Clay_Allison
Staff Sergeant
- 1,154
- Dec 24, 2008
I thought of that but it just seemed like the 38 was too complicated for anyone but Lockheed. Maybe a simplified supercharged 38?
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I thought of that but it just seemed like the 38 was too complicated for anyone but Lockheed. Maybe a simplified supercharged 38?P-40 was a stronger fighter bomber IMO which was useful in that theatre.
If there was excess capacity to produce the Yak-1, why not just make more P-38's which was already in production?
I don't think a metalized Yak would have worked. With that said, the original Yak series could have been used for short tactical strikes like in the CBI or used for fighter CAP over a small radius like Guadalcanal. Outside of that it would have been useless in the SWPTOMainland China/Burma/India, and I mean an all-metal yak (I'm assuming you are an American and thus we can afford the aluminum for you.)
Metalized Yak wouldn't have worked? Ever hear of the Yak-9?I don't think a metalized Yak would have worked. With that said, the original Yak series could have been used for short tactical strikes like in the CBI or used for fighter CAP over a small radius like Guadalcanal. Outside of that it would have been useless in the SWPTO
P-40 was a stronger fighter bomber IMO which was useful in that theatre.
If there was excess capacity to produce the Yak-1, why not just make more P-38's which was already in production?
Not true - although a difficult aircraft to build, additional assembly lines could easily been opened.I thought of that but it just seemed like the 38 was too complicated for anyone but Lockheed. Maybe a simplified supercharged 38?
If we COULD get more P-38s, why didn't we? It was available in 1939! We could have replaced all of our P-40s and lend leased THEM to our allies.Yep
Not true - although a difficult aircraft to build, additional assembly lines could easily been opened.
BTW look into the different plants P-38 were built at Burbank. There were several assembly lines in different factory locations one line about 3 miles from the main plant.
The first article shows the outside assembly line at plant B-1. The second photo shows the interior of plant B-1. The third photo shows building 304, plant B-6. In later years the Constellation, Electra and later P-3 would be built there.
Point being, every time another line was opened at Burbank, people were hired trained and then put on one of these lines. If there was production at 3 locations at the Lockheed facility, having a subcontractor build P-38s away from Burbank was very do-able. I believe that Vultee built something like 60 P-38Ls before the war ended.
A long, sad goodbye to Plant B-1
If we COULD get more P-38s, why didn't we? It was available in 1939! We could have replaced all of our P-40s and lend leased THEM to our allies.
Didn't they resolve that dive issue with special flaps fitted just outboard of the engine nacelles?...major dive perfromance questions unresolved...
So VG seriously, there is no way you could support that claim.
Seriously, it's not forbidden to think a little before posting, even for moderators.
Technically no, but there is a learning curve when basic standards that apply to a current fleet are suddenly changed to support one airframe type, both operational and maintenance wiseThe Soviets flew western aircraft in some cases very successfully...P-39...
So the concept of getting used to a differnet style of plane should be no bother.
Very true especially if we look at this during WW2 with regards to combat aircraft.How long does it take to licence build an aircraft and put in full production? 2 years maybe and the aircraft you were trying to build becomes obsolete.
Look at the Canadain aircraft industry during WW2. The Aussies did pretty well too.Well come to think of it I can't remember any examples of a foreign contract built aircraft that was made in large numbers by any side. While it seemed easy enough for GM to take over making F4Fs for instance, having it come from elsewhere is a different thing.
Canada was able to produce some Hurricanes. I didn't know that CAC made any foreign designs, what licensed production did they have?Look at the Canadain aircraft industry during WW2. The Aussies did pretty well too.
Seriously, it's not forbidden to think a little before posting, even for moderators.
Canada was able to produce some Hurricanes. I didn't know that CAC made any foreign designs, what licensed production did they have?
Look at the Canadain aircraft industry during WW2. The Aussies did pretty well too.
First time I heard of that. Which of these alloys were "proprietary?" For the most part you were looking at 24T aluminum and 4330 steels. There was magnesium used as well.Canadians had to "americanize" the Bristol Blenheim when they produced it. American instraments, fittings, piping and such. Some British alloys were proprietary and had no 100% equivelent SAE alloy. 99% maybe
AgreeCanada and to some extent Austrailia also had America to draw on when it came to supply of machine tools.
Even with such supply, to do as well as they did starting from basicly nothing with few if any trained workers was quite an achievement.