Which WWII aircraft would you choose?
- Thread starter GrauGeist
- Start date
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Hornchurch
Airman
- 38
- Jul 3, 2020
'
Am saying this with NO 'National Bias' involved, nor intended - My choice would be the Short Stirling
Why ?
Because it's a massive, massive 'Beast' and just like the Dinosaurs that went before it - IT's EXTINCT !!!!!!!
Have ALWAYS been pretty obsessed with it, since I was a child & I built my very first 1/72nd scale AIRFIX STIRLING, circa 1971
This led-on to building another, this time BETTER & to be honest, I became obsessed with the Roy Cross Box-Artwork !
As a child, I'd dream of 'visiting THE airfield' on the box
Hornchurch's 1979 Honda CB.900-F
Fast forward some 30-34 years later and I did via my 900-F Honda, with my daughter on the back, went right into the centre of the airfield**
** (or, rather what was left of it)
Back then, as a kid, I never knew or understood what 'Squadron-Codes' were, so, tracing the airfield then, was just wishful-thinking !
As an adult, I'd found-out that THIS box-top airfield plane, had the codes 'EX-L', which denoted 199.Sqdn, therefore 100-Group.
Amazingly, the Control-Tower (RAF Watch Office), is still in existence & is amazingly enough, used for "Bed & Breakfast"
(It's at North Creake, in North Norfolk, on the B.1355 not far from Walsingham)
The Short Stirling often gets a 'rough-ride' from critics, mainly due to it's "short" (no pun intended) wingspan, thereby lacking "ceiling".
However, folks often also 'overlook' it's importance, during D-DAY 6th June 1944, plus Arnhem, plus, later, Operation Varsity (Crossing the Rhine)
Those THREE alone, make it damn-important, as a warplane AND as a 'participant'
Combine those with 'Minelaying' AND it's inclusion in the World's FIRST 1,000 Bomber Raid(s) & we have 'a winner' - (well, I do !)
Oh yeah, lastly......
It blew my mind, when I'd read numerous accounts, that it COULD out-turn an Me.110-G4 at sea-level, during & after 'Minelaying' operations.
I've even read of it (them), giving Hawker Hurricanes "a hard time" during fighter-affiliation excersices, over Long Sutton & Lincolnshire.
Pretty suave for a much maligned Bomber.
Contrary to popular belief, they DID NOT fly their last bombing missions in 1943, but flew their last (amazingly), in Dec' 1947 & Jan'/Feb' 1948**
(Mk.IV's - ALL were Ex-RAF Mk.IV's, the transport-version(s), which were sold, by Belgium, to Egypt, then, converted)
Anyways, here is the (far), more widely recognised RAF Bomber version, with which most folks are familiar..... (serving in an H.C.U)
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I agree with MichaelMaltby, the P-47N would be a great "safe" choice. But, for some reason I've had a fascination with the Northrop XP-56. It just looks cool sitting there. None exist so it would be the only one of it's kind. I'd add 'fly-by-wire' to improve the flying qualities.
- Thread starter
- #124
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Great choices, everyone!
I especially like seeing the rarities some are going with
I especially like seeing the rarities some are going with
The Basket
Senior Master Sergeant
- 3,712
- Jun 27, 2007
Fairey Swordfish. Easy to fly.
Or a Storch.
Or a Storch.
FluffyTabbyCat
Recruit
- 2
- Aug 16, 2020
Or fly a Breda 88, so one can look the opposite to ugly in the ground attack role; you can look sleek, stunning and beautiful, before slamming into the ground due to engine failure and ill thought out wing/load/weight balance!
Well damn, I had no idea that big bird was that maneuverable, guess that's my fault for judging a book by its cover.
Only one aircraft allowed or three completely different ones?
If three:
- Kawasaki Hien for speed, agility, purity of lines and a wide track landing gear that should make ground handling soo much easier than a Spitfire or a 109. Many Hiens had bold and colourful paint schemes with lots of aluminium showing. Substitute the heavily framed canopy with a less cluttered one, get the engine reliable and you should get an aircraft that would not look out of place at the Reno air races, able to hold it´s own against most P-51s.
