The plane enthusiasts thread

[ebikeerwidnes]

Three of them in the air at the same time is amazing. The V-22 is a maintenance nightmare with no real reason to exist, given the handful of helicopters the USAF operates are all far superior aircraft.

They always strike me as what happens if you put a bunch of engineers in a room and tell them to go for it and never mention a budget

They solved a lot of problems to get the things to work - brilliant thing

just no-one asked - could we just do this with stuff we already know how to do??

or How much will this actually cost?

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

I believe it was the US Marines who wanted it. The Osprey is faster with a longer range than existing heavy lift helicopters which allows them to land marines faster whilst the landing ships can stay further offshore and out of danger.

 

[figbat]

Well there was a proposal in the late 1970s for a twin-engined Hercules (the L-400).

But nothing ever came of it and no Hercules twin has ever been built.

C-123?

 

[DaveReading]

C-123?

Er, no.

 

[figbat]

Er, no.

Sorry, just trying to suggest what other aircraft might be (mis)identified as a twin-engined C-130.

Maybe also the C-160?

 

[DaveReading]

Sorry, just trying to suggest what other aircraft might be (mis)identified as a twin-engined C-130.

Maybe also the C-160?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Take away the "Canadian" and "C-130 variant" and there are quite a few candidates.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Well, he believed his own hype, apparently, and wasn't afraid to let others know of his imagined brilliance.

I guess there may be something in that. The phrase "Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men" is oft attributed to him.

Yet if he'd obeyed the rules banning aerobatic fannying about he'd have not lost his legs.

If he'd obeyed the rules about keeping formation and not going zipping off for a dust up at the first sight of a tempting target he'd have probably not been shot down and ended up as a P.O.W. Indeed, no Luftwaffe pilot ever claimed the "kill" and examination of records post war failed to identify a candidate, so it is speculated that his inability to stick to the plan may well have ended up with him becoming a victim of friendly fire, the 'loss'of ampilot and a valuable aircraft.

And despite his history of rule breaking and consequential Class 1 Clusterfoxtrots he never missed an opportunity to tell anyone who'd listen how brilliant he was. I believe the Americans call that sort of fellow a "jerkass."

Sadly the general view of him is the warm and fuzzy Kenneth More person, which was a long way from the reality.

Many folk reckon he was a bigger nodder than Stirling Toss, and that takes some doing.

I heard he was a bell end too. There was something to do with a prisoner early release thing. Bader's batman could have left PoW camp, but Bader said no. This batman used to carry Batman up and down the stairs every day.

Then he objected to the new Spitfire armament, 2x20 mm cannon and 4x0.303 in Browning machine guns. He kept 8x0.303 machine guns fitted to his Spitfire. Then he was a big supporter of Leigh-Mallory's Big Wing formation. In the early days of the war we lost a lot of pilots and aircraft from using formations that did not work. Part the reason the Polish 303 Hurricane squadron did so well is that they abandoned those flying tactics before everyone else.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I heard he was a bell end too. There was something to do with a prisoner early release thing. Bader's batman could have left PoW camp, but Bader said no. This batman used to carry Batman up and down the stairs every day.

Then he objected to the new Spitfire armament, 2x20 mm cannon and 4x0.303 in Browning machine guns. He kept 8x0.303 machine guns fitted to his Spitfire. Then he was a big supporter of Leigh-Mallory's Big Wing formation. In the early days of the war we lost a lot of pilots and aircraft from using formations that did not work. Part the reason the Polish 303 Hurricane squadron did so well is that they abandoned those flying tactics before everyone else.

My Dad was injured during the War and heard a lot of stories in hospital
he was there until 1947 so he had a lot of time to hear them

I asked him about a few people - including one who came to our house one day
quite a famous person locally - injured in the war - hero and all that

I had noticed that my Dad had introduced him to me (I had answered the door) but then seemed want to be be elsewhere - which was very unusual indeed

My dad explained that some people who were injured in the war - and elsewhere - dealt with it by being a total and complete pain in the whatsit to anyone they regarded as inferior
and they would use their "heroic injuries" as justification and watch as people refused to call them out on it "because he is disabled and a war hero"
This person was one of them


I have words for such people that my Dad would never use - but I am damn sure he would approve of
Bader was also cited as not being a nice person

 

[FishFright]

The things some soldiers go through on active service then I'll allow them a pass on being a pain in the proverbial.

 

[raleighnut]

I have words for such people that my Dad would never use - but I am damn sure he would approve of
Bader was also cited as not being a nice person

As posted earlier he wasn't that nice before his injuries which happened in the 30's (before the war) and were due to him 'showing off'

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

From Russia. It looks like some Bears there:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cvg53nyg72vo

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I know they are reasonable targets in the war, but I've always liked them, so I think I now hate Putin even more! 😏

That's not even political by the way, I just like those Bears and other old Soviet planes.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I know they are reasonable targets in the war, but I've always liked them, so I think I now hate Putin even more! 😏

That's not even political by the way, I just like those Bears and other old Soviet planes.

I agree
it would be nice to see a bear or two at an airshow

it is them flying around with nuclear weapons that I am trifle worried about!!!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I agree
it would be nice to see a bear or two at an airshow

it is them flying around with nuclear weapons that I am trifle worried about!!!

Personally, I'd be more concerned about accidentally getting diced by those contra - rotating propellers! 🤣

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I presume some have been preserved at least.