Donuts and bonus

We start today our list of the strangest aircrafts in history and we do it with de Dornier DO 335 “Pfeil” which is our number 10. This aircraft whose prototype flew for the first time in September, 1943 and was never produced in series, was a tricky approach of Dornier to the design of a two-engine aircraft with the characteristics of a single engine. With the tandem engine configuration, the aerodynamic drag was considerably reduced and the asymmetry problem in case of a single engine failure could be avoided, as it happens in the multiengine aircrafts that have their engines under the wings.

The crux tail was designed to protect the lower rear propeller from touching the ground during takeoff. With a maximum speed of 763 km/h at 6500 m it was significantly over the allied fighters of the time and it was a very promising craft. Even with a single engine it was able to reach 563 km/h, which is exceptional for an aircraft with an empty weight of 5210 Kg.

This is a link to a Youtube video that shows some images of the time.

Our position number10 of the strangest aircrafts of the history is for the DO335.

In this new entry of our blog we want to start a sweet talk speaking about Donuts, a genuine American product like Coca Cola and in the same way as this soft-drink, Donuts have spread over the years across the world becoming a part our daily life.

Los Donuts y los Bonus

Empezamos hoy nuestra lista de los aviones mas extraños de la historia y lo hacemos con del Dornier DO 335 "Pfiel" que ocupa nuestro puesto número 10. Este avión cuyo prototipo voló por primera en vez en Septiembre de 1.943 y nunca llegó a producirse en serie, fue una curiosa aproximación de Dornier al diseño de un avión bimotor con las características de un monomotor. Con su configuración de motores en tandem se reducía notablemente la resistencia aerodinámica a la vez que se evitaba el problema de asimetría en caso de fallo de un motor como ocurre en los multimotores que llevan sus propulsores en las alas.

La cola cruciforme estaba pensada para que la parte inferior protegiera la hélice posterior de rozar el suelo en el despegue. Con una velocidad máxima de 763 Km/h a 6.500 m que estaba bastante por encima de los cazas aliados de la época era un aparato muy prometedor. Incluso con un solo motor alcanzaba los 563 Km/h lo cual es excepcional para un peso en vacío de 5.210 Kg.

Aquí teneis un enlace de Youtube que nos muestra unas raras imágenes de la época.

Vaya pues nuestro número 10 de los aviones mas extraños de la historia para el DO-335.

En esta nueva entrega de nuestro blog queremos empezar de una manera dulce y vamos a hablar de los Donuts, un producto genuinamente americano como la Coca-Cola y que, al igual que esta, se ha extendido con el paso de los años por todo el mundo pasando a formar parte de nuestra vida cotidiana.

We are back!

Since our last blog entry, now almost three months ago, many things have happened, personally as well as professionally. During this hot weather and holidays (for some) we have been thinking a lot about our blog and about the possibility of continuing with it. We had a plenty of reasons for leaving it and only a few to continue and if I have to be honest, the first ones were stronger than the second ones.

However, during this summer break a person that I deeply respect told me something like this: “If you abandon the blog definitely, you will be betraying the spirit you were standing for, that is, it is not the destination that counts, but the journey”. And he was right.

¡Hemos vuelto!

Desde nuestra última entrada, hace ahora casi tres meses, han sucedido muchas cosas, tanto a nivel personal como profesional. Durante este tiempo de calor y vacaciones (para algunos) hemos pensado mucho sobre nuestro blog y la posibilidad de continuar con él. Teníamos un montón de razones para dejarlo y unas pocas para continuarlo y la verdad es que las primeras podían con las segundas.

Sin embargo, durante esta pausa veraniega una persona por la que siento un profundo respeto me dijo algo parecido a esto: "Si dejáis el blog definitivamente estáis traicionado el espíritu del que hacéis gala, esto es, que no importa tanto el destino como el viaje en sí mismo". Y tenía razón.

The Goodbye

Finally we reach the first position in our top ten ranking list and how could it be otherwise, this position is for the Wright brothers, Wilbur (1867 – 1912) and Orville (1871 – 1948). They were the first to develop an aircraft heavier than the air, that was able to fly controlled in its 3 axes and powered by an internal combustion engine. The flight of the “Flyer” took place on the Kitty Hawk beaches December 17, 1903, although they had previously tested different gliders, they built an aerodynamic tunnel and they even built their own engine with the invaluable help of their partner and mechanic, Charlie Taylor, who developed it in 6 weeks.

Their spirit and initiative make that Orville and Wilbur Wright will stay in the first position forever.

Today, as we reach the end of our list, it is time to say goodbye. During eleven weeks we have tried to give a unique message for a very special kind of people. As we said in the presentation of our blog, we have tried to address, on the one hand to those people who, despite their wide professional experience, still have the ability to get excited, and on the other hand, to the youngest engineers which, after finishing their studies, find a whole new world full of uncertainty.