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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
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Viable or another Spruce Goose?
- Thread starter Basil
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OP
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I applaud the willingness to try, but my question is whether it's viable or not? I would love to see it succeed because if not it will have been a huge amount of money down the tubes. Will be a few years before we know.
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The aircraft was dreamed up back in 2011 for launching large satellites into Earth orbit. But now that the emphasis is on smaller satellites, the business model may not hold up.
Maybe the StratoLaunch could be used to retrieve all the obsolete satellites and space junk that's up there already?
T.
Maybe the StratoLaunch could be used to retrieve all the obsolete satellites and space junk that's up there already?
T.
OP
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That would require it to obtain low Earth orbit. I don't "think" it's designed for that?
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View attachment 48930Seeing that reminds me of these, developed a little too late in the war, some did see service. First time I heard of these was when I flew many times out of Kearney Nebraska airport, originally an Army AF base, the twin Mustangs were originally based there. Quite an aircraft with a few difficulties during development. It holds the record for the longest non stop flight by any gas engine propeller driven aircraft. PJ
twin mustang - Bing images
twin mustang - Bing images
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And don't forget the Lockheed P-38
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The twin Mustang F-82 was designed for a specific purpose, to escort bombers on long range flights. With stretched fuselages and extra fuel tanks in them and the ability to carry 3 belly drop tanks along with fuel tanks in the wings, they could carry over 1800 gallons of fuel. The twin cockpits were both fully operational and independent of one another. If one pilot got tired on long runs, the other could take over. Don't know if they had a built in snack bar or not LOL! It was a proven design that became operational just as the German jets came into use. The P-51 was so maneuverable and with our superior pilots in command, altering their techniques, they gave the jets a good run for their money, dropping many of them, the war soon came to and end and the F-82 was parked before entering the war. PJ
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It's certainly an interesting design, but I would have to wonder if it wouldn't have made more sense to have a single fuselage with pilots front and back, like a trainer. Then, all the extra weight of the second fuselage could have been dedicated to more fuel, maybe in wing tanks, our just in a slightly bigger fuselage. Maybe they opted for this design since the already had all the tooling in place for the mustang, this was just easier and required less tooling up?
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I'd have to really read up on the F-82 to see if somewhere they give a reason for the design, but my own theory is they were in a hurry to get something airborne that could escort our bombers on long runs and they probably had an abundance of 51 fuselages on hand, or as you said, the tooling was already in place. I think time was the controlling factor. The 51 had a combat range of 950 miles with 2 drop tanks, not enough for long range escort and make it back safely to the base.
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OP
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Way cool