View Single Post
  #5  
Old November 26th 03, 04:40 PM
Tex Houston
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"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