Cheshirechappie
Established Member
The basis of the 'frozen chicken' story might be true, but if it is, it happened a very long time ago, probably during testing of the chicken launcher, and not during it's routine use testing aircraft components.
The 'small hole' story is also as old as the hills. The version I first heard (about 30 years ago) is that the Americans, during WW2, sent across the thinnest piece of wire they could draw. The Brits drilled and tapped it, and sent it back. I didn't believe it then, and don't now. It's just another 'my willy is bigger than yours' tale that the boastful of any nation like to tell to hide their lack of self-confidence.
One aircraft story that IS true is the one about the Mosquito bomb doors.
To save aluminium, the Mosquito was conceived by De Havilland's during the war years (and was later to become a real success story - a formidable fast bomber with remarkable capabilities). The first test aircraft was built at Broughton in North-East Wales, and the production manager of the plant was an ex-patternmaker by the name of Reggie Francis. The booming aircraft industry of the '30s had swallowed up a lot of skilled woodworkers displaced from industry in the depression years. Tests of the new plane went well, until the bomb doors were tested. They opened, but would not shut. Mods on the ground failed several times to solve the problem.
In the end, Reggie decided that the only way to find the fouling points was to look while the plane was airbourne - the stress distribution on the frame was clearly greatly different in the air than on the ground. There were no volunteers for this job, so in the end, Reggie made his own cradle, had it strapped into the bomb bay, and had himself strapped into the cradle. They then took off and flew round Hawarden aerodrome at 100 feet openingand closing the dorrs while Reggie planed and chiselled bits off till they fitted. When they landed again, Reggie just said, "Right, make 'em like that."
Nobody ever subsequently argued with Reggie, even when the use of aluminium somewhat overtook his ability to bring craft knowledge to the production manager's job. He lived well into his late 80's.
I know all this to be true as I know Reggie's son Gordon very well from other fields of endeavor, and I've had the story confirmed by independent sources too.
They don't make 'em like that any more!
The 'small hole' story is also as old as the hills. The version I first heard (about 30 years ago) is that the Americans, during WW2, sent across the thinnest piece of wire they could draw. The Brits drilled and tapped it, and sent it back. I didn't believe it then, and don't now. It's just another 'my willy is bigger than yours' tale that the boastful of any nation like to tell to hide their lack of self-confidence.
One aircraft story that IS true is the one about the Mosquito bomb doors.
To save aluminium, the Mosquito was conceived by De Havilland's during the war years (and was later to become a real success story - a formidable fast bomber with remarkable capabilities). The first test aircraft was built at Broughton in North-East Wales, and the production manager of the plant was an ex-patternmaker by the name of Reggie Francis. The booming aircraft industry of the '30s had swallowed up a lot of skilled woodworkers displaced from industry in the depression years. Tests of the new plane went well, until the bomb doors were tested. They opened, but would not shut. Mods on the ground failed several times to solve the problem.
In the end, Reggie decided that the only way to find the fouling points was to look while the plane was airbourne - the stress distribution on the frame was clearly greatly different in the air than on the ground. There were no volunteers for this job, so in the end, Reggie made his own cradle, had it strapped into the bomb bay, and had himself strapped into the cradle. They then took off and flew round Hawarden aerodrome at 100 feet openingand closing the dorrs while Reggie planed and chiselled bits off till they fitted. When they landed again, Reggie just said, "Right, make 'em like that."
Nobody ever subsequently argued with Reggie, even when the use of aluminium somewhat overtook his ability to bring craft knowledge to the production manager's job. He lived well into his late 80's.
I know all this to be true as I know Reggie's son Gordon very well from other fields of endeavor, and I've had the story confirmed by independent sources too.
They don't make 'em like that any more!