- CAC Boomerang. That stubby little fellow had some qualities of it´s very own and I liked it ever since I saw it in an Airfix catalogue about 1974.
- Grumman Gosling / Widgeon with the original in-line inverted engines (Ranger) for a charming go-anywhere aerial camper. Just pack up your gear, throw it into the aircraft and take a hop to somewhere in the middle of nowhere for a perfect time away. I know the Gosling is not everyone´s darling, but I just like it.
If three:
- Kawasaki Hien for speed, agility, purity of lines and a wide track landing gear that should make ground handling soo much easier than a Spitfire or a 109. Many Hiens had bold and colourful paint schemes with lots of aluminium showing. Substitute the heavily framed canopy with a less cluttered one, get the engine reliable and you should get an aircraft that would not look out of place at the Reno air races, able to hold it´s own against most P-51s.
- CAC Boomerang. That stubby little fellow had some qualities of it´s very own and I liked it ever since I saw it in an Airfix catalogue about 1974.
- Grumman Gosling / Widgeon with the original in-line inverted engines (Ranger) for a charming go-anywhere aerial camper. Just pack up your gear, throw it into the aircraft and take a hop to somewhere in the middle of nowhere for a perfect time away. I know the Gosling is not everyone´s darling, but I just like it.
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GreenKnight121
Staff Sergeant
- 753
- Mar 16, 2014
OK - of that XP triumvirate I would have to go for the Curtiss XP-55 Ascender. Or perhaps the proposed Jet-Ascender!
Mustanglimey
Airman
- 57
- Jun 28, 2020
P-47D ... bit of a Wolfpack fan.
Admiral Beez
Major
They should have made a Stirling II with wide wingspan.
I would have to go with a Spitfire. Beauty, Elegance, Class all in one.
Not an easy choice with so many excellent planes in their own right. Someone mentioned a second a Stuka - what a marvel of engineering. A complete vertical dive with air brakes to pull pilots out of certain death. Just bought this model from Hasegawa. Can't wait.
Not an easy choice with so many excellent planes in their own right. Someone mentioned a second a Stuka - what a marvel of engineering. A complete vertical dive with air brakes to pull pilots out of certain death. Just bought this model from Hasegawa. Can't wait.
Admiral Beez
Major
Westland Whirlwind would be nice. seen here in unarmed spec...
I'd replace the four Hispano 20mm with a fuel tank in the nose. The extra fuel and lack of barrels should increase range to close to 2,000 kms (1,200 miles).
I'd replace the four Hispano 20mm with a fuel tank in the nose. The extra fuel and lack of barrels should increase range to close to 2,000 kms (1,200 miles).
stug3
Staff Sergeant
Fieseler Storch, I imagine flying one of these would be like a fun afternoon on a Honda motorbike.
Admiral Beez
Major
The last plane out of Berlin, flown by the female pilot Hanna Reitsch to rescue Hitler, who refused to leave. General Montgomery used one as his personal aircraft. Here's Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst and his Storch, Italy, 1943.
Speaking of lesser known twins like the Whirlwind, I would not mind a DH Hornet. First flown in 1944, so still WW.2 . Clean lines, fast and superb flying qualities, as highly praised by legendary test pilot Eric Brown.- Read the wikipedia about it!
Having preferred to choose a profession which gives me lots of social satisfaction (I work with handicapped children), but a modest income, I have to contend with building models of all those aircraft I dream of.
Having preferred to choose a profession which gives me lots of social satisfaction (I work with handicapped children), but a modest income, I have to contend with building models of all those aircraft I dream of.
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- Thread starter
- #138
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
You are to be commended for your vocation.
And like many of us here on the forums, money is tight, which is why this thread lets us dream big!
Admiral Beez
Major
Nice. I suggest the Sea Hornet variety with its convenient folding wings.
swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
- 4,030
- Jun 25, 2013
Of course, I have more ideas.
Vought TBU Sea Wolf/Consolidated TBY
Sikorsky VS-44
Fokker G.1
SM.79
CANT Z.1007
Vought TBU Sea Wolf/Consolidated TBY
Sikorsky VS-44
Fokker G.1
SM.79
CANT Z.1007
