Over in the Army Projects section of this forum I came across a thread on a declassified 1946 report of the U.S. National Defense Research Committee, Division 12, "Transportation Equipment and Related Problems." The report is a collection of scientific analyses and research on everything from amphibious vehicles and jumping tanks to pontoon bridges an anti-torpedo nets for ships. Unfortunately, the quality is very poor, likely from old microfilm, and many of the photos are illegible but the line drawings are still interesting.
One section (pages 276-280 of the .pdf) describes the "Baker Tank," a fast, wheeled light tank with a high-velocity gun which is capable of hydraulicly extending its suspension to leap over obstacles Evil Knievel-style. Really, I am not making this up!
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=62364
In connection with this tank is a 3-view drawing of a proposed carrier aircraft. It's a flying wing but with a twin-boom tail and what looks like fixed quadricycle landing gear.
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=62362
I find the carrier aircraft quite striking, very Lockheed in it's style though the configuration is more like the early Northrop tailed flying wing. Add a a couple turrets and a bomb bay and it would also make a great fictional bomber IMHO. I just thought I'd share for inspiration. See links below for the sources.
Cheers,
Matthew
Links:
Army Projects thread "NDRC Division 12 Report"
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4770.0
DTIC abstract page (includes a link to the 18MB .pdf file)
http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=AD0200798
One section (pages 276-280 of the .pdf) describes the "Baker Tank," a fast, wheeled light tank with a high-velocity gun which is capable of hydraulicly extending its suspension to leap over obstacles Evil Knievel-style. Really, I am not making this up!
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=62364
In connection with this tank is a 3-view drawing of a proposed carrier aircraft. It's a flying wing but with a twin-boom tail and what looks like fixed quadricycle landing gear.
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=62362
I find the carrier aircraft quite striking, very Lockheed in it's style though the configuration is more like the early Northrop tailed flying wing. Add a a couple turrets and a bomb bay and it would also make a great fictional bomber IMHO. I just thought I'd share for inspiration. See links below for the sources.
Cheers,
Matthew
Links:
Army Projects thread "NDRC Division 12 Report"
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4770.0
DTIC abstract page (includes a link to the 18MB .pdf file)
http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=AD0200798
