Monday 13 August 2012

Cessna 0-2 and Dornier Do-335A

Both of these aircraft are unique in the aviation world for having both a rear and forward propeller. The Cessna 0-2 was developed for psychological warfare in the Vietnam wars and is powered by two engines. It also belongs to the twin boom family. Meanwhile the Nazi-German Luftwaffe Dornier DO-335A has both a similar engine layout, except the rear propeller is engine less. 

The Germans required a new fighter and despite plans laid down in 1942, it was not produced until late1944. At end end of World-War-II only about 30 aircraft had been built and 80 remained unfinished.

The Cessna O-2 Sky master has been built in the thousands and under licence in France as the FR-337

Performance wise, the Dornier was much faster. But by 1944 it was being superseded by the early jets. 

The O-2 could operated high-low and had a good range. 

Recently it has been discovered that this type of layout is much more economical on fuel consumption and a whole plethora of new types are being experimented with in the U.S. One of them being the Adam A500.

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