German WW2 flying gangway
- Thread starter hesham
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As mentioned in the caption, the photo is from the book "Der Flugzeugschlepp von den Anfängen
bis heute" (Aircraft towing - From the beginnings to today). and there's really no explicit description.
But it is shown in the chapter, which deals with the combination of standard tow, using a long line
and the so-called "rigid tow, where the towed aircraft was position directly behind the towing aircraft.
I can imagine, that this "flying catwalk" (as another translation of "Brückenlaufsteg", which would be
bridge catwalk, but seems to make not more sense to me) was made up of three independent flying
wing elements, that could be coupled to a single three winged glider by shortening the tow lines between
them in flight. But this is just an idea, maybe someone has mor information.
bis heute" (Aircraft towing - From the beginnings to today). and there's really no explicit description.
But it is shown in the chapter, which deals with the combination of standard tow, using a long line
and the so-called "rigid tow, where the towed aircraft was position directly behind the towing aircraft.
I can imagine, that this "flying catwalk" (as another translation of "Brückenlaufsteg", which would be
bridge catwalk, but seems to make not more sense to me) was made up of three independent flying
wing elements, that could be coupled to a single three winged glider by shortening the tow lines between
them in flight. But this is just an idea, maybe someone has mor information.
There was indeed a German flying bridge, designed to be towed by an aircraft and dropped to assist pioneer troops to make quick crossings. I do not believe they swa operational service. I have a poor quality image of one being towed by a Hs 126.
Best regards,
Artie Bob
Best regards,
Artie Bob
Seems like the sort of thing that Ryan would have gotten into 20 years later, by simply attaching a Rogallo wing, wheels and a tow cable to *anything.*
Temistocle
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I post this thread here (and not in the Secret Army Projects, as the ultimate user) because the information is taken from a report written following a meeting between Italian and German aeronautical experts to exchange technical knowledge in Germany in October 1941. The report is ABSOLUTELY authentic and is located in the State Archives in Rome, Fondo Ministero dell'aeronautica, Gabinetto, anno 1942, busta 144, fascicolo 12-X-8, Collaborazione italo-tedesca nel campo delle ricerche d'interesse aeronautico Vol. 1 (Ministry of Aeronautics Collection, Cabinet, 1942, folder 144, file 12-X-8, Italian-German Collaboration in the Field of Aeronautical Research, Vol. 1). The gangway must have existed (the Italians watched a video about it), perhaps the shorter version, because the 24-, 40-meter versions could have been difficult to tow...
Italian Text.
Passerella volante. Per poter fornire rapidamente a truppe in movimento il mezzo di attraversare corsi d'acqua è stata ideata e realizzata una passerella volante, che può essere lunga 16, 24 o 40 m. Le passerella è appoggiata su 4 galleggianti simili ai galleggianti laterali degli ìdrovolanti, i quali portano sul fondo un pattino destinato a permettere la partenza su terra, ed è munita di due ali di uguale apertura alare disposte in tandem. Queste ali portano ciascuna alle estremità due derive fisse, di maggior superficie quelle posteriori; le anteriori, più piccole e instabilizzanti, servono a smorzare le oscillacicni d'imbardata. Ciascuna delle ali è unita alla passerella con due soli bulloni eliminabili mediante carica di esplosivo. La passerella viene rimorchiata in volo da un aeroplano fino al corso d'acqua, dove deve essere impiegata; l'aeroplano si abbbassa in volo quanto più gli è possibile e molla la passerella che cade in acqua sui galleggianti. All'atto dell'urto, la pressione idrodinamica agente sui piattelli fa esplodere i bulloni e le ali si staccano. E' stata vista una cinematorgafia della partenza, del volo e del varo della passerella. La passerella in aria subisce forti oscillazioni e atterra prendendo un forte colpo a deformandosi sensibilmente.
English (google) translation:
Flying gangway. To quickly provide troops on the move with a means of crossing waterways, a flying gangway was designed and built. It can be 16, 24, or 40 meters long. The gangway rests on four floats similar to the lateral floats of seaplanes, which have a skid on the bottom to allow for takeoff on land. It is equipped with two wings of equal wingspan, arranged in tandem. Each wing has two fixed fins at its ends: the rear ones are larger; the front ones, smaller and more unstabilizing, serve to dampen yaw oscillations. Each wing is connected to the gangway with just two bolts, which can be removed with an explosive charge. The gangway is towed by an airplane to the waterway where it is to be deployed; the airplane descends as low as possible and releases the gangway, which falls into the water on the floats. Upon impact, the hydrodynamic pressure acting on the plates causes the bolts to explode, and the wings to detach. A cinematographic video of the takeoff, flight, and deployment of the gangway was observed. The gangway oscillates strongly in the air and lands with a sharp impact, deforming significantly.
Italian Text.
