General Discussion

[scooter]

I have just purchased one of these with the expressed intention of making it a free flying version rather than simply being tethered. My question is what would it be used for? Army cooperation? Artillery observation? Naval reconnaissance?

1918 drone warfare!

Might also pair well with the Kettering Bug and British UAV/USVs

[jcf]

I have just purchased one of these with the expressed intention of making it a free flying version rather than simply being tethered. My question is what would it be used for? Army cooperation? Artillery observation? Naval reconnaissance?

A free-flying version will require creating directional control and propulsion. Just having the crew lean wouldn't work. Perhaps pivoted "flaps" mounted transversely between the booms. Normal position vertical so the rotor downwash just flows by. A flap is pivoted up towards the horizontal in the desired direction of travel. The rotor downwash pushing down on the selected flap tips that side of the craft down and the whole thing moves in the direction of tilt. Theoretically speaking that is, and it would be extremely unstable and overly sensitive but also very slow to respond.
It's a perfect bad idea.

It would be far too slow for army cooperation or naval reconnaissance,
range would also be abysmal. Artillery
spotting with more mobility, slightly,
than the standard fixed position version.
Or perhaps it uses its mobility to move
between mobile stations, disconnects from one, flies to the next and hooks up.
Repeat as necessary.

[kerick]

Sounds like the ball tank. An idea that just wouldn't go away!

[RAFF-35]

I have just purchased one of these with the expressed intention of making it a free flying version rather than simply being tethered. My question is what would it be used for? Army cooperation? Artillery observation? Naval reconnaissance?

A free-flying version will require creating directional control and propulsion. Just having the crew lean wouldn't work. Perhaps pivoted "flaps" mounted transversely between the booms. Normal position vertical so the rotor downwash just flows by. A flap is pivoted up towards the horizontal in the desired direction of travel. The rotor downwash pushing down on the selected flap tips that side of the craft down and the whole thing moves in the direction of tilt. Theoretically speaking that is, and it would be extremely unstable and overly sensitive but also very slow to respond.
It's a perfect bad idea.

It would be far too slow for army cooperation or naval reconnaissance,
range would also be abysmal. Artillery
spotting with more mobility, slightly,
than the standard fixed position version.
Or perhaps it uses its mobility to move
between mobile stations, disconnects from one, flies to the next and hooks up.
Repeat as necessary.

I'm glad someone had similar thoughts to myself. It kinda validates the workability of it  I was thinking of flaps underneath the booms to rotate the craft left/right and then have a pusher prop linked up to the central drive shaft with a clutch to engage/disengage for forward-ish flight?

[Wardukw]

I have just purchased one of these with the expressed intention of making it a free flying version rather than simply being tethered. My question is what would it be used for? Army cooperation? Artillery observation? Naval reconnaissance?

A free-flying version will require creating directional control and propulsion. Just having the crew lean wouldn't work. Perhaps pivoted "flaps" mounted transversely between the booms. Normal position vertical so the rotor downwash just flows by. A flap is pivoted up towards the horizontal in the desired direction of travel. The rotor downwash pushing down on the selected flap tips that side of the craft down and the whole thing moves in the direction of tilt. Theoretically speaking that is, and it would be extremely unstable and overly sensitive but also very slow to respond.
It's a perfect bad idea.

It would be far too slow for army cooperation or naval reconnaissance,
range would also be abysmal. Artillery
spotting with more mobility, slightly,
than the standard fixed position version.
Or perhaps it uses its mobility to move
between mobile stations, disconnects from one, flies to the next and hooks up.
Repeat as necessary.

I'm glad someone had similar thoughts to myself. It kinda validates the workability of it  I was thinking of flaps underneath the booms to rotate the craft left/right and then have a pusher prop linked up to the central drive shaft with a clutch to engage/disengage for forward-ish flight?

The ideas are there Raff but you'd also need some way of controlling your ability to control the altitude...just playing with the rotation speed of the propellers probably wouldnt work really well at all without the ability to control the angle of the blades ..shame variable pitch propellers hasn't come around yet ..or maybe they did 🤔 

[PR19_Kit]

Sounds like the ball tank. An idea that just wouldn't go away!

But a perfect entry for the current GB though. 

[frank2056]

The PKZ was so close to being a drone! The PKZ-1 even used electric motors. Maybe if they added small props at the end of each arm they could at least keep it balanced.

[Spey_Phantom]

i dont know if its already been mentioned, but does a anti-tank mortar equiped Vespa scooter count as a bad idea?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAUVSDx_1A&ab_channel=TankEncyclopedia

[kerick]

In Ukraine they were riding e bikes and carrying Javlins to attack Russian tanks. Of course this was early on while the Russians were being stupid.

[frank2056]

Of course this was early on while the Russians were being stupid.

They still are. Maybe even more so.

[loupgarou]

i dont know if its already been mentioned, but does a anti-tank mortar equiped Vespa scooter count as a bad idea?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAUVSDx_1A&ab_channel=TankEncyclopedia

It wasn't a mortar, buit a recoilless gun, tested in Algeria, and has indeed been already discussed here,

[jcf]

A Vespa mortar-carrier would be amusing. Carried in a similar fashion to the recoilless rifle when in transport mode, slides to the rear and pivots down for use. "Kickstands" at the rear wheel on both sides of the scooter for stability. 
🧐

[Rick Lowe]

A Vespa mortar-carrier would be amusing. Carried in a similar fashion to the recoilless rifle when in transport mode, slides to the rear and pivots down for use. "Kickstands" at the rear wheel on both sides of the scooter for stability.
🧐

Perfect!       

[zenrat]

What's the biggest gun Phill could mount on a Wehrmacht sidecar?

[PR19_Kit]

What's the biggest gun Phill could mount on a Wehrmacht sidecar?

Big Bertha?