Identification

[Froggy]

Bonjour

on a French forum we would like to identify this strange device anyone here have an idea?


Identification machine volante - Aroforums

Thanks

Cordialement
Bruno

[Tork1945]

The picture of this machine is often published and ridiculed on the internet, without anyone knowing what it actually represents.

The original print is somewhere in the archives of the Library of Congress / Smithsonian Aviation and Space Museum (NASM). When I saw it I remember that it represented an Austro-hungarian development from about 1918. The NASM had no more information than that.

I will search something more on it.

Tork1945

[Froggy]

Merci Tork

Bruno

[Tork1945]

Some very heavy searching gave the result here

The original print of the picture is in the Paul Ernst World War I Photograph Album held in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

It carries the following description of the NASM

One-half left front view of an unidentified Austro-Hungarian Army aircraft; probably an experimental design at Aspern Airfield, Vienna, Austria, circa 1916-1918. Aircraft appears to be lacking a propeller and any control surfaces.

It would be interesting to know more about the machine, but alas this is all we have. Note that the sectence starting with 'Aircraft appears' is an interpretation of the NASM.

Tork1945

[Froggy]

Tork you are the Best !

Yes the mention 'appears to be ' don't give definitive conclusions
but at least the source of this photo Paul Ernst World War I Photograph Album
gives a good indication that it was probably from austrian origin
(I thought it could have been from France origin)

Thanks very much for the time you spent for that research
I'll tell you if I get further infos

Bien cordialement
Bruno