Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Fascinating stuff Bill!
It often amazes me that people, including 'enthusiasts', and those that use flight sim games, very often don't consider, or realize, how weather effects flying, even day to day civilian light aircraft flying. Until I got this stupid Arthritis disease, I used to fly from a small grass strip in the North of England. To the North, East and a bit further South of the field, is some of the notorious high ground that claimed many a kite during the war, and since. It was possible to fly West, to the coast, and encounter almost all four seasons in the course of the 30 minute flight! Those relatively minor hazards were bad enough.
When I try to explain to 'youngsters' the difficulties and problems encountered, day to day, by military pilots in WW2, I have to start by describing 'normal' flying in modern light aircraft, then add the parts about performance, and all the possibly fatal consequences if the particular aircraft was not handled, and respected correctly. THEN, I can (attempt) to describe what it must have been like to perform, not only complex (and potentially dangerous) aerobatics whilst avoiding collision in a crowded sky, but at the same time either desperately trying to avoid being hit by enemy fire, or trying to fire at an enemy. Then trying to explain that, when it's all over, having to figure out where the heck you are, and navigate back 'home' some 600 or 900 miles, in poor visibility, across hostile territory and an equally hostile and unforgiving ocean; all with just very basic aids! Takes some describing, and still some people can't comprehend.
To me, anyone who flew and fought in that conflict, and survived, deserves more respect than I know how to express.
Thanks again for the detailed insight Bill.
Terry.
It often amazes me that people, including 'enthusiasts', and those that use flight sim games, very often don't consider, or realize, how weather effects flying, even day to day civilian light aircraft flying. Until I got this stupid Arthritis disease, I used to fly from a small grass strip in the North of England. To the North, East and a bit further South of the field, is some of the notorious high ground that claimed many a kite during the war, and since. It was possible to fly West, to the coast, and encounter almost all four seasons in the course of the 30 minute flight! Those relatively minor hazards were bad enough.
When I try to explain to 'youngsters' the difficulties and problems encountered, day to day, by military pilots in WW2, I have to start by describing 'normal' flying in modern light aircraft, then add the parts about performance, and all the possibly fatal consequences if the particular aircraft was not handled, and respected correctly. THEN, I can (attempt) to describe what it must have been like to perform, not only complex (and potentially dangerous) aerobatics whilst avoiding collision in a crowded sky, but at the same time either desperately trying to avoid being hit by enemy fire, or trying to fire at an enemy. Then trying to explain that, when it's all over, having to figure out where the heck you are, and navigate back 'home' some 600 or 900 miles, in poor visibility, across hostile territory and an equally hostile and unforgiving ocean; all with just very basic aids! Takes some describing, and still some people can't comprehend.
To me, anyone who flew and fought in that conflict, and survived, deserves more respect than I know how to express.
Thanks again for the detailed insight Bill.
Terry.
