Recent content by NTGray

I haven't been able to find a definitive online answer to a simple question, so I figured I would ask the experts here: What was the normal altitude for an SBD Dauntless pilot in a vertical (70°) combat dive to release his bomb and begin the pullout? A long time ago I read a historical novel...

I just want to express my appreciation for all the genuine experts who are sharing their knowledge regarding my question. It's been a fantastic read!

Huh. I really didn't think it looked right for (half a) meatball. Shows what I know. Thanks.

Sorry, my roundel recognition skills leave something to be desired. Who is flying these planes?

This clip is more fantasy than reality, but it's fun to imagine a world where doing things this way would actually be a good idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meXCmuXoxuA

That is almost certainly true. However, there will be new participants in the discussion, people who didn't see the earlier discussions, perhaps because they weren't yet members of this community. This discussion will be all new to them. Let them enjoy.

I used to think that the P-40 was basically a mediocre plane that could get good results in the hands of exceptional pilots like the Flying Tigers, but I have been revising my opinion upward in recent years. Note the assessment given in Wikipedia: Given that more P-40s were produced than any...

I once approached this question in a slightly different way, and asked what percentage of the American pilots who actually took off on at least one fighter mission ever scored an aerial victory. I don't remember offhand what the answer was, but it was WAY lower than I initially guessed it to be.

Quotes from Wikipedia, with emphasis added Regarding the Consolidated B-32: Whereas with the B-30. . . So apparently there were four manufacturers that entered the initial competition, but only Consolidated was left as a backup after the other two pulled out. That's too bad, but I guess...

Always appreciate getting better information. Is that documented, or your personal observation?

I assume that civilian versions were flying for quite a while after that in America and elsewhere, but 1976 seems to be the last date for an American military version.

When people talk about WW2 aviation, the discussion generally tends to go to fighters and bombers, because combat planes are exciting to describe, and the numbers they generated (specifications and statistics) are fun to talk (or argue) about. But WW2 aviation includes transports and cargo...

One of my favorite stories regarding the Hercules. These photos are real, not photoshopped. A Herc demonstrated that it was indeed possible to land on an aircraft carrier, but the navy decided not to put the idea into regular practice.

I don't see where anybody has mentioned this yet, but to fairly judge whether speed or maneuverability is more important, there needs to be at least a somewhat comparable set of relative abilities, as there was with the Zero and Wildcat. But imagine, if you will, a Fokker triplane, extremely...

For the benefit of those of us who are not intimately acquainted with the important differences between the F/G model and the H, could you explain them, and explain why in your estimation the F/G might have served as a better baseline? How does a "heavy" interceptor differ from a "pure"...