ensure it did not sink in water. It was also built to last indefinitely and was 2000ft long and 300ft wide.

Lastly, there were several aircraft ancestors that followed the invention of Charles H. Zimmerman (flying flapjack) these included the V-22 and the XP-15 aircrafts. In essence, the flapjack never took off (Akkon, 2015).

Also, there were several aircraft ancestors that followed the invention by Jack Northrop known as flying wings. Such ancestors included the XP-35 flying wing bomber. More advanced aircrafts would later be invented with advancements in technology.

References

Akkon. L., (2015). History Channel World War II- The Secret Allied Aircraft. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2YDCREgaoQ