Diesel or Petrol engines?

[the lancaster kicks ass]

You can stay awake for 18 hours quite easily, as on average you stay up 16 hours a day anyway.

yes but you're not trying to fly a plane for that long are you? fatigue would soon take it's toll.............

 

[cheddar cheese]

couldnt the crew work shifts?

 

[Lightning Guy]

To minimize crew fatigue it is important that they have room to move, relax, or even nap. The B-36 was big enough (and design for missions long enough) that it could carry a second crew and feature a berthing area and galley.

 

[plan_D]

Most likely a crew change would be used, or more simply the co-pilot stays on while the pilot rests. Aircraft aren't hard to fly anymore.

 

[Lightning Guy]

No they're not. And the seats have become more comfortable as well.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

yes but we're talking about a WWII plane, not as modern or big as the B-36................

 

[plan_D]

What's the WWII plane that has the endurance of 18 hours? Even then the B-36 isn't modern, it isn't modern at all. The B-36 would have still required a lot of concentration, that's not to say the planes nowadays don't.
The B-36 was almost a World War 2 design anyway.

 

[Lightning Guy]

The B-36 program actually began in 1941 and made its first flight Aug. of 1946. As far as the technology involved it was for all intents and purpose a WWII desgin.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

if you go back a few pages it kiwimac's posted stats for a german recon plane................

 

[plan_D]

That's maximum endurance 18 hours, in that case the pilot would rest while the co-pilot would fly. If there was any problems he'd call in the resting one...

 

[cheddar cheese]

or bail out and leave the pilot to die

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

it doesn't actually say the number of crew though....................

 

[cheddar cheese]

well i doubt its 1...

 

[plan_D]

If it's a maritime recce plane most likely it'll have a crew of two, at least.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

looking at the armourment it would need quite a few gunners..............

 

[cheddar cheese]

Petrol is much, much better than Diesel. 8)

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i beg to differ.................

 

[cheddar cheese]

beg declined.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

it wasn't a invitation...................

 

[cheddar cheese]

well it is now.