Recent content by keithwwalker

They made a decision, invest in qualified staff to maintain the aircraft or this. Blancolirio's videos on the accident are a good listen in addition to the NTSB report. I think the pilot turned off the wrong motor and turned a 1 engine failure into a 2 motor out.

I saw the Buc at Pensacola, rather impressive given the bad aura around it.

Too bad the Yak 2/4 series wasn't developed more, the radiators were at the extreme aft of the nacelles, behind the landing gear. A proper Meredith installation would of boosted speed to match the Bf-109E. Any other twin engined craft use this rear nacelle radiator setup? Also, did any any...

I have two thoughts on this: F-82 was a P-38 replacement & what did that do? The Yamato, they threw hundreds of a/c at it, how many twin engined in CAS style attacks?

Two things are for certain: The Skua had perfect provision for a more powerful engine, R-1830 or even an R-1820. But the brits were determined to not mix their native airframes with US motors. Even in the most dire of circumstances, the aeronautical 'socialism' held sway. The Bristol Perseus...

I think you have that backwards, it was fascists, not communists, that were sabotaging aircraft.

I'm reading a book on the Defiant, & the 110 was a new weapon system, Spitfires & Hurricanes didn't do great against them as tactics haven't been formulated yet

R-1820 1000HP Dry weight: 1,184 lb (537 kg) 29L R-1830 1200HP Dry weight: 1,250 lb (570 kg) 29L Perseus 900HP Dry weight: 1,025 lb (465 kg) 25L Taurus 1050HP Dry weight: 1,301 lb (590 kg) 25L The Skua had a lengthened nose to account for CoG issues, so there was about 18" or so to slide a...

Actually, I would put the lack of Skua development down to the the fact the Air Ministry's penchant for issuing specifications instead trusting manufacturers to develop & improve their existing designs. It was a pre-war practice that thankfully was reduced (but never eliminated) during the war.

If there were a warbird Skua flying today, it would be running an R-1830 or 1820

The US Navy thought the SBD was obsolescent, but it carried on until 1944. The Skua, with an engine upgrade would of been functionally equivalent to the SBD. Leave the fighter responsibilities to the Grumman Martlet which was much faster than the Fulmar. That would leave the Skua as a...

It may be the reason the Skua was dropped was that the Perseus was totally unreliable in service. Every native Perseus application was a disaster & pulled from service. They should of re-engined with 1820 or 1830 radials to keep commonality with Martlet motors, the Skua could of soldiered on to...

don't forget ailerons had funky gain device on lower wings as well

If the Wellesley be modified for carrier duty, it would have shorter span WIDER CHORD wings to maintain as much wing area as possible. It would end up with a wing area between an Avenger & a Grumman AF Guardian, & have a Hercules or preferably Centaurus engine. Of course Avengers were in good...

Wonder if Reggiane 2005 had the range advantage over the G55 & 205 that the Reg 2000 had over early Aermacchi & FIAT fighters