GregP
Major
We have been having a lively discussion about the merits or lack of merits of the Brewster Buffalo in another thread. Until I participated in that thread, I had no idea that the Buffalo had any fans out in the world. Some of them are quite vocal about the good characteristics of the portly little fighter and that got me wondering ... some monoplane fighter of WWII HAS to be the worst one. For me, it is the Brewster Buffalo.
But, I now realize that many people out there LOVE an underdog, and it makes me wonder what THEIR "worst fighter" might be. There has to be one ...
I nominate:
1. Brewster Buffalo. Slow, underarmed and underpowered.
2. Polikarpov I-16. Flew with a rearward CG that made it maneuverable but dangerous. Underarmed unless it had the wing cannons, slow, open cockpit, extremely short range.
3. Macchi MC.200. Great handling but underpowered, underarmed with extremely short range.
What do YOU think the worst one was?
As a single requirement, I think it should have been produced for the Military, if only in small numbers. Prototypes don't count since they were never accepted for service.
But, I now realize that many people out there LOVE an underdog, and it makes me wonder what THEIR "worst fighter" might be. There has to be one ...
I nominate:
1. Brewster Buffalo. Slow, underarmed and underpowered.
2. Polikarpov I-16. Flew with a rearward CG that made it maneuverable but dangerous. Underarmed unless it had the wing cannons, slow, open cockpit, extremely short range.
3. Macchi MC.200. Great handling but underpowered, underarmed with extremely short range.
What do YOU think the worst one was?
As a single requirement, I think it should have been produced for the Military, if only in small numbers. Prototypes don't count since they were never accepted for service.