F7F

[Subdeacon Joe]

 

 

And more of the Ironworks Cat Family:

[Charlie Plasters, SASS#60943]

so how was the hydraulics on these planes set up so that damage in an dogfight didn't have the wings fold up?

what was the function of the F7F? was it WWII era?

how does the performance of the two planes compare?

[Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438]

so how was the hydraulics on these planes set up so that damage in an dogfight didn't have the wings fold up?

what was the function of the F7F? was it WWII era?

how does the performance of the two planes compare?

 

Try: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F7F_Tigercat

 

LL

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

Charlie, GOOGLE is your friend.

[Charlie Plasters, SASS#60943]

Well I thought this would be a good opportunity for the aeronautical experts on the wire to show off their knowledge. The wiki article was enlightening but did not address how the hydraulics were rigged so that a failure in combat would not cause them to fold up.

[BLACKFOOT SASS #11947]

the term "down and LOCKED" is the first thing that comes to my mind, yes I know the term is generally associated with landing gear but it is not limited.

 

Blackfoot

[Hurricane Deck 100366]

Well I thought this would be a good opportunity for the aeronautical experts on the wire to show off their knowledge. The wiki article was enlightening but did not address how the hydraulics were rigged so that a failure in combat would not cause them to fold up.

Most of the planes with folding wings of the era have a locking pin that is visible from the cockpit. when the wing is extended and is fully down, the pin "drops" and locks each wing in place. Consiquenty, the wings also lock in the retracted position using the pin system.

 

Here's a photo of how the foling wing hydraulics works on a corsair. it's a similar system.

 

http://s359.photobucket.com/user/corsairguru/media/aircraft/Corsairs/67070135VFwingfoldhydraulics.jpg.html

[Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172]

WELL, all I can say is, "It Ain't no A 10!"

 

What is with all the smoke trails. Engines on fire?

[Hurricane Deck 100366]

WELL, all I can say is, "It Ain't no A 10!"

 

What is with all the smoke trails. Engines on fire?

Yup

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

It's the same principle used for bobcats, backhoes and floor jacks.

 

Hydraulic pressure is what keeps the wings up. Releasing hydraulic pressure is what allows the them to fall. In other words, down and locked is the default position when pressure is lost.

 

Used to fly an airplane where the landing gear operated that way. In the event of a gear malfunction, the pilot had to grab a tool to turn a valve like those on a floor jack, allowing the gear to fall by gravity.

 

The F7F is one of the coolest piston airplanes ever made. Like the F8F, it wasn't available for combat before war's end in the Pacific. Too bad, would have been interesting.

[Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172]

What did the pilot say while he was turning the valve?

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

What did the pilot say while he was turning the valve?

Any number of 4-letter expletives that any GI, gyrene, or sailor is familiar with.

[Sedalia Dave]

Look at this picture.

 

 

The parts note by the red arrows have a spring loaded pin that is inserted into them to lock the wings in place. Notice the two rams and the interconnecting triangular piece that allows the force to be applied over a greater than 90 degree arc while still fitting into the wing..

 

F7F wings required hydraulic power to retract the locking pins and for both the folding and unfolding. The two clicks you hear as the wings drop into place are the spring loaded pins snapping into place. Works a lot like the bolt on the door of your house except that really strong springs hold the pins in place and it requires hydraulic pressure to retract them and release the wing. (Turn the knob)

 

AFAIK no airplane ever relied on hydraulic pressure to hold the wings in place for flight. They all use some sort of locking pin(s) to hold the wings in place for flight. The pins themselves rely on a strong spring, over-center mechanism or other positive yet passive method to keep them firmly in place.

 

Gravity usually keeps them in the folded position although some rely on a removable strut.

 

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

AFAIK no airplane ever relied on hydraulic pressure to hold the wings in place for flight. Never said that. They all use some sort of locking pin(s) to hold the wings in place for flight. The pins themselves rely on a strong spring, over-center mechanism or other positive yet passive method to keep them firmly in place. Yup

 

Gravity usually keeps them in the folded position although some rely on a removable strut. Yes, after hydraulic actuators have raised them into position.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

As long as the locking bolt is never a shear pin.

[Tom Bullweed]

Looks like a DeHaviland Misquito on steriods and set up for carrier use. The Misquito proved handy as a fighter, night fighter, light bomber, recon and ground support. I would bet, givien the same opportunity, this Tigercat would do the same. Loved the barrel roll and loop.