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Is there a superior aircraft to the Avro Lancaster? (pg. 5)
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| Dj Smitty20 |
| quote: | Originally posted by zookeeper
The P-51 Mustang's engine was supercharged, to prevent stalling, I believe. Stalling was a problem with the Spit. |
The Spitfire was also designed in late 1939 and was barely ready by the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940. The Mustang didn't start seeing active service until 1942-43 and was essentially the American version of its British predecessor and counterpart. Of course, the Mustang had ample time to make improvements, which in any event, were rectified in later versions of the Spitfire. |
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| Euphorica |
spit> 109 :D
ive seen a lancaster go in and out a pearson a few times in the last 4 months. You can always here that badboy coming |
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| amb_ |
| quote: | Originally posted by Dj Smitty20
The Spitfire was also designed in late 1939 and was barely ready by the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940. The Mustang didn't start seeing active service until 1942-43 and was essentially the American version of its British predecessor and counterpart. Of course, the Mustang had ample time to make improvements, which in any event, were rectified in later versions of the Spitfire. |
My grandfather flew a DH98 Mosquito in WWII in the India/Burma theatre for the RCAF. He holds the record number of sortis in his squadron and has some very interesting stories. A pretty remarkable aircraft, constructed from wood, which proved to be a very smart move during resource and skilled labour shortages during the war, even outperforming many of its aluminum counterparts.
| quote: | Original estimates were that, with twice the power of a Spitfire and twice the wetted area and over twice the weight, the Mosquito would still be 20mph (32km/h) faster than the Spitfire. The Air Ministry was very sceptical. When the prototype was officially tested at Boscombe Down in February 1941 they were proved wrong and it exceeded this estimate by achieving a top speed of 392mph (631km/h). It was the fastest aircraft in Bomber Command until May 1951.
As an indication of the versatility of the Mosquito it was equipped, or used, with many different loads. Some of these were experimental only and some were post-war.
50, 100, 200 gallon drop tanks.
4 x .303in (7.7mm) Browning machine guns.
4 x 20mm British Hispano cannon.
1 x 57mm Molins (or Vickers G) six pounder cannon.
1 x 3.7 in (9.4cm) 32 lb (14.51kg) anti-tank gun.
2 x .303in (7.7mm) remote rearward machine guns in the nacelles.
1 x .303in (7.7mm) remote rearward machine gun in the tail.
4 gun dorsal turret at rear of cockpit.
Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear (RATOG).
6 x 250lb bombs.
4 x 500lb bombs.
6 x 500lb bombs in Avro bomb-carrier.
1 x 4,000lb bomb.
2 x 100 gallon napalmgel tanks.
Highball spherical anti-ship bouncing bomb.
1 x 18 inch Mk XV or XVII torpedo or 1 Naval mine.
Extra bomb bay fuel tanks.
Underwing 500lb bombs.
8 x 25lb solid armour piercing rocket projectiles.
8 x 60 lb semi-armour-piercing rocket projectiles.
1 x 1,050lb Uncle Tom rocket projectile.
Youngman circular segmented air brake.
Helmore Turbinlite airborne searchlight.
Radar and navigation equipment of various types.
Cameras - various still and cine plus photo-flashes.
Weather recording equipment.
Head-up type reflector gunsight.
Clear Air Turbulence research equipment.
Target towing equipment.
A Mosquito, PF604, was used as the launch and recording platform for the Vickers-built rocket powered Miles M52. This was a pilotless supersonic 3/10th scale model aircraft which eventually achieved Mach 1.38 on 9 October 1948 and became the first British aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight.
In all 7,781 Mosquito aircraft were built in 43 variants. They were produced in the UK, Australia and Canada. The last Mosquito built, an NF 38 (VX916), rolled off the production line at Chester on 28th November 1950 but many remained in service around the world well into the 1960's. |
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| Dj Smitty20 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Euphorica
spit> 109 :D
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While not total garbage, the 109 (and the rest of the German Luftwaffe) failed in its task to suppress the RAF in 1940.
You can look at mechanical readouts as much as you want, but first hand accounts of the pilots is where the heart of the story lies. I've leafed through more than I can count and the overwhelming impression is that hands down, the Spitfire was the best overall fighter in WW2. Either the Brits (or Canadians, or Czechs, Poles, Yanks) who flew Spits never wanted to fly anything else, or the Gerries themselves envied their enemies for having them.
Either way, no other fighter had as much impact on any given battle than the Hurricane and Spitfire. |
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| amb_ |
Mosquito > *
;)
| quote: | Shortly after he was politically and personally humiliated by the Mosquito bombing raid on Berlin in January 1943 Reichmarschall Herman Goering had this to say about the aircraft...
"In 1940 I could at least fly as far as Glasgow in most of my aircraft, but not now! It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy.
The British, who can afford aluminium better than we can, knock together a beautiful wooden aircraft that every piano factory over there is building, and they give it a speed which they have now increased yet again. What do you make of that?
There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops. After the war's over I'm going to buy a British radio set - then at least I'll own something that has always worked." |
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| Dj Smitty20 |
| quote: | Originally posted by amb_
Mosquito > *
;) |
that's a great quote. It's true that the Mosquito is undeservedly and easily overlooked in the shadow of the Lacaster and B-17 Flying Fortress. |
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| Euphorica |
yeah, ive watched many a show on the differences between the 2.
SOme say the 109 could out corner the spit in extreme cases...but who knows. the spit won! thats all that matters |
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| VERTiG0 |
| quote: | Originally posted by amb_
Mosquito > *
;) |
We've got an ashtray made out of the piston head of a Mosquito. |
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| techead |
| quote: | Originally posted by Dj Smitty20
The Spitfire was also designed in late 1939 and was barely ready by the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940. The Mustang didn't start seeing active service until 1942-43 and was essentially the American version of its British predecessor and counterpart. Of course, the Mustang had ample time to make improvements, which in any event, were rectified in later versions of the Spitfire. |
All Merlin engined aircraft (spitfire, mustang , hurricane , mosquito etc) were supercharged the problem with the spitfire was in a negative G dive , which unlike the 109 Daimler-Benz was carburated .
The Messerschmitt due to being fuel injected , could do a negative G pushover , If the spitfire tried to follow , the negative G would cause the float in the carb bowl to close the valve effectivly causing the engine to splutter due to fuel starvation.
The Raf fighter tactic was to roll inverted to follow the Messerschmit
down |
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| amb_ |
| quote: | Originally posted by VERTiG0
We've got an ashtray made out of the piston head of a Mosquito. |
That's awesome. Where'd you find that? |
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| VERTiG0 |
| quote: | Originally posted by amb_
That's awesome. Where'd you find that? |
Inhereted it from my grandfather. |
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| techead |
| quote: | Originally posted by VERTiG0
Inhereted it from my grandfather. |
Can you post a picture
I would love to see it |
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