Shuguri SG-6-A Shinkou Boke (new drawing 1)

The SG-6 Shinkou Boke or "Rising Fool", was to be Japan's singular attempt at a v.t.o.l. aircraft.
However, due to increasing wartime restrictions, the Shiguri company was forced to use inferior materials on this project.
Namely, the liberal use of bamboo on most structures, a treacherous material at best. That, perhaps lead to the prototype's very demise. Yet, the Shinkou Boke had Some rather interesting features. To begin with,
it was armed with one 75mm cannon (whose breech almost filled the cockpit) and one 50 cal. machine gun. The pilot sat on a pivoting seat for transitional purposes, but, if not careful could strike their head on the cannon. Lastly, the rear portion of the fuselage, had to be extensively glazed, in order for the pilot to view down for a landing.

Heinkel He 222 Bomber

Used in bombing missions on New York. Based in Greenland, May 1948.

TA-26

TA-26 3 Seat bomber of the USAAF, 1970's. Powered by world's biggest jet motor.

Miles-Pithley Travelux V-4

The ever popular "Travelux", camping, aeroclubing, or just flying about.
The future people's plane.

Fokker Triplanes on Phantom

Garrand & Demler P-84 "Scorpion"

Even today, the mystery that beset the P-84 Scorpion is unfathomable. To think that, as early as 1941, the Garrand and Dempler company had presented a working prototype of this exceptional aircraft to the U.S. Government and it was NOT well received.
The U.S. Air Force had trialed the machine, and found nothing but virtue in its overall performance.
Turn radius was excellent, a 10.000 ft. per minute climb rate, a light wing loading
( even when fully armed and fuelled), cruise at 450 mph., no unusual, or nasty flight tendencies, and above all, a dream for the maintenance crews.
What more could one ask for, and yet the congressional war command declined the type, owing largely, to a lack of confidence in the Garrand and Dempler co., as they were only previously known for the manufacture of lawnmowers.

Humiliation Fighter

Hawagasi "Mangle" Fighter HW 46-c

By the late 40's, Hawagasi had tried many unconventional and drastic measures, in order to shore up a firm resistance against
the enemy.
The HW 46 Mangle Fighter dragged behind it a "Flying Mace" (as it was called) this device, was held to the aircraft via a thick chain. The chain itself was spooled into the center of the airframe, beneath the pilot's seat, and could therefore be depolyed at differing lenghts. The purpose of the "Mace" was to decimate allied bomber formations by merely flying through them.

Russian Prototype

Typhoons beat Arrow

Hawker Typhoons messing about with their cannon. Mean ol' typhoon, picking on innocent little Dorniers.

Tough Marine

Kawanishi Toyo KA 213 code name (Fido)

The Ka 213 was an unusual aircraft, in it that its payload was most curious.
The 213 was a "Last resort" bomber, designed to drop a load of mad , rabid dogs. Possibly for general tactical annoyance.
The unfortunate reprisal of this idea, was that the dogs would often attack the handlers and crewmen before getting airborne.

Flying "Swastika"

Dornier "Flying Swastika" of JG 28 Luftflotte 4, Bahamas 1959, takes off on a routine sortie.

Junkers "Stuka"

Braf Bomber

Niedtiek-Slavlo "Prodvol" NS. -b176

The prodvol, was a Russian freighter of the late 40's. It had been converted from a former wartime bomber design, which in turn was converted from a previous pre war freighter.

American Insult Fighter

American Insult Fighter AI-17-b Late May 1942 from Simon

Handley-Page Hopesworth

Handley -Page Hopesworth Hp 1006

Many of the details surrounding this rare aircraft have beeen lost through the passage of time.
Not much is known about the Hopesworth, except of course for the version depicted here.
This was the only apparent account of a Hopesworth, registered as wh-xpp354n,
which was used to fly the Essex-Liverpool mail run during the war.
Heavilly disguised in full military regalia,the Hopesworth, had to protect itself and its crew from
public humiliation and jeering.

One Wheel Mc Gee

One Wheel Mc Gee Irish "Sport Fighter"

Dornier "Pfeil"

Dornier "Pfeils" getting their butt kicked from Simon

Supermarine Spj-3009c

Supermarine "Jesus Christ" Spj-3009c

Gromyko "Flab" Fighter

Gromyko "Flab" Fighter From Simon

Me 262

Me 262 Caricature

FW190-Z

Close up of an FW190 from Simon

Bristol Bromide

Bristol Bromide Early 1940's R.A.F. recon. aircraft


Believed to be a distant cousin of the Bristol Bravely and Bravo, The BR. Six, as it is referred to, had an extraordinarily bad reputation among its pilots and ground crew.
Possibly one of the war's least used aircraft, mainly because of its ridiculously underpowered engine. ( A Horsley Hedgehog, rated at 250 hp.)
The introduction of a 2 to 1 gearbox was necessary in order to achieve max
propeller thrust during low power settings. However this in turn brought about other complications, like slipping differentials, sudden loss of clutch tension and the random stripping of cogs.
A later improvement, catered for a manually controlled gearbox, but pilots claimed that they would "Loose up to 300 ft." in height every time they changed gears.
Another bug in the Bromide, was the light alloy bolts, screws and rivets. Most of which would shear in two or simply snap. This was due to both their general weakness and excessive gearbox vibration.
This was most unnerving, as panels, access hatches, flying surfaces and tail wheels would "pop" off at the slightest stress on the airframe.
Because of this drawback, pilots and ground crew alike, would warn new trainees, that a hasty or negligent final approach could turn the B.R.Six
back in to an assembly line.

Focke-wulf 190

a nice little Focke-wulf 190 from simon

Twin Engined Mustang

North American P-61 Sidewinder (my version of a twin Mustang)


Although the P-61 emerged directly from the Mustang stable, the concept was attacked with all sorts of controversy regarding its performance. Nevertheless, the North American Aircraft company succeeded with their "Sidewinder", having flown straight off the drawing board in early November 1948, the P-61 commenced performance trials as early as January of the same year.
The trials proved to be unexpectedly staggering, showing speeds in excess of 540 mph. and with its 8 stage supercharger, climbing to 43.000 feet in half the time of its predecessor, the P-55 Colt.
The p-61 has always been favored by pilots for its "Easy handling" characteristics and its quick response to the slightest hint of stick movement.
Another pilot pleaser, is the reliable, yet powerful engines on the Sidewinder. Originally intended to be powered by a pair of less potent Rolls Royce Death Adders, the P-61 is now fitted with the new Pratt and Whitney "Demon" series engines,each capable of well over 4.000 hp.

Image inset:
This particular wing, is possibly serving with the combined 8th. U.S. Air Force and the Chinese 15th. Air Brigade based in "Ntang-Hoi-Xo" just south of the Koh-Tang group of Islands.

Dornier "Schlange"

Back in the old days.......

...My pals and I worked at the old Hanna Barbera studio. In order to avoid boredom, we would often draw planes for fun.
It was all about tough planes you know, fast and with lots of firepower. We began to push these planes in to the extremely
ridiculous, and more importantly,....the "what if" category.
Of course it goes without saying, that in view of all the toughness about, I could not resist the temptation of going for the
lame and pathetic. Aircraft whose power is not even adequate to swing a prop.

The first of these old drawings were done in the early 80's. They were drawn by either Simon O'leary or myself.
Later on, other folk in the studio began to contribute, they shall be named accordingly.

The aim of this blog is to re-kindle those old days by drawing funny pictures of aircraft once again.
This, may well bring some old friends in to the blog, as well as some likeminded newcomers.

The Main rule is:.......Cartoony drawings of aircraft in a ridiculously functional way.