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'Onager' Five-Wheeled Diesel Launch Truck Mk. XXIX

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Description

Designed upon the chassis and incorporating many features of the Courser auto truck, the Onager provides a highly-mobile means of launching super-light aircraft, such as the Dragonfly, in the absence of landing fields and other aeronautical infrastructure. When not in transmission with the wheels, the robust Courser engine is used to power the loading winch, wind powerful torsion springs housed within the frontal section, and drive pneumatic compressors to operate the pistons that actuate the rear loading rails. Because the standard Courser cab has been deleted, the vehicle is controlled by a pair of drivers in simple, open compartments to either side of the engine, similar to the setup employed in the Ox auto truck.
 
Operational Steps:
1)Upon reaching the desired launch site, the Onager’s pulley arms and launch rails are swung forward from their travel positions. The side ladder is assembled to permit access to the winch niche.
2)The rear rails are depressed to facilitate loading of the aircraft, which is pulled up by the loading winch. The rear rails are then elevated to horizontal. The launch cart is locked into position.
3)The steel ropes are drawn back and placed around the launch cart pulleys. The torsion springs are wound and the aircraft’s engine started.
4)The lock is released and the pulley arms drop as the aircraft advances down the rails and rope tension decreases. The aircraft leaves the rails and the launch cart falls away, to be recovered and reused. The process is then repeated from Operation 2 if launching multiple aircraft.

While the Dragonfly and other super-light aircraft saw much use with post-war adventurers, a surplus Onager was only ever purchased by the most extravagantly-funded expeditions.
 
Play Features:
-Steering in four frontal wheels
-Pistons pump and levers rock when rear wheel turns
-Pulley arms pivot when front bars spun
-Loading winch operates when rear bars spun
-Hinged rear rails
-Rear wheel shock absorbers
-Pivoting embarkation ladders
-Hinged crankshaft access hatches
-Rubber bands launch cart and aircraft*

*And how! It uses the stretchiest bands in my collection and implants the launched vehicle and cart into the opposite wall. I left them off for the photo shoot and shopped them in to avoid the possibility of an accidental flight and the subsequent reconstruction required.
Image size
3721x2843px 2.55 MB
Make
NIKON
Model
COOLPIX S8100
Shutter Speed
1/850 second
Aperture
F/4.6
Focal Length
21 mm
ISO Speed
160
Date Taken
Oct 23, 2016, 5:30:36 AM
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Comments1
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KoppKnakka's avatar
i love this idea and this work awesome....