Budd RB-1 Conestoga
Posted by OberstBahn@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 31 comments
Posted by OberstBahn@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 31 comments
TheTexanKiwi@reddit
I hear the skin on that thing was a thin you could poke a hole through it with your finger.
frodfish@reddit
Wasn't it welded stainless steel?
TheTexanKiwi@reddit
Something like that, I cant remember. I just know it made use of an unconventional material to save stategic materials for more important contributors to the war effort.
frodfish@reddit
Welded, no rivets
No-Anybody-8119@reddit
There is one at Pima Air and Space Museum One was also used by the Tucker Corporation to carry the Tucker 48 around the country for public display.
Watchung@reddit
A shame the program never went anywhere, given its surprisingly modern layout for a cargo aircraft. As I once heard it put, between stainless steel construction and being made by Budd, if these had entered production in the 40s they'd probably still being flying today.
Mobryan71@reddit
Budd Don't Break.
murphsmodels@reddit
It's kinda sad seeing the only survivor sitting there with major parts missing.
Conestoga Today
alaskafish@reddit
I always wondered why it has such a strange texture to it? Anigrand has a resin model of it, and it also has that super ribbed fuselage.
Mobryan71@reddit
Budd was applying many of the same techniques and methods to the Conestoga that they had perfected over decades at their day job, making trains.
Corrugating the skin made it stronger laterally, less prone to damage, somewhat easier to bend predictably across the direction of the corrugations, and more resistant to things like vibration, oilcanning, and thermal expansion.
murphsmodels@reddit
It's got super thin skin. I wanna say half that of a plane with aluminum skin.
winchester_mcsweet@reddit
Haha, you win for today!
R-Cursedcomentes@reddit
It’s like a A-20 or A-26 with the cockpit of a B-36
ThatChap@reddit
OK who left copies of The Busy World Of Richard Scarry lying around the design bureau?
9999AWC@reddit
It looks like a converted assault glider
ackermann@reddit
What was it designed for?
ElSquibbonator@reddit
It was a transport for the US Navy, designed to use "non-strategic materials" in its construction. To save aluminum, it was made out of stainless steel instead.
Old_Wallaby_7461@reddit
Explains why Budd made it
Demolition_Mike@reddit
The crews also said it handled like a train, too
Mysterious-Hat-6343@reddit
I get the joke only after watching the YouTube video posted by Stegasaurus
dexecuter18@reddit
Aircraft made out of steel will do that ig
Stegasaurus_Wrecks@reddit
Ed Nash has a video on this among many others. Really interesting channel tbh.
https://youtu.be/PH6JRBkbBzg
Mysterious-Hat-6343@reddit
Great video. Thanks!
Bogartsboss@reddit
Head designer to underling: Fuselage? Yes sir.
Wings?
Yes.
Engines?
Yup. Two.
Tail. YesSir. An' a bib un at that!
Cockpit?
Um, can I get back to you on that?
iamalsobrad@reddit
Seems to have been a bit of a theme for mid sized transport planes; The underling at Chase made sure to include a cockpit, but still ended up with a weird feeling that he'd forgotten something else.
atomicsnarl@reddit
At least it had good visibility to see the ground rushing up at you.
alaskafish@reddit
I mean, we can talk about the wheels all day...
But what about the engine?
Jong_Biden_@reddit
Can't have shit in Baltimore
Ok-Palpitation-5380@reddit
What a weirdo! Love this sub
PriestWithTourettes@reddit
Check out Ed Nash’s channel on YouTube it’s all about odd military aviation
Ok-Palpitation-5380@reddit
I’m subscribed already mate. Thanks 😉👍