AMEN!
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Doesn't mean that we should resort to that behavior in a written forum/debate with people of multiple nationalities, languages and cultures.
"I'll take any man from any land in any game that he can name for any amount that he can count".
If that's the oath of office for an exclusive club where only the best are admitted, where every move you make, on duty and off, from the day you report to Indoc to the day you're "piped over the side" is recorded, scrutinized, criticized and graded, and every other member is your competitor for the right to remain a member, you best be always on your toes and constantly testing everyone's mettle. Besides the amusement value, the awareness of your squadron mates' strengths, weaknesses, and personality habits may one day preserve your posterior.
Steeped in the aura of a fighter training environment, having observed the training, heard the lectures, ridden through a little "turn and burn", I'm convinced aggression is the single most critical attribute of a fighter pilot.
So there's your outsider's perspective.
Cheers,
Wes
I think it has a lot to do with lifestyle and group dynamics. USAF and to a lesser extent USMC fighter pilots have the luxury of a private life. They are more dispersed with fewer squadrons per base and less concentration of their living and social arrangements. Even within their service they have more contact and interaction with people outside their aircraft community.I haver never flown with a character or in a squadron with that complete attitude. Each weapon system has it's own "group" traits / personality. In my experience USN fighter squadrons have more of what you mention above,
The Navy has always lost more aviators to the boat than they ever did to the bad guys.Also the guy who landed on the boat the best was made an IP, not the guy who could kick everyone else's arse.
Also the guy who landed on the boat the best was made an IP, not the guy who could kick everyone else's arse.
The Navy has always lost more aviators to the boat than they ever did to the bad guys.
Cheers,
Wes
Some got the "right stuff", some don't.I well remember a guy in the paddock giving it "large" with his pseudo hells angel mates, he was a completely different character stood on the start grid, looking around as if he dearly wanted to be somewhere else, preferably with his mum.
That is true, but everyone is nervous before their first race, I imagine every pilot is nervous before they first go solo. Almost every soldiers accounts of battle has said those who say they were not scared are lying. The question is how you deal with that fear, the guy I was talking about looked beaten before the flag dropped for the start, he was very distinctive green Kawasaki, green leathers and a red beard, I never saw him again. All the aces I have heard speak on TV sound and have the demeanour of retired F1 and motorcycle GP champions, thoughtful, intelligent, affable but with a certain glint in their eyes.Some got the "right stuff", some don't.
Cheers,
Wes
As Chuck Yeager and Dan Gurney, Bob Hoover and Mario Andretti. Smart, experienced, analytical, confident, and endowed with "grace under pressure".All the aces I have heard speak on TV sound and have the demeanour of retired F1 and motorcycle GP champions, thoughtful, intelligent, affable but with a certain glint in their eyes.
Jackie Stewart and Winkle Brown are as alike two peas in a pod
They do all have very similar personalities and demeanour.As Chuck Yeager and Dan Gurney, Bob Hoover and Mario Andretti. Smart, experienced, analytical, confident, and endowed with "grace under pressure".
Cheers,
Wes
Well the Tirpitz probably had more effect on the war at sea than the Bismark did, so long as it was in a Fjord and a possible danger then the RN and the RAF had to do something. I mentioned the Bismark as it was used in a scenario in a battle group with the GZThe Graf Zeppelin was not due to be completed until after the Bismarck was sunk.
I wonder if the German attitude with the Graf Zeppelin would have been the same as the Tirpitz was after the loss of the Bismarck. That is, basically hidden out of harm's way.
The Graf Zeppelin was not due to be completed until after the Bismarck was sunk.
I wonder if the German attitude with the Graf Zeppelin would have been the same as the Tirpitz was after the loss of the Bismarck. That is, basically hidden out of harm's way.
It is docked at the secret Nazi base in Antarctica. It being sunk is a hoax.
As to topic at hand:
Build a better Sea Hurricane
- Start with the Spitfire
- Make Fairey produce the navalised version rather than pursue their own designs, the design would be worked up with Supermarine
Have a cosy chat with Grumman and get them to take over CCF (Canadian Car & Foundry). Instead of CCF building Hurricanes and Helldivers, get them to build Wildcats, Hellcats and Bearcats. Forget about the Sea Hurricanes and Seafires. Build decent planes instead.
As a carrier aircraft the Wildcat did have one massive advantage over the Sea Hurricane, it's folding wings giving it a very small footprint. You could probably carry almost twice as many Wildcats compared to Sea Hurricanes. At sea with spares many maile away that was criticalThe Martlet/Wildcat was considerably poorer in performance than a Hawker Sea Hurricane and not really much better than a Fulmar II under 10k ft. The FAA was having to counter FW190s with Seafires before the Hellcat even came into service, much less the F8F.