The mod has been in
WIP for a longer time now and I have given it a bit of an overhaul for the latest
BAT update 4.2.1, so I thought I should post this
ZFlyer48 mod as stand alone as well eventually.
BAT users don't have to download, it is integrated already!I tried to stick with "stock" available weapons and engine models, so you
should be fine in a random install. In case there's problem we'll burn the bridge as we come to it.
The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was an American heavy fighter aircraft (FM for "Fighter, Multiplace" - the Airacuda being the only of that kind eventually), developed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation during the mid-1930s. It was the first military aircraft produced by Bell. Originally designated the Bell Model 1, the Airacuda first flew on 1 September 1937. The Airacuda was marked by bold design advances and considerable flaws that eventually grounded the aircraft.
The first versions had a conventional tail-sitter landing gear, which later was changed to a nose-wheel configuration on several machines. Also the engines, turbochargers and coolers saw several iterations. Earlier versions have pronounced blister windows for the observer/gunner, which later would be made flush.
The Airacuda was Bell Aircraft's answer for a "bomber destroyer" aircraft. Although it did see limited production, and one fully operational squadron was eventually formed, only one prototype and 12 production models were ultimately built, in three slightly different versions.
The 37mm M4 cannon was not yet belt-fed at the time and so the concept had a gunner reload and even train the cannons. A 0.30cal machine gun fired along each M4 to provide tracer bearings.
Of course, such a configuration proved to be too complicated in use and technology moved ahead, eventually to a fully automated M4. Escape in case of an emergency was a gamble at best for the gunners as the props had to be stopped for that. But the plane in its pusher configuration has such unpleasant characteristics as to be considered "unflyable" on one engine.
When the engines worked however, it was handling well, it was particularly easy to land. But the engines had overheating problems (as so many pusher planes had) and a major design flaw was the dependency on a working single APU. If that failed, it meant, the pilot had NO fuel pressure, NO vacuum, NO hydraulic pressure, NO gear, NO flaps and NO ENGINES.
One squadron, the 27th Pursuit, was equipped with the type and operated from 1938 till 1940. Then the planes were distributed to bases as liaisons and "exotic" planes to fly, but they did not attract many pilots. In 1942, the planes were completely retired.
This mod represents a what-could-have-been late (Y)FM-1 with the nose gear and two Allison V12 engines with a top speed of about 280mph, which is a bit inadequate. It has no particular perks in terms of handling and may be a what-if series model. The M4 cannons are fixed forward firing and of the stock variety with 110 rounds each.
D/L
https://www.mediafire.com/file/8ek8bcvi8il5s7v/Airacuda_1121.zip/fileBell FM-1 "Airacuda"
by Zflyer48
3Ds by Zflyer48
Tweaks by vampire_pilot
Classes, skin and FM by vampire_pilot
Author
Topic: ZFlyer48's Bell YFM-1 Airacuda (Read 2624 times)
