The Nikitin PSN 1 & 2 anti-naval gliders -- Who but the Soviets would have thought of it?
Posted by 13curseyoukhan@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 5 comments
Primarch459@reddit
Isn't this just an Ohka with extra steps?
its_not_fictional@reddit
the ohka was powered by a pulse jet iirc
SunSnowy@reddit
The Ohka had a few variants, some rocket powered and some powered by a variety of different jet engines. Pulsejet kamikaze aircraft were in production, such as the Baika, but the war ended with only its engine built.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
Well i think it would definitely motivate pilots to put the torpedo right on target. If you're committed to an un-powered water landing a short distance from a ship you just attacked, you'll make damn sure everyone on that ship is busy being on fire and sinking and not thinking about you.
SunSnowy@reddit
These are actually just testbed aircraft.
These piloted versions existed so that the infra-red guidance and auto-pilot that would be fitted in the final aircraft could be tested, while still having a human pilot inside who could control the aircraft and prevent it from crashing if something went wrong.
They were never intended to be actually used by pilots in combat. If the pilot was expected to die anyway by landing a glider next to an enemy fleet, you would just build a kamikaze aircraft that would be more accurate and could carry a bigger bomb.