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[Kopfdorfer]

As a result of Schwieger's comment in the Piaggio thread, I thought it would be fun to nominate your favourite butt-ugly bomber.
The winner will be crowned "Butt Ugly Bomber of All Time" ,
and given the  BUBOAT award.

Criteria - 1) 1930s to 1972
              2)  unmodded to date
              3)  one plane per member
              4)  must have seen operational service
         

As the progenitor of this nonsense, I nominate ...
da dad da da !!!

The Vickers Wellesley


Designed to carry out level bombing, army co-operation, dive bombing, reconnaissance, casualty evacuation and torpedo bombing.

Served 6 squadrons at its zenith.
177 built
structural design by none other than Dr. Barnes Wallace 
(of geodesic structural engineering ,  the Wellington , and the dambusters rolling drum and Mosquito bouncing ball anti-ship bombs to name a few - I guess everyone had their off days...)
A flight of 3 set a world distance record in 1938 - 11,525 km  Ismailia Eqypt to Darwin Australia though no. 2 aircraft had to put down at Timor. This remains to this day the longest flight of a single engined aircraft!!!
Fought in the East African campaign of 1940 with  three sqaudrons seeing service in Eritrea , Ethiopia and Somaliland.
The Wellesley 's last operational posting was maritime reconnaissance over the Red Sea with 47 Sqdn until Sept. 1942.

General characteristics

    Crew: 2
    Length: 39 ft 3 in (11.96 m)
    Wingspan: 74 ft 7 in (22.73 m)
    Height: 15 ft 3½ in (4.67 m)
    Wing area: 630 ft² [11] (58.5 m²)
    Empty weight: 6,760 lb (3,066 kg)
    Loaded weight: 11,048 lb (5,011 kg)
    Max. takeoff weight: 12,500 lb (5,670 kg)
    Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Pegasus XX radial piston engine, 925 hp (690 kW)

Performance

    Maximum speed: 228 mph (198 kn, 369 km/h) at 19,700 ft (6,000 m)
    Cruise speed: 180 mph (157 kn, 290 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m) (57% power)
    Range: 1,220 mi (1,963 km)
    Service ceiling: 25,500 ft (7,772 m)
    Wing loading: 18 lb/ft² (86 kg/m²)
    Power/mass: 0.08 hp/lb (0.14 kW/kg)
    Climb to 15,000 ft (4,600 m): 17.8 min

Armament

    Guns:
        1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun in right wing
        1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine gun in rear cockpit
    Bombs: 2,000 lb (907 kg) of bombs

She ain't too purdy, but she is a goer!

Kopfdorfer

[agracier]

I'd give the Wellesley the designation as a plane that is on my wish list for inclusion in Il-2. Can't say it's ugly, maybe ungainly and not very streamlined or aerodynamic looking. But it certainly is something completely different.

[SAS~Storebror]

I don't think there's something like an "ugly bomber" at all, but this isn't necessarily a valid opinion now that it comes from an IL-2 bomber pilot who, if at all, chooses Jugs if there's nothing heavier available.

Anyway, when talking about "beautification disadvantaged" bombers, we should mention the Fairey Barracude for sure:


Not that she'd be basically ugly, I'd rather say she's different.
Still I'd like to smoke a small portion of that shit the designer of this aircraft must have smoked for years

Best regards - Mike

[agracier]

The Potez 540 is one of the most unsightly bombers I've yet to see.



It has no style or aerodynamic characteristics, doesn't even look vaguely 1930-ish Art Deco. The way the turrets are stuck on on the nose and underside is like an afterthought ... none of this means I wouldn't like to see it in the game though ... you might be surprised one day ... but it isn't any masterpiece of esthetic design by any definition of the word.

[Moggy Cattermole]

I think it looks kinda cool. Not pretty, nor beautiful. Not got the grace or elegance of a spitfire but looks interesting. I suppose that's not really the point, and yes, you're right, it's pretty ugly although a 2d side view doesn't necessarily do it justice. Would be nice to see a photo.

[Texx]

Not always the "ugly" means something bad. I use to like aircraft models that are not among the beautifull ones.

I just love the Grumman A-6, althought I admit it is not a beauty...

However I think that among many possible nominations we should not forget Martin B-10



and particularly in the Model 139 WH3

[Thunda]

Think you have my top three right there- the Barracuda was not only ugly but supposedly terrible to fly and dangerous. The Potez, well what can I say except "She Fugley". And the Wellesley- there simply aint words.

I always thought the Whitley was ugly, especially with its 'tail up' flying characteristics, but these 3 are in a different class!

[HundertzehnGustav]

my eyes be hurting. ima gona sue the SAS.
Thunda +1
other ugly one i thought was the hampden.

But this...
*shivers*

[GerritJ9]

Boeing XB-15........

[Gaston]

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley : this is the one for which I vote... it has a so special attitude when flying !!!

[HundertzehnGustav]

none of these  beat the wellesley...

[Kopfdorfer]

Gerax, man,  the criteria was one plane per member.
But you found some beasties.

kopf