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plan_D said:Yes, RG you stick too closely to specs. Okay, use them but you have to take into account pilot accounts and opinions, proven combat and such. Specifications don't always show the true combat potential.
Origin: Ernest Heinkel
Type: Single-seat fighter
Engines: two 1,852lb (840kg) thrust Junkers Jumo 004A turbojets
Dimensions: Span 12m; Length 10.20m; Height 3.19m
Weights: Empty 7,386lb (3350kg); loaded 11,465lb (5200kg)
Performance: Maximum speed 508mph (817km/h); Range 382 Miles (615km)
This interesting fighter often goes unnoticed in the annals of flight, eclipsed by its more successful and glamorous brother the Me 262. The He 280 is however, a remarkable aircraft. It was the first jet combat aircraft, the first twin-jet aircraft and the first jet aircraft to go beyond prototype stage.
The He 280 first flew under jet power on April 2, 1941 and eventually eight of these beautiful aircraft were built, but, even after a mock dogfight was arranged between the He 280 and a Fw 190, which the jet won easily, there was little interest in the jet.
If the He 280 had ever reached combat, it was most likely to have been armed with three 20mm MG 151 cannons.
I totally agree....As for the armament, I totally disagree. The 6 x .50's were far superior for dogfighting than the 4 x MK108's. It is unlikely that the Me262 would have been able to hit the P-80 from any range beyond 100 meters (and even that would require an expert marksmen), where the P-80 could have reached out over 400 meters and touched the 262. The MK108 was an anti-bomber weapon, nearly useless in a high speed dogfight.
Plus 6 .50 Brownings can throw out a lot of lead faster than the MK108's. Sure one 30mm from the MK108 would do a lot of damage, but your less likely to get a hit from one if your rate of fire is lower.
A larger slower firing 30mm is an ok weapon for a bomber thats not doing much maneuvering, but in a quick moving dogfight with a fighter a smaller faster firing .50 is an advantage.
it would be reasonable to assume that the .50 BMG firing the M23 would score about 7 times more often for a given shot than the Me262. Factor in the volume of fire of the 262's 4 x Mk108's at 40 rps vs. the P-80 at 80 rps (M2) and you'd expect the P-80 to score at least 14 times before the Me262 scored once, all other factors being equal. With the M3, you'd expect it to score 20 times before the Me262 scored once.