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I've always felt real comfortable getting on the Gbird, too, except once. Rode a demo flight in a converted "Three-3", a PT6 trimotor Gbird, and it was a downright sacrilege inhaling kerosene and the piercing scream inside that monument to a different time. A structure designed to withstand the comfortable rumble of a pair of radials resonated painfully with the high frequencies of the turbines. Impressive performer, though, with the beta on landing.I don't know the answer but I'd feel real comfortable betting on the Gooney Bird.
I've always felt real comfortable getting on the Gbird, too. Rode a demo flight in a converted "Three-3", a PT6 trimotor Gbird, and it was a downright sacrilege inhaling kerosene and the piercing scream inside that monument to a different time. A structure designed to withstand the comfortable rumble of a pair of radials resonated painfully with the high frequencies of the turbines. Impressive performer, though, with the beta on landing.
Now it is my turn for one of my attempts at humor to crash and burn... I guess four more and I'm an ace.Really wasn't trying to be. I just can't see the C-47 as being overrated. What other air force had anything better? I don't know if the ME -323 and the C-47 are considered in the same category. The JU-52 certainly wasn't as good. My basis? How many airlines purchased Ju-52s compared to the DC-2/3? Money talks, bullsh*t walks. I don't know the answer but I'd feel real comfortable betting on the Gooney Bird. The DC -3 is still in service in some places. I have seen one flying Ju -52 (by chance) around 1992 as I was walking to my car. I have seen a lot more Dakotas than that. No sh*t but at Suvarniphum(?) Airport, Thailand in 2016 I watched a DC-3 push back from a gate.
I don't chime in on aircraft comparisons. I'm not knowledgeable enough. I actually surprised myself by reacting as I did to seeing this airplane on the list. I tried (unsuccessfully) to phrase it humorously. Unless it turns out that he owned Douglas Aircraft stock, I'm going with with General Eisenhower's assessment.
Want a fun read involving a DC4? Try Flying Finish by British aviator and famed horse race jockey, Dick Francis. A classic "small timer in over his head" story in aviation, horse racing, and crime fighting. Buy it used, cheap, online.They also had a DC-4, but it suffered a hard landing and sat parked the entire time I lived and worked there.
WILCOWant a fun read involving a DC4? Try Flying Finish by British aviator and famed horse race jockey, Dick Francis. A classic "small timer in over his head" story in aviation, horse racing, and crime fighting. Buy it used, cheap, online.
Humor, like a bad martini, can be too dry to register as real. I should know, I'm a repeat offender, according to most acquaintances.I don't get it, that's not funny...
I don't think so. Failed the martini test. You're still safe with five crash and burns to go before achieving ignominy.Now it is my turn for one of my attempts at humor to crash and burn... I guess four more and I'm an ace.
Tbh, I am no where near the expert as you, but before you pass it off as some sort of Wikipedia nonsense, I remember reading the references in multiple books. Of course, I don't own most of them, I just read them.Actually, I am a lifelong fan of WWII aviation, have a VERY detailed database of WWII aircraft to include over 1500 different aircraft types, and have read and written extensively on WWII aviation (as well as Naval history).
I am 56 years old and volunteer at an active WWII aviation museum where were fly WWII warbirds every weekend inluding Mustangs, Spitfires, a Zero with a still-running Sakae engine, Bearcat, B-25, P-40, P-38, P-47, F4F, SBD, Hurricane, T-6s, and Hellcat.
I have met Hartmann and Rall, and many US "Aces," including Parr, Boyington, Blesse, and others.
And I have never heard of "Big Week." Maybe it was simply described elsewhere as a series of bombing raids, but I own over 500 volumes on WWII aviation and still never heard of Big Week. Maybe I just missed the name in my readings ... could be.
Until I see it somewhere beisides "Wikipedia," I'll assume it is a bogus label for an operation otherwise known as something else ... I don't believe a thing I read in Wikipedia and you shouldn't either, unless you can independently verify it.
The post is 14 years old and discussed later on, it is Operation Argument lasting six days, which is little week to most peoples reckoning.Tbh, I am no where near the expert as you, but before you pass it off as some sort of Wikipedia nonsense, I remember reading the references in multiple books. Of course, I don't own most of them, I just read them.
