Could the FAA have been better prepared for WW2?

[Admiral Beez]

The Stringbag was certainly there in numbers and what the FAA could field at the time, but it was obsolescent.

I don't believe the FAA ever asked for the Swordfish, but that Fairey built it on speculation that their Seal and Blackburn's Sharks would need replacing. I think the FAA would have been better off to tell Fairey to come back with something modern (likely the Albacore) and in the meantime stick a Bristol Pegasus onto the Shark and tell Blackburn to make more.

The Blackburn Shark is faster, smaller (in length, equal in deck area), lighter and longer ranged. The only thing the Swordfish has that the Shark doesn't is a Bristol engine.

 

[ThomasP]

The Shark also had hydraulic-powered folding wings.

 

[fastmongrel]

The Shark also had hydraulic-powered folding wings.

Are you sure that seems very advanced for a Biplane.

 

[RCAFson]

The Shark also had hydraulic-powered folding wings.

It had hydraulic wing locking pins; the hydraulic system allowing for all pins to be actuated simultaneously, but the wing fold was manual.

 

[Admiral Beez]

The Shark also had hydraulic-powered folding wings.

And, at least in Canadian service a fully enclosed canopy.

 

[SaparotRob]

Would installing the Bristol Pegasus require major structural changes? It didn't work for the Buffalo but it seems like a good idea. Which is of course why it didn't happen.

 

[Shortround6]

Would installing the Bristol Pegasus require major structural changes? It didn't work for the Buffalo but it seems like a good idea. Which is of course why it didn't happen.

There were a number of Sharks fitted with Pegasus engines.

Usually identified by the short cowling.

A problem may have been engine allocations. Not every plane (or plane maker) that wanted Pegasus engines got them.
Some makers got Armstrong Siddeley Tigers even when they didn't want them.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Would installing the Bristol Pegasus require major structural changes? It didn't work for the Buffalo but it seems like a good idea. Which is of course why it didn't happen.

IDK, but the weight and dims seem similar. The RCAF Sharks, produced by Boeing Canada in Vancouver in 1937 were Pegasus-powered.

Armstrong Siddeley Tiger - Wikipedia

• Length: 64.6 in (1,641 mm)
• Diameter: 50.8 in (1,290 mm)
• Dry weight: 1,287 lb (584 kg)

Bristol Pegasus - Wikipedia

• Length: 61 in (1,549 mm)
• Diameter: 55.3 in (1,405 mm)
• Dry weight: 1,111 lb (504 kg)

Though I wonder about the execution of the Canadian Shark's overall assembly, with some noteworthy summation of service here, my favourite passage: "There was no synchronization gear for the .303 fixed Browning machine gun firing through the three bladed wooden prop. A red tag reading, "use in emergency only" was hung from the gun. "

 

[ThomasP]

Hey RCAFson,

re:"It had hydraulic wing locking pins; the hydraulic system allowing for all pins to be actuated simultaneously, but the wing fold was manual."

Well, darn! There goes another one of my treasured mistaken beliefs. I really liked the idea of a Swordfish contemporary biplane with power folding wings. I always imagined a scenario where a Swordfish and a Shark landed on a carrier deck, and while a bunch of deck crew scurried around the Swordfish and manually folded the wings, the Shark pilot watched with interest - and then pushed the wing fold button. Darn it! Curse you I say!

 

[Admiral Beez]

I always imagined a scenario where a Swordfish and a Shark landed on a carrier deck, and while a bunch of deck crew scurried around the Swordfish and manually folding the wings, the Shark pilot watched with interest - and then pushed the wing fold button.

See this vid to see the Avenger pilot auto fold in front of all the deck hands trying to manually fold the Seafire wings.

Fairey Albacore. Was so awful?

 

[Admiral Beez]

I have to admit that the Shark is the better looking aircraft. I don't see why the FAA bothered with the Stringbag when the better option was to order more Sharks with Pegasus engines and tell Fairey to come back with something like the Albacore or a strike platform that's Battle or Fulmar-like.

It's interesting that the Germans also thought the biplane was the best format for their carrier-based torpedo strike aircraft. I wonder how the Albacore would have compared to the Fieseler Fi 167. Looking at this ugly thing it's clear there's no one at Fieseler who cares about esthetics.

 

[swampyankee]

I have to admit that the Shark is the better looking aircraft. I don't see why the FAA bothered with the Stringbag when the better option was to order more Sharks with Pegasus engines and tell Fairey to come back with something like the Albacore or a strike platform that's Battle or Fulmar-like.

It's interesting that the Germans also thought the biplane was the best format for their carrier-based torpedo strike aircraft. I wonder how the Albacore would have compared to the Fieseler Fi 167. Looking at this ugly thing it's clear there's no one at Fieseler who cares about esthetics.

View attachment 598953

This is what happens when a country forces the Bauhaus' members into exile. Of course, some will say the presence of the Balkenkreuz and Hakenkreuz define beauty.

 

[Admiral Beez]

This is what happens when a country forces the Bauhaus' members into exile. Of course, some will say the presence of the Balkenkreuz and Hakenkreuz define beauty.

Not that the designers at Fairey have any claims to aesthetics over Fieseler. From Flycatcher to Gannet the naval aviation bureau at Fairey did not waste time on making an aircraft look good. Fulmar and Firefly are okay, but Barracuda? Jeez. I'll give them points for the Fairey Fleetwing, perhaps their prettiest carrier aircraft.

 

[swampyankee]

Not that the designers at Fairey have any claims to aesthetics over Fieseler. From Flycatcher to Gannet the naval aviation bureau at Fairey did not waste time on making an aircraft look good. Fulmar and Firefly are okay, but Barracuda? Jeez. I'll give them points for the Fairey Fleetwing, perhaps their prettiest carrier aircraft.

View attachment 599045

No country really had a monopoly on ugly aircraft, but I really enjoy making fun of WWII era Germany.

 

[Admiral Beez]

No country really had a monopoly on ugly aircraft, but I really enjoy making fun of WWII era Germany.

True. When looking for the best looking single engine application of the Daimler DB601-5 engines you're likely going to pick non-German aircraft.