Instructions:
AG1: Propeller throttle control on / off
AG2: Jet throttle control on / off
AG3: Deploy arrestor hook
AG4 + left slider up: Fold wings
AG5: Lights on / off
Description:
The GP-230 Knucker is a submission for a contest to create a carrier plane for the early post WWII period. This is an entry for the dual propulsion category, using both a conventional radial propeller engine and a pair of early jet engines. This led to some interesting design choices, as the simplest place to put the jets is at the rear of the plane, avoiding having to deal with the exhaust passing over any parts. However, this means there is a heavy propeller engine at the front, and the weight of the jets at the rear, quite different to a standard propeller plane. Looking for a solution to handle this, the design took inspiration from the Westland Wendover, which had a tandem wing configuration to support the weight of a large rear turret. Adopting a tandem wing configuration for the Knucker came with some useful advantages for a carrier-based aircraft, allowing more lift area without increasing the wingspan. This extra lift in turn allows for safe flight at low speeds, increasing safety margins on takeoff and landings. It also allows the plane to be flown solely on propeller power, opening up the possibility of extending the plane's endurance by keeping station on propeller power and only using the fuel-hungry jet engines during combat. For combat, the plane carries 8 x 12.7mm machine guns, mounted on the wings and firing outside the propeller arc. There are also two hardpoints fitted under the fuselage, allowing 2 x Boom 25 bombs to be carried if needed. In combat, the Knucker is designed for use in "boom and zoom" style fighter tactics. With the jets and propeller both active, it has an impressive top speed and rate of climb, making it ideal for these tactics and difficult for other contemporary fighters to fight back against.
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Predecessor 1946 Specifications Challenge! [CLOSED]
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 47.7ft (14.5m)
- Length 32.4ft (9.9m)
- Height 15.6ft (4.8m)
- Empty Weight 9,694lbs (4,397kg)
- Loaded Weight 13,032lbs (5,911kg)
Performance
- Power/Weight Ratio 0.689
- Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.153
- Wing Loading 28.0lbs/ft2 (136.6kg/m2)
- Wing Area 465.8ft2 (43.3m2)
- Drag Points 2190
Parts
- Number of Parts 135
- Control Surfaces 11
- Performance Cost 604
@Geekpride Apologies for the delay, I just returned home
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Ofc!! Its all good, dude!! Hey, that's fair! You made a great aircraft for the challenge and I appreciate that!
Sick!! Please do! I'd love to see it! And in the future if you ever want tips or helps building just lmk, I am always here. You could tag me on an unlisted or whatever lol
@LieutenantSOT Thanks for the feedback, and your criticisms are absolutely fair. I wasn't 100% happy with the looks myself, but when I tried to have smaller gaps or rotator-powered control surface elements, the game started doing its annoying thing of stuff sometimes moving with the rotators and sometimes just sticking and not going anywhere. Eventually I just gave up and decided to make the best of it.
I'm planning on doing another entry, probably a pure jet, so I'm going to try to do a better job with that one.
And at this moment, you are #1 on the leaderboard that is invisible! Wahoo! And the first accepted entry
Alright, now for your score:
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Speed: 7/10
Maneuverability: 5/10
Realism: 8/15
Requirements: 29/30
Carrier Operation: 10/15
Tactical: 8/10
Looks: 2/5
My Opinion: 3/5
Total:
72/100.
Now, my reasoning:
The speed was okay, but I feel like it was a bit underpowered with the piston engine, and the prop is pretty small in comparison to the aircraft itself
The maneuverability is decent, but the aircraft has no trim or flaps to help, which I'll get back to in a second
Realistically, this aircraft would probably be horrible in most situations, especially as a fighter, although, this plane does look pretty badass and I like that!
Requirements-wise, I do not see anything wrong! I only deduct one point because I feel like the propeller should be larger, and the landing gear are a tad short, but still functional
Carrier-wise, everything is okay, but it is impossible to land without airbrakes, or flaps to aid in deceleration, because no matter what the aircraft either stalls and then slams down, or it brakes so hard that it nose dives once the hook catches and blows up
Tactically, it would work well! You can attach bombs, I really like how you made it optional, I find that really cool, and the guns are nice! The 8x .50 cal machine guns were pretty underpowering in my tests though
Looks-wise, as much as I like the design, and I'm sorry to say this, but it is pretty gnarly-looking construction-wise. I feel like the fuselage wings and the lack of fuselage-based control surfaces look weird, and the gap between the body of the wing and rotator looks a little weird too. Sorry, I don't mean to dig into you on that, but it's part of the grade so I have to say it. This is definitely an amazing build though!
And finally, my opinion. I feel like this aircraft has a ton of potential! I feel like the design is really cool and honestly I'd love to draw it and build it myself, because damn this is a cool idea.
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Man, I'm sorry. I suck at criticism lol. I love your build, but it's part of the grading scale so I have to do it, and I'd at least rather have you know why. And just a note, you grade most likely will change as more aircraft enter the challenge, either better or worse, as I get more to compare it to.
After careful consideration, this is the first accepted aircraft to the challenge!!
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APPROVED