Most Dangerous Position on a Bomber....?

[dead parrot]

Sorry to go off topic again, but about the plane in my siggy:

The book arrived today, and apparently the picture was taken in September of 1939. It shows Sakai about to go on a flight to test the high altitude, electrically heated flight suit he is wearing.

This means the plane is not a Ki.44 or Ki.84, both army planes anyway and unlikely to be on a navy base. Now that we know the time period, I wonder if it's most likely to be an A5M of some kind? The angle of fuselage looks about right, and it had a fairly fat looking radial in front too.

 

[MP-Willow]

Dead Parrot, I will look at what I was reading to see if it was an H8K, but I think they came into service latter? I would agree that the flying boats might be safer from the lack of being sent on one way missions, and they were well protected, the H8K that it.

AS for being a partty boat that might be a good idea! They got that big for range. The Seiku, H8K-L could hold 64 troops max, but that was at the expance of range.

 

[dead parrot]

Willow--the book I'm looking at says the Hawaii bombing mission was the H8K's first mission, which would be why it seems early, maybe. Here's one link:

http://www.wwiitech.net/main/japan/aircraft/h8k/

Man, the more I read about this plane, the more I like it. Pretty impressive stuff.

 

[Lightning Guy]

I think that front end is TOO big for an A5M. Also, there is no sign of the bump following the open cockpit. I wonder if it's even a single-engined plane.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

BTW, I'm all for the party idea, PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MP-Willow]

Dead Parrot, yes you might be right. I read the artical and I have seen it before, but it makes me wounder why other then save wieght and be less complicated they did no make it an amphibian? We mentioned this problum before but why not look into it?

As for your party Lanc, if you can find an H8K that is airworthy, then get back to me. As of now there are non, but I have been thinking of what itould take to make a modern replica?

 

[plan_D]

We don't need a H8K for the party. Party at my place!!!

 

[dead parrot]

(snip)...but it makes me wounder why other then save wieght and be less complicated they did no make it an amphibian?..(snip)

It was an amphibian though... Do you mean why didn't they make a non-amphibian version?

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

We don't need a H8K for the party. Party at my place!!!

PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

We don't need a H8K for the party. Party at my place!!!

PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know, the beach is great for parties, too....


We just need the women...

 

[MP-Willow]

DP, everything I have read is the H8K was a stright flying boat. It had beaching gear, but could not land on it.

 

[dead parrot]

Flying boat party: Great Idea. But we might need seperate planes to keep the plane fanatics segregated. Say an H8K for the Mossie lovers, and, well, an Ar 196 should be okay for the rest...

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

an Ar 196 should be okay for the rest...

LG in other words..................

 

[Lightning Guy]

I'm surprised you Mossie fellows wouldn't want a Sunderland . . .

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

He's got us there, mates...



The Sunderland IS bigger...



BUT THE BEACH IS BETTER!!!

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and we would be safer in a sunderland..................

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

Not exactly...

The H8K has 20 mike-mikes everywhere... (H8K2 had 5x20mm and 4x7.7mm MG)

But the Sunderlands hull does seem to be wider and taller...


(That way we can fit some tall women in.)

 

[Lightning Guy]

But the H8K was by far the more heavily armed of the two.

 

[dead parrot]

Are there any records of H8K encounters with Allied aircraft? I've read about Allied pilots being very hesitant to take the Emilys on, but does anyone have any stats and/or anecdotes about specific fights?

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

I have a pic (in a book~no scanner) of an Emily with the inner right engine in flames and other damage on account of being attack by an A-20 or A-26.