Footage from test-ditching a B-24

[GScholz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjadMxpXprk

Pretty interesting.

[earl1937]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjadMxpXprk

Pretty interesting.

Wow! Interesting to say the least! Wonder why, just after full contact with water of the belly of the 24, why did the nose balloon up like it did?

[colmbo]

The images of the interior showing the "reinforcement" that was damaged did not look like a stock B-24.  A bit hard to tell with the tight zoom and damage but appeared to have extra frames low in the bombbay.

Interesting vid, have seen that before.  Man, how'd you like to come to work and find out you get to ditch an airplane that as a bad rep when ditching.  WTH did I do?!?!

[Mongoose]

Wonder why, just after full contact with water of the belly of the 24, why did the nose balloon up like it did?

  It looks like it pitched up when the tail entered the water.  Maybe something on the tail pushed down when it hit.  Either that, or a pressure wave built up under the fuselage when hit.

[Spikes]

Looks like pressure dragged the tail down when it hit water.

[mechanic]

they should have given the pilot a gopro helmet cam

[SirNuke]

good stuff  

1) in AH wouldn't we be able to ditch at lower speed and lower approach speed?

2) It looks like the plane is flying boat, the belly seems adapted for the spash and the 24 takes ages to sink   but I wouldn't like to be in the middle at the crashe's times

3 the pilot emerging from the wreck seem highly stressed and is hastily fixes his hair   balls of steel

[DaveBB]

The P-51 allegedly was so dangerous to ditch in that pilots were instructed to bail out rather than ditch.  I imagine this was due to the radiator scoop.  What did this cause the P-51 to do, flip over?

[colmbo]

good stuff  

1) in AH wouldn't we be able to ditch at lower speed and lower approach speed?

Yes and no.  The B-24 will fly slower at the weights used in the test, you can get down to around 85IAS where you'll get some buffet.
 
What I've heard in hangar talk about ditching is you first and foremost want a controlled contact with the water.  Many feel, I agree, that a power on approach and touchdown would be best.  If you try to get down to absolute minimum speed you'll have the nose pretty high, upon contact it slams down, digs in and makes for an abrupt stop.  And of course if you screw the pooch and drop it in trying to get real slow it would be less than optimum.

[colmbo]

The P-51 allegedly was so dangerous to ditch in that pilots were instructed to bail out rather than ditch.  I imagine this was due to the radiator scoop.  What did this cause the P-51 to do, flip over?

Intake catchs water, digs in and tears tail off airplane, airplane sinks quickly.

[Valkyrie]

My Grandfather ditched a B-24D bearing 232 from Malta on 9-15-1943. They were cross controlled having taken rudder and elevator damage and hit the water at 100knots. The aircraft was on the surface for 4 minutes after impact, enough time for him to get the radio operator out. The ditching was so severe that the top turret dislodged and killed the assistant engineer and engineer who were braced against the pilots seat on the flight deck. the navigator in the rear didn't make it out of the ship either. Both pilots were ejected through the front wind screen on impact. It's MACR number 650. I have the accou t given by the bombardier.

In that b-24 ditch test they kept the nose to high and the tail plane contacted the water forcing the nose up. That is the basis for the advice to contact the water just a little above level. It's

[AH_WOODY]

Sweet, and with new water models coming in AH, this could be interesting