"G. Stewart" wrote in message
m...
From late WW2 onwards, many aircraft designs started using the
tricycle undercarriage scheme. Prior to this, most used the other one
(you know, two large wheels up in front, with the plane tilted back
onto a small support wheel).
Why the change? Well, good visibility (while taxing/take-off/etc.)
would seem to be a huge advantage of the tricycle undercarraige ... so
I suppose the question really should be - why did most aircraft NOT
use the tricycle undercarriage design until late WW2?
Are you referring to those 'late' designs such as
Bell P-39, Production 1939
Douglas A-20, Production 1939
Douglas C-54, Production 1942
Martin B-26, Production 1940
North American B-25, Production 1940
Consolidated PBY-5, Production 1939
Consolidated B-24, Production 1941
ERCO Ercoupe, Production 1937
Fairchild AT-13, AT-14, At-21 Production ??? but early
I really do not think they were as rare as you say and I only included USA
aircraft.
Regards,
Tex Houston
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