Calling all pilots! What is it?

[Boob Johnson]

Best at winning a pervasive propaganda war. It's a toss up between the Focke Wulf Ta152 and the Dornier Do 335 for "best propellor aircraft produced in the Second World War". The P51 had numbers and range on its side, but belonged to a previous generation of aircraft compared to those two.

Both the Dornier and Focke Wulf had top speeds around 475 mph at their optimum operating altitudes and the Ta152H had a service ceiling of 48,000ft. Both aircraft had cruising speeds nearly 60 mph faster than
contemporary Allied fighters and the Ta152 had more range on internal fuel than a P51D. The world's only surviving Do335 was captured April 2nd 1945 and flown from Munich to Cherbourg in France, arriving 45 minutes before its escorting Mustangs.

If you want to look at the most effective warplane in WWII it's a toss up between the C47 and the Iluyshin IL2. Effective millitary planners concentrate on delivering or denying logistics.

It all depends what you class as "best" really. How effective was the Do335? Wasn't it only 16 odd that saw active service? You could debate on lots of levels why one aircraft was better than the other, personally I think it's an overall package, not just it's techincal details on paper. My comment on the Hurricane was based it's turn around during the BOB, the Spitfire took 3 times as long to rearm & reload I believe which made an awful lot of difference to the winning of the battle.

[R6_kid:Me]

Oh well Bugger It!

The Yak has not come back (yet) so I guess, it's a Legend in me own lunchbox for now!

BUT I think the word is out!! Have had a few planes come circling over today.

One was a red one...what is it??? (I'm Joking!! )

Do you live in Tauranga?

[Swoop]

Do you live in Tauranga?

Refer: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...7&postcount=25

[James Deuce]

It all depends what you class as "best" really. How effective was the Do335? Wasn't it only 16 odd that saw active service? You could debate on lots of levels why one aircraft was better than the other, personally I think it's an overall package, not just it's techincal details on paper. My comment on the Hurricane was based it's turn around during the BOB, the Spitfire took 3 times as long to rearm & reload I believe which made an awful lot of difference to the winning of the battle.

You can't have it both ways. Best propellor driven aircraft or most cost effective weapons platform. Which is it?

[Swoop]

Read Robert Johnson or Francis Gabreski's Bios and you'll get a VERY different picture. As I said, it's not the aircraft it's the pile-it.

I'll try and track those books down. Do you have the titles?
I have read a few on aviation over the years...
The pilot's skill is certainly the key, as most air forces realise.
Goodson's comparison between the Spitfire, P-47 and P-51, which he flew, was interesting. He preferred the Spit but knew that the war depended on fighters having the legs to take the fight to the enemy in their own backyard.

The Do335. I have a couple of photos from a visit to Munich some years back. What a stunning machine, with performance to match.

[James Deuce]

Robert Johnson's autobiography is called "Thunderbolt!".

Gabreski's is "Gabby: A Fighter Pilot's Life".

Both are probably out of print, but worth hunting down.

This is worth a morning tea.
http://www.acepilots.com/usaaf_rsj.html

[Pixie]

lol James. Let's start with the Thunderbolt...........pffff. You don't see a TB flying faster than a Mustang or escorting deep into Germany AND back


Suppose you think the Spitfire is a better plane than the Hurricane too!

In my day we would fly an escort mission into Germany,Kill Hitler,cop ack ack in the back of the head.
And the wife would still expect you to take the rubbish out when you got back.
Tell the young of today and they won't believe you......

[Beemer]

We have a top dresser pilot who flies over our place regularly to dust the paddocks nearby, and if he sees me out on the deck with the camera he aims straight for the house and does a steep climb, then wiggles his wings as he passes! It's really awesome to watch.

But the best fly by was by a Hercules a few years ago. We live on a ridge and I was having breakfast when I heard this incredible rumble. I thought it was a truck so stood up to look out the window just in time to see a Hercules skim along the gully level with our house. That would have been one of the most exciting moments - I love those planes!

[Genestho]

We have a top dresser pilot who flies over our place regularly to dust the paddocks nearby, and if he sees me out on the deck with the camera he aims straight for the house and does a steep climb, then wiggles his wings as he passes! It's really awesome to watch.

But the best fly by was by a Hercules a few years ago. We live on a ridge and I was having breakfast when I heard this incredible rumble. I thought it was a truck so stood up to look out the window just in time to see a Hercules skim along the gully level with our house. That would have been one of the most exciting moments - I love those planes!

That Hercules would've been awesome to see Beemer!!!
Ah I love sunny days, I've come to the conclusion that these Pilots like being noticed!! Yesterday the skies were really busy, one plane was out stunting for a couple of hours!! Weeeeeeee!!

Will have to leave my camera at the door, there's been another one I haven't seen before, fly over today!! (not circling)

[Swoop]

I thought it was a truck so stood up to look out the window just in time to see a Hercules skim along the gully level with our house.

Low level aircraft are entertaining. When d'Auckland had the pesky "painted apple moth" plague, the best bits were the free airshows!
Seeing the F-27 Friendship blatting along outside my window was very impressive indeed!

[Bass]

Best at winning a pervasive propaganda war. It's a toss up between the Focke Wulf Ta152 and the Dornier Do 335 for "best propellor aircraft produced in the Second World War".

According to Wikipedia, the Ta 152 was never sorted out properly and so it's potential was never realised.

I took several photos of the Do 335 last month and unfortunately they are all crap because I only had a small camera and the light levels are low in the National Aeronautics and Space Museum. It's an awesome display though.

[Bass]

Give some photos a try

1. Do335, Arado & FW190
2. Concorde etc
3. Big Bang
4. SR71 go dept

mmmmm.... pretty crap. Sorry about the quality

[SPman]

Well, it's not a Tbolt, or a Do335, but Jim Smiths Seafire FR47 would come under the same heading as next generation piston.



and as he flies a Mustang and an F4U5 (and a P40 and a T33, among many others, from his private strip in Montana - if we could ask him, maybe he could say which was better?

[Genestho]

Well......? I'm waiting........


Most likely TYS if it's a red & white Yak52.

OMG!

I just opened up my local rag.
There's an article advertising : Tauranga City Air Show.
Title: Piston Engines to jet fighters.

And guess what the photo is! THE YAK! Red stars on White wings!

It does have a chequered nose (Doh), looks like these photos, but slightly different paint job, chequers around the tail, and more red round the nose and the chequers!!! And the number 96 is painted down the side. No wonder he was showing off!!! It's a beauty!

It's my YAK!!!!
Can't find a link to it online, but is in The Weekend Sun!

[TOTO]

wasnt that guy was it ?