Durability of Arado-234?

[Nefarious]

I havnt read anything on this subject anywhere...

Do you think the 234 is going to come apart easy? is it going to detonate like a pinto with just a few pings?

whats your opinion?

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aka Nefari...

Fighting in the air is not sport, it is scientific murder...

"Jerry Spring you out the studio, then Suge Knight to the parking lot, people aint ready for all the heat i got, picture yourself tryin to crushin Xzibit with all your tough talk, thats like Cristopher Reeves doin the Crip Walk"

[Westy]

is it going to detonate like a pinto with just a few pings?

Just for the record it only took ONE ping to detonate a Pinto.

But yeah, I think the engines will be easy meat. Then when they slow down it's all over. Goes for the ME-262 too when we get that some day.

 -Westy

[Fishu]

It's not a Me163 or other rocket plane though...

[Nefarious]

Im guessing most attacks on the 234s will be done Head On (just for the fact that it would be hard as hell to catch)...surely a few well placed shells into the cockpit would be death for the pilot and maybe some beautiful pyrotechnics...

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aka Nefari...

Fighting in the air is not sport, it is scientific murder...

"Jerry Spring you out the studio, then Suge Knight to the parking lot, people aint ready for all the heat i got, picture yourself tryin to crushin Xzibit with all your tough talk, thats like Cristopher Reeves doin the Crip Walk"

[MiG Eater]

Given the amount of steel used in the construction of the Me 262, I can envision it as a tough airplane to bring down unless damage is done to any part of the fuel system.  How much steel was used in the construction of the Arado?  That question would have to be answered.   Did it share similar construction, controls and systems as the 262?  

re the 262: All control linkages are/were steel tubing used in lieu of cables.  The Jumo engine casing is a large casting that should hold up well to gun fire.  The most likely cause of damage to the engines would be from the front or rear (either FOD or bullets) or to the crude fuel control system.  The 262 is a flying gas tank with 2-3 tanks forward, aft and under the cockpit (depending on the version) and lots of associated tubing.  Rapid movement of the power levers (throttles to recip drivers) was likely to damage the engine through overtemping, an engine fire or flame out at low speeds or high altitudes without the help of enemy fire.  The pilot had to watch exhaust gas temps (EGT) at all times to keep the fire "lit" while trying to avoid becoming a flame thrower.  The Arado pilot was undoubtedly faced with this same situation.  With the exception of the flimsy landing gear, the 262 is a solidly built airplane but I'd suspect it could become a torch if hit when fully loaded with fuel.  

Example of the rusted steel control surfaces from an Me 262.  Notice the ragged edges caused by corrosion.


 

MiG

[MrLars]

Seems to me that just a few .303's could cause a catastrophic failure in an engine. So much so that if one of the engines came apart it should take part of the wing <262> or fuselage <234> with it.

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Lars
***MOL***
Men Of Leisure

[This message has been edited by MrLars (edited 03-08-2001).]

[Jigster]

With that much fuel, I'd say zippo lighter. But then again the Zeke is not subject to this.

Losing wings and such would be another matter through...but given the loss of lift points on planes like the Fw190 A series...who knows.

Bout the only way catastrophic wing damage could occur near the wing root of the 190 was from the ammo bins exploding. I don't plan to find out in my Arado  

- Bess

[Fishu]

It gets lit up pretty nice..

Offline, in first ack shooting test, first hit caused left engine to lit up. (wheres extinguishers?)
Though, couple tests afterwards did go fine   (acks got both engines in next test)