Nice find Baza, you would never think it could continue flying
Takes a licking ... great image Baz.
"He is wise who watches"
See the starboard aileron - the pilot is working hard to keep her straight and level
Cracking picture Barry!
Rminds me of that one of the B17 with chunks missing we saw last year.
I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!
Excellent picture Barry - The Grumman TBF / TBM Avenger was built like a brick privy!
In terms of controllability this aircraft has lost it's left aileron and structurally related part of the wing. Where most of the coefficient of lift is produced is still intact and so in terms of flight characteristics what generates the critical aspects of having enough Bernoulli about this aircraft to stay in the air continues to do so. But there will be a slight imbalance to the left which is probably what the right aileron in the picture is compensated or has been trimmed for.
Turning however would have to be performed with far more care and co-ordinated very carefully with the rudder. Either that or perform rudder-only skidding turns which would slew the aircraft across the sky with an enormous turning circle but still accomplish what is trying to be achieved.
Still spotting @ MAN where there has been a lull in traffic. But saw this and thought I had to respond to this one ...
I hope the pilot was awarded a medal for bringing it home.
I wonder how many damage chits it took!
Karl
It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus
Outstanding photo, thanks for sharing!
id imaging pilot and aircrew are experiencing quite a high pucker factor at the time the pic was taken.
The original issue of the Airfix 1/72 Scale Grumman TBM Avenger kit includes decals for 110 with these white arrow markings - Alternative decals to the version featured in the artwork on the box (126) ...
The place building it was called "the Grumman Iron Works".
THERE. IS. A. REASON. FOR. THIS.
:)
Wasn't this why the designation TBF was given to some aircraft and TBM given to the ones built by General Motors? This came from a documentary which was shown on the Forces TV Channel around four months ago so I hope I have remembered this fact correctly. Same documentary stated that the spirit of the Grumman Avenger was to avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941.
I have a number of 1/72 scale Grumman TBM and TBF Avengers in the attic - kits and diecasts as it is one of my favourite WW2 aircraft types.
Amazing how much damage some of these planes could take and keep flying!
Grumman did the design and started production, then the Navy wanted a second line spun-up for extra production, then Grumman was told "knock it off, we want your full attention on more Hellcats, let GM build and refine the older models." Hence the FM-1 and FM-2 Wildcats as well...
Either way, it was Leroy Grumman and the Boys From Bethpage who brought the beast into the world...
I've heard of "landing on a wing and a prayer" - but that's just a bit too literal
Very impressive Baz.
Thanks for sharing the picture.
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Not to take away from this pilot's achievement, but it reminded me of this, more recent, story:
The Aviationist - F-15 Lands with One Wing
Youtube - F15 Flies Home Missing a Wing
Mike
"Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
"Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59
Nicely done there Barry.
Saw a prog on Forces TV last week entitled Dogfight, all about the P47 Thunderbolt. Missed the first 5 minutes but joined it during a Digital reconstruct of a dogfight where a FW190 was shooting the crap out of the Thunderbolt. 3 times the Fw pilot whent alongside then back to the tail and fired again. Last time he pulled up, saluted and peeled off. (The P47 pilot surmised the German had expended all his ammo!).
On return to the UK the pilot stopped counting on reaching 200, the amount of bullet holes in his plane!
A further dogfight showed 4 Thunderbolts being bounced by 40+ ME109's. But that as they say is another story...but the P47's all got away.
See you on the Dark Side......
All American - I have the story in Flypast Magazine of this amazing B-17G. She is now preserved either as a static or flying exhibit.
Another badly shot up and famous for being so B-17F was Ye Olde Pub as flown by Captain Charles Brown USAAF. The book he has written about his war memoirs is a recommended read IMHO.
i was referring to another "all american". a b-17e that survived a collision with a german fighter that nearly severed the tail. it managed to limp all the way home (north africa i believe) with the skill of its pilot and aircrew that used parachute harness to tie across the damaged part when the tail section started to oscillate when the pilot tried to increase speed a bit.
but thats a reoccurring theme with the b-17. absorb lots of punishment yet still bring the crew home!
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