History Channel

[ROB. THOMASSON]

I was watching a program on the ATA and there was a momentary shot of an aircraft starting up. They can be a bit casual on their footage so I wouldn't be too sure it was British but here's the rub. It was coaxial contra prop and the engines drove the props independently. When one engine started only 1 prop turned. They looked to be flat 12s. Fuselage mounted, puller configuration, taildragger. The nose looked like a deep Mustang/Spit shape. Anyone know what it was?

[Rich Collins]

Didn't see the program but Supermarine 391 sounds like a possibility. Contra rotating props and H24 Rolls Royce engine.

[achean]

Wouldn't happen to be the Wyvern prototype (or early model), would it?



EDIT: Ok, shocking picture - see the original here: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... _c1947.jpg

[ROB. THOMASSON]

Nope it was 2 separate engines for sure as 1 started up with 1 prop going and then the second engine with it's own prop. Flat engines for certain but can't be sure they were 12s Might even have been 8s. Don't forget guys its coaxial contra prop we're looking for

[Bill McCarthy]

I might be havering but the only contra prop I know that had two engines and props that rotated independent of each other was the Fairey Gannet. Indeed, on could be stopped and feathered in flight.

[achean]

Clutching at straws here:

[ROB. THOMASSON]

I'm trying to get the program as VOD so I can get a still of it. The only addition I can offer is 1 engine was above the other. If they hadn't started separately I'd have thought it was an H configuration.

[Ian Law]

Could it have been one of the Martin Baker types? MB-3 or MB-5?

Think the -3 had a Sabre engine ( 24 cyl, of course. Double "flat" H layout). The impressive MB-5 had a Griffon. Each had contra rotating props., so might be a solution.

Have a look at :

http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stor ... have-been/

Ian

[ROB. THOMASSON]

Clutching at straws here:

I found the footage and you were spot on! I'd misremembered the layout. OK what the !!!! is it?

[ColinC]

Hi

Bolkhovitinov S

http://hyperscale.com/2008/features/bol ... 32fm_1.htm

https://oldmachinepress.wordpress.com/2 ... 03-sparka/

Regards,

Colin

[achean]

Thanks, Colin. Other than remembering it was Russian, I haven't a clue what it was. It just came up on Google.

No idea what some obscure Russian aircraft is doing on a program about the ATA, though.