Breguet's 1919-1939 Challenge #232

[Rbailey]

Perhaps it is time for a change of pace.

Scoreboard at the end of Challenge #231: Gloster Mars I (England, 1921)

51.00 richard B
34.40 Dave_Kent
30.50 Rbailey
26.50 Varese2002
22.00 Tork1945
12.00 YavorD
10.50 Froggy
07.00 DHC2Pilot
07.50 sobrien
**************
(those above this section must wait 12 hours before answering,
those below - and everyone else - may answer immediately)
**************
04.30 Aerohydro
03.80 Doc
03.00 Aquilius
03.00 Wind in The Wires
03.80 Doc
02.00 Albatros_Ace
02.00 Lodzermensch
02.00 Sreiko
01.00 JoeGertler

Previous: Breguet's 1919-1939 Aircraft ID Challenge

Quote:
The Rules
1.The thread title must be "Breguet's 1919-1939 Aircraft ID Challenge #......" AND must be placed in the Non-WWI Aviation sub-Forum.
2.The score board, link and rules must be copied to the beginning of each thread, so that we know where we are. The score board and the correct answer to the challenge must also be placed at end of each thread.
3.The completed aircraft must have been either; designed, built or have left the ground during the '1919-1939 period and be identifiable by the poster.
4.The photo must show the whole aircraft - from whatever angle, or at least 2 views of a 3 view drawing (photo by preference).
5.Challenges which depict a machine already earlier presented are disqualified (always check the list at Aeroplanes 1919-1939* -* Breguet's -Aircraft Challenge* -- when in doubt !).
6.If there is any doubt as to the eligibility of an aircraft for the challenge details should be PM'd to Breguet BEFORE the aircraft is submitted.
7.Once someone has gotten 5 correct answers under their belt they become an ACE. Once they become an ACE they must wait 12hrs after the posting of the new challenge before they can post an answer.
8.To be eligible for correct ID an answer must include at least one characteristic of the aircraft that helped in its identification.
9.The first person to ID the challenge correctly gets to post the next challenge. If this can not be done for any reason Breguet himself will post the next challenge.
10.If an ace gives the correct answer too early, the challenge is over, he gets no point but has to post the next one. In lieu of the fact that the "novices" have in effect been "cheated" of their "exclusive" time that next post should be a relatively easy one. Anyone repeating the correct answer at the right time gets neither a point nor the right to post the next challenge.
11.The final arbiter in relation to questions about the rules is Breguet.

[aerohydro]

Hmmm, interesting Challenge, Ron.

Judging by the type of envelope and the biplane tailplane that can just be made out, I think we're looking at a post-WWI Italian airship. But which one ... ? I have to say, most of the post-WWI Italian airships tend to look all alike, but there is a good contemporary "Flight" article that helps us to distinguish between them:

"Flight" -June 24th, 1920 - Modern Italian Airships

Of the craft on offer, the "D.E." and "O." types seem likely candidates, mainly due to the shape of the fin underneath the envelope seeming to be a close match to the one that can seen in the Challenge photo. Both are, interestingly, semi-rigid airships, even though the suspended gondolas imply that they're of non-rigid design.

So, of these two types, which one to pick ... ? I'm guessing that it's the "O.", as the first of the type - the "O-1" - has a certain claim to fame as it was sold to the US Navy, and was the only semi-rigid ever operated by them.

Wikipedia - O-1 Airship

I suspect that the Challenge photo, with the bunting and all the people in military uniform, may show the O-1 Airship on the occasion of its hand-over to the US Navy.

Cheers,
Paul

[Rbailey]

It is indeed a type O, but it did not go to the US; it went elsewhere, where the machine was given a new name, and has perhaps an equal although less widely recognized claim to fame.

[aerohydro]

Curses! I had convinced myself that that was the right answer.

[Rbailey]

Originally Posted by aerohydro

Curses! I had convinced myself that that was the right answer.

Well, you were right in part. Now just to determine where other type O's went.

[Dave_Kent]

Knowing Mr. Bailey’s interest in South American birds, this may be "El Plata", the Italian Type O airship sold to Argentina in 1920.

Dave

[Rbailey]

Originally Posted by Dave_Kent

Knowing Mr. Bailey’s interest in South American birds, this may be "El Plata", the Italian Type O airship sold to Argentina in 1920.

Dave

Dave - can you justify this guess, other than by my known predilection? Argentina had 2 type O's.

[aerohydro]

Here's an informative webpage that I've come across:

Airships For Argentina

So, there were two Italian O-class semi-rigid airships that made their way to the Argentine. Our mystery machine could be either "El Plata" or "Los Andes". Currently, I suspect it's the former.

Cheers,
Paul

[aerohydro]

Originally Posted by Rbailey

Dave - can you justify this guess, other than by my known predilection? Argentina had 2 type O's.

Well, not withstanding what I've just said in my last post ... if Dave Kent has gone for "El Plata", then I will cover the bases and opt for it being "Los Andes".

I've got a one in two chance of being correct!

Paul

[Dave_Kent]

I can offer a guess as to the claim to fame. I suspect that the flight from Italy to Buenos Aires in 1920 to deliver the ship was the first flight between Europe and South America. I cannot find confirmation.

Dave