Passerella volante. Per poter fornire rapidamente a truppe in movimento il mezzo di attraversare corsi d'acqua è stata ideata e realizzata una passerella volante, che può essere lunga 16, 24 o 40 m. Le passerella è appoggiata su 4 galleggianti simili ai galleggianti laterali degli ìdrovolanti, i quali portano sul fondo un pattino destinato a permettere la partenza su terra, ed è munita di due ali di uguale apertura alare disposte in tandem. Queste ali portano ciascuna alle estremità due derive fisse, di maggior superficie quelle posteriori; le anteriori, più piccole e instabilizzanti, servono a smorzare le oscillacicni d'imbardata. Ciascuna delle ali è unita alla passerella con due soli bulloni eliminabili mediante carica di esplosivo. La passerella viene rimorchiata in volo da un aeroplano fino al corso d'acqua, dove deve essere impiegata; l'aeroplano si abbbassa in volo quanto più gli è possibile e molla la passerella che cade in acqua sui galleggianti. All'atto dell'urto, la pressione idrodinamica agente sui piattelli fa esplodere i bulloni e le ali si staccano. E' stata vista una cinematorgafia della partenza, del volo e del varo della passerella. La passerella in aria subisce forti oscillazioni e atterra prendendo un forte colpo a deformandosi sensibilmente.
English (google) translation:
Flying gangway. To quickly provide troops on the move with a means of crossing waterways, a flying gangway was designed and built. It can be 16, 24, or 40 meters long. The gangway rests on four floats similar to the lateral floats of seaplanes, which have a skid on the bottom to allow for takeoff on land. It is equipped with two wings of equal wingspan, arranged in tandem. Each wing has two fixed fins at its ends: the rear ones are larger; the front ones, smaller and more unstabilizing, serve to dampen yaw oscillations. Each wing is connected to the gangway with just two bolts, which can be removed with an explosive charge. The gangway is towed by an airplane to the waterway where it is to be deployed; the airplane descends as low as possible and releases the gangway, which falls into the water on the floats. Upon impact, the hydrodynamic pressure acting on the plates causes the bolts to explode, and the wings to detach. A cinematographic video of the takeoff, flight, and deployment of the gangway was observed. The gangway oscillates strongly in the air and lands with a sharp impact, deforming significantly.
That
It was a 1941 DFS project, called "Fliegenden Brücke". Depending on the lenght, it could have up to 3 detachable wings.
Temistocle
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Ok, please one moderator to merge the threads
Temistocle
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Other info about testing form Jet & Prop, 1993, n.2, page 7:
Google translation:
Who knows more about the "flying bridge"?
Our reader, Rolf Sindermann, a graduate engineer from Bad Aibling, informed us about a curious flying machine. And he has many questions about it. Mr. Sindermann writes:
I would be interested to know if the "flying jetty" – officially designated M-15 – was ever used. I have the test reports from the German Research Institute for Gliding from October 15, 1940, to November 5, 1942.
Nothing has been found about the period before or after this time. Mr. Goedecker from Mainz was supposed to have been involved in the development of the aforementioned device. He passed away a few years ago, which is why no further information was available from him.
Enclosed, I am sending you an excerpt from the test report dated June 6, 1941. The M-15 aircraft was designed to be disassembled for troop deployment; loading plans for trucks, freight cars, and Go 242 cargo gliders are available.
So far, Mr. Sindermann. According to the test report, the aircraft consists of a front pair of floats with wave breakers and a rear pair without wave breakers. A guide track is mounted on the frame for a movable 30 kg ballast. This ballast is always held in the rearmost center of gravity position by a rubber cord.
The device, apparently developed for pioneering purposes, which was to be towed to its deployment location by another aircraft, came free after the usual taxiing distance of approximately 800 meters, according to test report No. 34, and returned to its normal position.
"With this center of gravity, the bridge flies smoothly and is therefore demonstrated in several turns over the airfield."
Upon landing, the bridge banked steeply and touched the water's surface in this position, with the front float being completely destroyed and the 6-meter-long single frame being damaged by 30%. Conclusion: "Using the bridge for its intended purpose would not have been possible."
For the tests conducted in Ainring, an HS 126 with the registration D-INBH was used as the tow plane, and the FW 58 D-OPYA and the He 46 DIHAA served as observation aircraft.
Google translation:
Who knows more about the "flying bridge"?
Our reader, Rolf Sindermann, a graduate engineer from Bad Aibling, informed us about a curious flying machine. And he has many questions about it. Mr. Sindermann writes:
I would be interested to know if the "flying jetty" – officially designated M-15 – was ever used. I have the test reports from the German Research Institute for Gliding from October 15, 1940, to November 5, 1942.
Nothing has been found about the period before or after this time. Mr. Goedecker from Mainz was supposed to have been involved in the development of the aforementioned device. He passed away a few years ago, which is why no further information was available from him.
Enclosed, I am sending you an excerpt from the test report dated June 6, 1941. The M-15 aircraft was designed to be disassembled for troop deployment; loading plans for trucks, freight cars, and Go 242 cargo gliders are available.
So far, Mr. Sindermann. According to the test report, the aircraft consists of a front pair of floats with wave breakers and a rear pair without wave breakers. A guide track is mounted on the frame for a movable 30 kg ballast. This ballast is always held in the rearmost center of gravity position by a rubber cord.
The device, apparently developed for pioneering purposes, which was to be towed to its deployment location by another aircraft, came free after the usual taxiing distance of approximately 800 meters, according to test report No. 34, and returned to its normal position.
"With this center of gravity, the bridge flies smoothly and is therefore demonstrated in several turns over the airfield."
Upon landing, the bridge banked steeply and touched the water's surface in this position, with the front float being completely destroyed and the 6-meter-long single frame being damaged by 30%. Conclusion: "Using the bridge for its intended purpose would not have been possible."
For the tests conducted in Ainring, an HS 126 with the registration D-INBH was used as the tow plane, and the FW 58 D-OPYA and the He 46 DIHAA served as observation aircraft.