The Air Ministry were most impressed with the P-51 when it came to fruition, some 30mph faster than a Spitfire when fitted with the same mark Merlin. Remember the P-51 was designed and developed to fulfill a British order, without the British there would have been no P-51, all paid for with British coin, the USA initially had absolutely no interest in the aircraft. The British Air Ministry even considered building the aircraft in the UK when they were confronted with the FW 190 and development of the Spitfire version able to counter the 190 was lagging.All of the comparative tests I have read were done by the British and they weren't too keen on touting the Mustang
The Air Ministry were most impressed with the P-51 when it came to fruition, some 30mph faster than a Spitfire when fitted with the same mark Merlin. Remember the P-51 was designed and developed to fulfill a British order, without the British there would have been no P-51, all paid for with British coin, the USA initially had absolutely no interest in the aircraft. The British Air Ministry even considered building the aircraft in the UK when they were confronted with the FW 190 and development of the Spitfire version able to counter the 190 was lagging.
Get a copy of the book "Rolls Royce and the Mustang" by David Birch, available from the the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust, it includes relevant Air Ministry letters and comparative test data.
As an observation, unless you have flown the particular aircraft type in combat yourself against a specific type in a specific theater at a specific time we are in no real position to opine about its capabilities or weaknesses.
T
As an observation, unless you have flown the particular aircraft type in combat yourself against a specific type in a specific theater at a specific time we are in no real position to opine about its capabilities or weaknesses.
I saw that special!That is a statement I'd disagree with, although not with its intent: a test pilot with experience in combat aircraft and tactics could certainly give a solid and objective comparison of strengths and weaknesses between combat aircraft after appropriate testing, perhaps better than could a regular pilot with combat experience in either type. Of course, success in combat depends on much more than aircraft performance; if it did, no MiG-17 pilots would ever have been shot down by AD Skyraider pilots.
As an observation, unless you have flown the particular aircraft type in combat yourself against a specific type in a specific theater at a specific time we are in no real position to opine about its capabilities or weaknesses.
Yes, I am an armchair corporal.
Actually, I am a lifelong fan of WWII aviation, have a VERY detailed database of WWII aircraft to include over 1500 different aircraft types, and have read and written extensively on WWII aviation (as well as Naval history).
I am 56 years old and volunteer at an active WWII aviation museum where were fly WWII warbirds every weekend inluding Mustangs, Spitfires, a Zero with a still-running Sakae engine, Bearcat, B-25, P-40, P-38, P-47, F4F, SBD, Hurricane, T-6s, and Hellcat.
I have met Hartmann and Rall, and many US "Aces," including Parr, Boyington, Blesse, and others.
And I have never heard of "Big Week." Maybe it was simply described elsewhere as a series of bombing raids, but I own over 500 volumes on WWII aviation and still never heard of Big Week. Maybe I just missed the name in my readings ... could be.
Until I see it somewhere besides "Wikipedia," I'll assume it is a bogus label for an operation otherwise known as something else ... I don't believe a thing I read in Wikipedia and you shouldn't either, unless you can independently verify it.
Or you could get one of these, rumor has it the author is a little absent minded but a pretty good tome nonetheless:The Air Ministry were most impressed with the P-51 when it came to fruition, some 30mph faster than a Spitfire when fitted with the same mark Merlin. Remember the P-51 was designed and developed to fulfill a British order, without the British there would have been no P-51, all paid for with British coin, the USA initially had absolutely no interest in the aircraft. The British Air Ministry even considered building the aircraft in the UK when they were confronted with the FW 190 and development of the Spitfire version able to counter the 190 was lagging.
Get a copy of the book "Rolls Royce and the Mustang" by David Birch, available from the the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust, it includes relevant Air Ministry letters and comparative test data.
As an observation, unless you have flown the particular aircraft type in combat yourself against a specific type in a specific theater at a specific time we are in no real position to opine about its capabilities or weaknesses.
Who is this Mustang guy? Never heard of him.Or you could get one of these, rumor has it the author is a little absent minded but a pretty good tome nonetheless:
Amazon product ASIN 1472839668