12.08.2015, 21:58
Hi Everybody
The closest thing to a guided missile at the time of WW1 was the Kettering Aerial Torpedo or Kettering "Bug" as it was later known. it was a flying bomb designed by American inventor Charles Kettering and built by the Dayton Wright airplane company and powered by a 4 cylinder Ford built motor of 40 hp. it was actually an unmanned biplane guided by an automatic pilot on a pre-set course. it was to carry a 180 lb warhead. The first prototype was delivered to the U.S Army Signal corp. on oct. 2nd 1918. (Wikipedia claims this date for a first flight) most sources say it flew for the first time after the war. the first flight ended with a crash shortly after take-off. three series of test were conducted before the project was canceled. in the first series of tests, 6 flights with only two being successful. it had a top speed of 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour) and each unit cost $400 USD to build.
love Canvas Knights! and thanks for all the great planes, vehicles, ships and skins!
Rob
The closest thing to a guided missile at the time of WW1 was the Kettering Aerial Torpedo or Kettering "Bug" as it was later known. it was a flying bomb designed by American inventor Charles Kettering and built by the Dayton Wright airplane company and powered by a 4 cylinder Ford built motor of 40 hp. it was actually an unmanned biplane guided by an automatic pilot on a pre-set course. it was to carry a 180 lb warhead. The first prototype was delivered to the U.S Army Signal corp. on oct. 2nd 1918. (Wikipedia claims this date for a first flight) most sources say it flew for the first time after the war. the first flight ended with a crash shortly after take-off. three series of test were conducted before the project was canceled. in the first series of tests, 6 flights with only two being successful. it had a top speed of 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour) and each unit cost $400 USD to build.
love Canvas Knights! and thanks for all the great planes, vehicles, ships and skins!
Rob