The Codfish
Here's one from my Cycolpsia series - this time a rendition of the proposed McDonnell-Douglas V-9 CODFISH - 'Proof of Concept' COD vehicle from the early 1980's.
Back then, McDonnell-Douglas was taking on development of the UK's VTOL Harrier for their own AV-8 program and in parallel with the main thrust of the re-design work, various 'bi-product' options were looked at - one being a replacement for, even then, the ageing COD (Carrier On-board Delivery) Grumman C-2 Greyhounds which serviced the US Navy's carrier fleet.
MD's Future Concept Manager, Lila Froop, was behind the idea that took the basis of their AV-8A's Harrier's re-engineered wings and Pegasus engine - scaled them up and matched them to the C-9 Airframe - the military version of their highly successful DC-9 Airliner design.
The result gave rise to a V/STOL machine as capable as the Turbo-prop driven Greyhound but with the ability to operate without the need for a catapult or arrestor gear and even the ability to land and take-off from other vessels.
In the end the C-2 Greyhound soldiered on for another 30 years and is still current now - but with history almost repeating itself, The Navy has recently decided on a COD version of Boeing's CV-22
'Tilt-Rotor' Osprey which will eventually replace Grumman's 1960's workhorse.
Like many of these 'Drawing Board' dreams, Unfortunately - the idea was simply shelved as being way too costly to implement even
though support for the idea was then gaining ground amongst the Naval community.
Back then, I modeled this from my spares box using the very idea the concept was based on - Harrier wings etc and parts of the DC-9.
Along with various artists impressions that came about at the time I gave it a spurious set of US Navy markings for a submission to the local model club's monthly display.
The Codfish
Here's one from my Cycolpsia series - this time a rendition of the proposed McDonnell-Douglas V-9 CODFISH - 'Proof of Concept' COD vehicle from the early 1980's.
Back then, McDonnell-Douglas was taking on development of the UK's VTOL Harrier for their own AV-8 program and in parallel with the main thrust of the re-design work, various 'bi-product' options were looked at - one being a replacement for, even then, the ageing COD (Carrier On-board Delivery) Grumman C-2 Greyhounds which serviced the US Navy's carrier fleet.
MD's Future Concept Manager, Lila Froop, was behind the idea that took the basis of their AV-8A's Harrier's re-engineered wings and Pegasus engine - scaled them up and matched them to the C-9 Airframe - the military version of their highly successful DC-9 Airliner design.
The result gave rise to a V/STOL machine as capable as the Turbo-prop driven Greyhound but with the ability to operate without the need for a catapult or arrestor gear and even the ability to land and take-off from other vessels.
In the end the C-2 Greyhound soldiered on for another 30 years and is still current now - but with history almost repeating itself, The Navy has recently decided on a COD version of Boeing's CV-22
'Tilt-Rotor' Osprey which will eventually replace Grumman's 1960's workhorse.
Like many of these 'Drawing Board' dreams, Unfortunately - the idea was simply shelved as being way too costly to implement even
though support for the idea was then gaining ground amongst the Naval community.
Back then, I modeled this from my spares box using the very idea the concept was based on - Harrier wings etc and parts of the DC-9.
Along with various artists impressions that came about at the time I gave it a spurious set of US Navy markings for a submission to the local model club's monthly display.