Not the way that it was described as I interpreted it. The rail was not there for a guide, the bomb was attached to the rail and lowered prior to release.

Damned ingenious design really.

Splitter

Does anyone know if the rail was always there? Or was there some unfortunate pilot somewhere who discovered that all of a sudden he had no propeller?

Then I guess I don't understand what you mean. Could you elaborate?

The way I read it, and it may not be how it was meant, was that the bomb was guided by the rail. My point was that the bomb was not released from the "belly" of the plane but was lowered on the rail prior and then released from there. I'm not sure id any other aircraft of the time had such a mechanism.

Splitter

I know they had accidents in development, but I think the rail.sling was there from the start.

Splitter

Well, yes, the trapeze swung down before release in order to keep the bomb away from the prop. The mechanism is not modeled in IL-2.

PS - I was looking for a video which would demonstrate the movement of the trapeze, when I stumbled upon this gem of historical accuracy. :rolleyes: (watch from 3:45 until 4:10)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PzfGAZvT5M

"trapeze": That's the word I have been looking for in my brain all day lol.

Spliter

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A carrier-borne dive bomber called the Blackburn Skua ;)

which owns the first confirmed "Kill" by a British aircraft in the Second World War.

http://www.swafineart.com/images/31....ourage_lrg.jpg

Supreme Courage by Philip E. West

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There is a close shot of the "Ablenkgabel" at 1'10" on this video.

http://users.teledisnet.be/web/mfe39146/Ablenkgabel.jpg



Manoeuvring Fork
http://users.teledisnet.be/web/mfe39...lenkgabel1.jpg



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I believe the correct description of the drop is as follows:
1. The bomb is RELEASED from the ETC501
2. The Bomb is GUIDED by the Trapez outside the propeller arc.
The Bomb is not released from the trapez as it isn't fixed to it!
There are just forks at the end of the trapez, not clamps.