When Aircraft Pull Up Too Hard, - THEY BREAK Options

[Omega892R09]

The following sequence of images demonstrates what can happen to an aircraft if too severe a pull-up is attempted. The images were captured from a Farnborough Above and Beyond: The True Story of British Aviation free sampler disc that came with the January 2007 Issue of Aeroplane. The sequence was from a The Investigators part of the Main Movie.

Now I do not know the precise circumstances of the aircraft which could have been returning with battle damage but it is much more likely to have been filmed whilst under test. The aircraft appears to be a Lockheed Hudson. The Armstrong Whitworth Albermarle was very similar in form but the shape and positioning of the fins make it more likely to be a Hudson.

The first image shows the aircraft in a shallow dive appearing just to the right of the large tree at the left. I have included trees and horizon in some shots so as to provide some idea of the height and distances moved.

(IMG:http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/Graphics/BUJPG/PDVD_017.jpg)

Next image shows the aircraft leveling out.

(IMG:http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/Graphics/BUJPG/PDVD_018.jpg)

In the next image trouble can be seen but less than obvious, compare the angle of attack of the starboard wing with that of the port.

(IMG:http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/Graphics/BUJPG/PDVD_019.jpg)

Now the next image shows clearly the result of torsional stresses appearing in the starboard outer wing.

(IMG:http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/Graphics/BUJPG/PDVD_020.jpg)

By the time we get to the next image failure is becoming obvious and proceeds apace.

(IMG:http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/Graphics/BUJPG/PDVD_021.jpg)

(IMG:http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/Graphics/BUJPG/PDVD_022.jpg)

(IMG:http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/Graphics/BUJPG/PDVD_023.jpg)

EDIT: tpyo

This post has been edited by Omega892R09: Nov 8 2008, 03:19 PM