Quiz time !

[First time Juke]

What is this rare 1939 pusher ?

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/9991/aafighter391us.jpg

[Jason S.]

Re: Quiz time !

Is it the early design of the XP-55 Ascender? Here is the only remaining example, owned by the NASM.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7703

[race9]

Re: Quiz time !

Yep, thats what it looks like.

[race9]

Re: Quiz time !

Or it's that japanese one.

[First time Juke]

Re: Quiz time !

No that is not Ascender nor Shinden.

It is european design..not english nor german.

[Peashooter]

Re: Quiz time !

Is this another SAAB story?

[Hawkeye]

Re: Quiz time !

It's from Italy. They built a canard fighter prototype in the early 40's.
I don't have my book in front of me to get the mfg. name.

A/C is SAI Ambrosini S.S.4. 2 prototypes were built.

If you can read Italian, here is a site with more pic's.

http://www.giemmesesto.org/settori/aerei/SiaiSS4/SIAIambrosiniSS4.htm

[Peashooter]

Re: Quiz time !

Is it me, or is the canard skewed?

http://www.giemmesesto.org/images/aerei/Ss4_2.jpg

[Fence Sence]

Re: Quiz time !

I doesn't look quiet right does it. Port side looks a tick high and perhaps a tick aft? Do the leading edge profiles look a bit different port to starboard on the main wing or are those just shadows? Obviously some of it is just shadows. Maybe it's all just shadows. Neet lookin' lil' ride.

[First time Juke]

Re: Quiz time !

Any idea how fast this Ambrosini was ?

[W J Pearce]

Re: Quiz time !

The first prototype was destroyed in a landing accident in 1941 after it's 960 HP Isotta-Frashini Asso XI R.C.40 engine failed. It does not appear that the second prototype was ever finished. The project was abandoned in 1942 in favor of more traditional wood fighters (S.S.4 was AL). First flight was in 1939. Max speed was 355 mph.

By Edit:

My second source conflicts with the first. It says that the aircraft was destroyed in 1939 during its second flight when the right aileron separated in flight causing a loss of control.

Still 355 @ 16,405.

I'll see if I can find a third source.

[W J Pearce]

Re: Quiz time !

Okay... reading between the lines, the aircraft crashed on its second flight when something caused the engine vibrate severely. That vibration caused the aileron to separate from the aircraft. At least that seems to be what happened.

[First time Juke]

Re: Quiz time !

That is a remarkable speed for an aircraft of 960 hp engine..is it not ? 335 mph ?

[W J Pearce]

Re: Quiz time !

I think it went pretty well.

[First time Juke]

Re: Quiz time !

Cannot compare with 408 mph of Thunder Mustang ( with just 640 hp ) but still. Ambrosini SS4 was armed with two 20 mm cannons etc in 1939.