Anthony:
>(2) Skydiver could turn left and right by running one impeller more
>than the other; but how does it turn up and down? I see no sign of
>movable hydroplanes like on most submarines. Do the various fins
>round its stern end have movable vertical and horizontal rudders on,
>like on aircraft? Or what?
I admit to having wondered about some of this as well. Using my Konami
model as a visual guide I come up with a few questions (and possible
answers?):
1. Like you I've been looking at the rear fins on Diver. They would seem to
be able to perform the same function as diving planes on a standard
submarine.
2. Is it possible that Diver is fitted with "jets" similar to those in, say,
the Costeau Diving Saucer (but set flush with the hull), which could assist
in providing up and down motion?
3. When the Sky fighter is docked with Diver, can the control surfaces on
its wings be employed as diving planes? Following this, is Diver's overall
maneuverability lessened once Sky is launched?
And, while I'm at it, some other issues . . .
4. Can Sky be launched from the surface? When Skydiver is at the surface
Sky seems to be continually riding "high" above the waterline, thus making a
surface launch problematic (if not outright clumsy). If Skydiver allows
itself to "settle" more into the water, so that Sky is on the surface when
released, then could the fighter take off in much the same way as, say, the
Convair XF2Y Sea Dart? For those not immediately familiar with the Sea
Dart, go to
http://www.taliaferro.net/waltermiddy/page3.html5. Probably going over previously covered ground here, but how well does the
Sky fighter operate as a submersible? This is presuming (and please correct
me if I'm mistaken) that a Sky fighter can make a water landing, submerge
and re-attach itself to Diver. I've never seen a Sky fighter employed or
discussed in a "mini-sub" role, so I've tentatively concluded that its
undersea capabilities are limited to returning to Diver and, as such,
requires the pilot to try and land as closely as possible to Diver's
location.
6. As single-seat fighter planes go, Sky sits "higher" than most. If a Sky
fighter finds itself obliged to land at a commercial or military airfield,
then the pilot is faced with a rather considerable climb in or out of the
cockpit. From my perspective it would make much more sense for the pilot to
climb in and out of Sky via the access tube and through the rear hatch (a
retractable ladder might possibly be part of the rear fuselage arrangement).
And it's back to bed. But I always enjoy discussing my favorite Anderson
vehicle.
Michael
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