My second entry for Kenzar’s Fleet Reconnaissance Floatplane Challenge
Lore: Wright Island Aircraft Company was not wanting to rest on the laurels of their NR-1F, knowing that eventually the Navy would need a replacement. In light of this they tried to be ahead of the curve and offer a replacement so good they don’t need to have a trial run for any other models. Beginning in 1926, they tried to think of how to make a modern (for the time) fleet reconnaissance aircraft, first thing being it needed to be a seaplane. They decided to blur the lines between floatplane and flying boat, where the forward fuselage/hull looked more like a float than a true flying boat fuselage. Then they needed a power plant, with the best option being the SP9R Typhoon Radial engine, unfortunately it didn’t provide enough power so they put 2 on, not only to provide more power but was also safer if one is shot or malfunctions. Then they made it amphibious with a tailhook, to be able to land on airstrips or even carriers, and was able to launch off of catapults as well. But, unfortunately the inability to hold offensive weaponry, I.e. bombs, mines, torpedoes, etc., would cause the Navy to look to a trial run for a new fleet reconnaissance aircraft. But, despite not being adopted by the Navy, the Cormorant would see amazing use in civilian and paramilitary organizations, including search and rescue, transport for rough habitats, drug busting, and more. Would eventually be upgraded with updates including turboprop engines, improved radios, radars, and special equipment.
Specifications
Spotlights
- This craft is curated
- Ownedpilot 4 months ago
- Zaineman 4 months ago
- TheMouse 4 months ago
General Characteristics
- Predecessor [CLOSED] Fleet Reconnissance Floatplane Challenge
- Created On iOS
- Wingspan 41.0ft (12.5m)
- Length 39.2ft (12.0m)
- Height 15.7ft (4.8m)
- Empty Weight 2,050lbs (930kg)
- Loaded Weight 3,873lbs (1,756kg)
Performance
- Horse Power/Weight Ratio 1.032
- Wing Loading 8.2lbs/ft2 (39.9kg/m2)
- Wing Area 473.9ft2 (44.0m2)
- Drag Points 5772
Parts
- Number of Parts 398
- Control Surfaces 9
- Performance Cost 1,547
Ranking:
Looks: 10/20
Functionality: 12/20
Realism: 18/20
Detail: 7/10
Flight: 6/10
Interesting: 0
Do I like it: 10
Final: 63/100
@WinsWings thank you, I try to put as much of my experience around aircraft into my builds as possible. And no worries!
@SchadeAircaftCompany no problem, I like your builds - they were authentic. Sorry I ran out of my spotlight power for today
@WinsWings and @TheMouse you guys are awesome, thanks so much
@TheMouse Thanks
@WinsWings
Spotlighted ;)
@Zaineman, can you help spotlight this collection, this is so much under voted - thanks buddy
@SchadeAircaftCompany If you want some help getting your plane to fly better, I did a few tweaks on my downloaded copy of the cormorant like deleting the second pair of wings to move the center of lift a bit back and tilt the engines 5° upward. I could get into detail here, but may be it be better you DM me on the Discord Simpleplanes builder chat ( https://discord.gg/afRjsf6T43 ) my username there is the.same as here : Sockdragger.
@Sockdragger appreciate the kind words, yeah the game is makes it really difficult to get a good seaplane I find, so I kinda got used to the flight quirks it has. But yeah I try adding as much detail as I can, basically watch inside cockpit videos to get inspiration on how to make the inside
Excellent build with lots of details. Unfortunately it tends to flip over every time you attempt a water takeoff and otherwise the center of gravity and center of lift are so close together it stalls way too easily. It took me one hour of tweaking to get the flight characteristics somewhere near what I like. (Hit me up on one of the discord servers to discuss the details of what I did. I go under either Sockdragger or Daddy Sockdragger.)