Hopefully their insurance (if insured) will bail them out. Natural Catastrophe insurance participation by property owners thruout Italy is near the lowest in the EU. The Italian gov't in the past has stepped up to help financially with NatCat recovery. Of course, the gov't of Italy is flush with Euros (sarcasm) as is the rest of the EU.
Well the MV Agusta factory was owned a float-boat and float-plane contructor before Cagiva bought it. So that's why it is so close to the lake. What I heard from my contacts is that the water reached R&D and the racing department. Not the production faciility. Is there damage? Yes, but nothing massive.
what they were building and flying up there up north in Italy all those years ago. what beauty. View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLRLhZJsCh4
Via Macchi Giovanni, 144 View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaBQBKnjfsA sorry for the hijack......back to the water Agello thankfully stayed above it over at lake Garda
Yes indeed, what a beautiful and awesome aircraft. Not only was it then and still is now the fastest reciprocating engined seaplane ever flown...... For 5 years, it was the world's fastest aircraft.
What advantage are counter rotating blades? I'm guessing it does not torque the plane to the side but seems it would be a very turbulent way to chop at the air.
Answer to Kelly's question. The term, "Counter rotating propellers or blades" usually would simply apply to when you have a twin engine aircraft. Where both of those engines turn in the opposite direction of one another on the right and left of the fuselage to reduce torque effects. This seaplane pictured is referred to as a 'Contraprop" design. Although somewhat complex the Torque effects on the airframe are reduced tremendously by doing this. Overall propeller diameter is reduced allowing more power to be absorbed by the smaller diameter, more blades also will increase efficiency. Tip speeds of the propeller are reduced by reducing the overall diameter A single propeller of the same efficiency would be much larger in diameter. The smaller diameter of this type of prop would allow for more propeller tip clearance in rough water's. Same thing applies to land based airplanes, ground clearance is reduced with larger prop diameters. Which would require much taller and sturdier landing gear in many instances, which equates to more weight, which equals less payload. Larger diameter props make it more difficult to keep the tip speeds transonic as efficiency really begins to drop at these speeds. Which would require reduced RPM's and Heavier more complex gear reduction cases. This is important as efficiency of the propeller's blades is poor. When the blades are approaching or reaches supersonic speeds, (The tip speed breaks the sound barrier). Not to mention, trying to fly an airplane like this, is also much more mentally fatiguing if possible at all during flight as it is so deafeningly noisy. Especially in an open cockpit. The airframe can also be lighter with a Contraprop design because it doesn't have to be built to absorb as much torque stress. The rotating airflow from a single propeller down the length of the airframe can cause destabilization of the airframe. This is referred to as P-factor. The Contraprop design will cancel that effect out right at the propellers shaft. Making the airplane much easier to fly. Theoretically, Propellers suck air from in front of the propeller and pull it into the propeller, (Unless it's a pusher) and rotates that air in a circular pattern behind it. Usually against many things behind that which can upset that airflow. So twin engine aircraft like the "Counter rotating Prop" plane first mentioned will fly much smoother when the airflow, though opposite side to side is relatively equal as it goes down the fuselage. That's why they would use "Counter rotating engines" on a twin engine plane.
Sorry shawbagga, I've been a licensed FAA Airframe & Powerplant technician for over 22 years. I don't work on Airplanes anymore, just the Occasional Helicopter from the BP. I do however still remember lots of the theory as it applies to different aircraft. I'm far from an up to date expert nowadays but I find the old stuff is still so cool. What's amazing here is these are fixed pitch propellers.
What, no flood walls, sump pumps, back up plan? They never thought the lake would get that high. BUMMER Fersure!
It has flooded before, just a lack of planning maybe. Come to think of it where would they pump the water when everything else is flooded ?
I would think to the outlet of the lake. Not sure about the topography and location factory around the lake but there should be an outlet to the ocean.
