phantomphan
ACCESS: Confidential
- Joined
- 27 July 2020
- Messages
- 66
- Reaction score
- 131
How would flying boats had developed if WW-II had not allowed land-based aircraft to surpass them?
Good question. Boeing and Sikorsky would have adapted their Model 326 and S-45 designs respectively for potential use as either troop transports or maritime patrol replacements for the PB2Y. In order words, an S-45 or Model 326 reworked into a troop transport would have carried GIs to Europe faster than troopships crossing the Atlantic. Either one of these designs would have been light-years ahead of the Hughes H-4 Spruce Goose. The Soviet Union likewise would have ordered the Tupolev ANT-44/MTB-2 flying boat into production so that it could be used by Red Navy squadrons in the Baltic Sea to sink German U-boats.How would flying boats had developed if WW-II had not allowed land-based aircraft to surpass them?
Yes, they could carry 60-70 soldiers and some stuff. But-the Queen Mary for example could carry 10k troops at once with considerable cargo also.Good question. Boeing and Sikorsky would have adapted their Model 326 and S-45 designs respectively for potential use as either troop transports or maritime patrol replacements for the PB2Y. In order words, an S-45 or Model 326 reworked into a troop transport would have carried GIs to Europe faster than troopships crossing the Atlantic. Either one of these designs would have been light-years ahead of the Hughes H-4 Spruce Goose. The Soviet Union likewise would have ordered the Tupolev ANT-44/MTB-2 flying boat into production so that it could be used by Red Navy squadrons in the Baltic Sea to sink German U-boats.How would flying boats had developed if WW-II had not allowed land-based aircraft to surpass them?
That is a stunning machineItalians also have a good approach with their CANT Z.511 - four-engine floatplane liner:
View attachment 671729
Was able to cross Atlantic, and reach 424+ km/h speed.