As.292

Speaking about the development of the German military, the majority of people are just something top secret and inexplicable. But this is not always the case, because there are so many prototypes, which could go into production.

As for unmanned As.292, he was ordered to the Luftwaffe anti-aircraft training. For this purpose it was necessary to create the most cheap model. Except for the name As.292, the German authorities have also designated it as Flakzielgerät 43.

Outside The unmanned most resembled rezinomotornye machine because it also had a slim fuselage made up of tubes with straight wings of medium length. As for feathering, it has been a large area. Aircraft length and wingspan is the same and equal 2,4 meters. Most of the details of construction have been made of metal and covered with cloth entire fuselage.

Despite the ease of control of the As.292 apparatus, it had elevators and a pair of ailerons on the wings. An Argus-type engine was used as a power plant, which had only three horsepower, but this was enough to accelerate the car in the air to 80 km / h. The total weight of the structure of this model reached 25 kilograms. Landing and liftoff from the ground was allowed by a wheeled chassis system, consisting of three struts. For the first time this unit was lifted into the air on 9.08.1937/1939/XNUMX. At the same time, the automatic system for stabilizing the machine in the air consisted of cables and springs. All this allowed the aircraft to follow a straight trajectory, and this, in turn, did not allow anti-aircraft gunners to practice firing at maneuvering objects. To solve the problem of performing maneuvers, the designers resorted to developing a radio-controlled system, which took two years. As a result, the modified car was ready by May XNUMX, when it carried out a test flight.

As a result, management decided that the firing of the aircraft with a fairly expensive equipment is not appropriate from an economic point of view. It was thought a lot of uses, but due to the fact that the control device it must be in the operator's visibility, and it's up to 10 kilometers, the circle of tasks significantly narrowed. In the end, attached to the car and began to use the camera as a scout, who led the survey area.

After the shooting unit was safe to land, so as not to damage the film with the captured information. For this drone led out into the path of the operator or the landing point, the approach turned off the engine and opened the parachute, which car and down to earth. All this has allowed As.292 car to get into serial production.

Serial models were slightly modified. First of all, it was established 7-hp engine that allows you to overclock the machine to 100 km / h. This reduced range, as fuel was enough only for 30 minutes of flight. All equipment and important details closed casing, moreover, has been established yet another camera. The production model weighed 27 kg. Serial production was started only 1942 years, were made about 100 pieces. As for combat use, then this unknown.

The biggest drawback of the As.292 product was a small radius of application, since it was possible to operate the machine in open areas in the field of view of the operator. It was possible to lay a direct flight trajectory and send the device out of sight, but then it would have to be turned blind or lost a reconnaissance aircraft. 

As.292. Characteristics:

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