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CUTANGUS — High altitude release sequence
Published: 2011-07-07 19:09:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 2876; Favourites: 31; Downloads: 149
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Description
The short endurance of the steam interceptor implies an innovative method to climb without wasting water or fuel in the boiler.A simple, unmanned ascend stage in envisioned to climb and stay in interception ceiling until the action began.
At the proper moment, pilot pull the lever to release his fighter plane from the machine.
The unmanned elevator device goes down in autorotation, and the radio-altimeter automatically pull the collective pitch control in the last metres before the vertical landing. A radio-beacon starts emmitting to alert the recovery team.
After an overhaul and replenishment of his four high-pressure steam tanks, the device is ready to a new climbing mission.
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Comments: 10
By the way, bailing out of this fighter looks kinda painful too.
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*Scratches head*
An awesome and interesting idea....um...but why not just use 'booster' rockets...?
Of course, the answer is "But then you wouldn't have all this wonderful weird tech about!" 
Much cheers to you and yours.
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You're right, my friend.
With the booster rocket scheme, the main engine in the interceptor is normally "on" at full power, and the rocket itself can be recoverable by parachute or be discarded.
In this scheme the "elevator" machine allows for all the steam consumed in the climb and hover time, leaving the interceptor with all fuel still untouched.
Aside from the steam concept, one can imagine the "elevator" also powered by an enormous turbo propeller engine of 15,000-20,000 shp class (P&W XT57 or Kuznetsov NK-12) or even a coupled pair of these, being fuelled by the leg-tanks full of kerosene. A fighter plane of the Convair XFY-1 Pogo type can be hanged from it to perform the vertical interception mission, however not as fast as if the fighter is put on top of a Polaris SLBM missile!
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Heh.
The American and European tail sitters never seemed to find/learn of the German 'Lerche' [link]
Where the pilot is in the prone position for flight and effectively standing when it comes time to putting the machine back on the ground.
As for riding a dang big rocket up to altitude? Yeah, it would be fast, but the pressures involved? That's the other question.
Much cheers to you and yours.
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