Allied Gold-Match II

Sal Monella · 04-22-2005, 11:57 PM

Soren gets credit first off as the "father" of this genre of post.

Ladies and gentlemen. In the left ring, whatever Spitfire you choose that became operational up through the conclusion of the year of our Lord, 1945.

In the right ring, whatever F8-F Bearcat you choose that became operational in the year of our Lord, 1945.

Air to air combat at 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 feet.

May the best plane win and the loser endure a quick and painless death!

Sal Monella

the lancaster kicks ass · 04-23-2005, 03:04 AM

when you say 1945 do you mean actually the whole year up to december 31st or up to the end of the second world war??

Sal Monella · 04-23-2005, 03:45 AM

I don't think the Bearcat saw combat. It is really sort of a post war aircraft so why don't we just round it out to December 31, 1945.

the lancaster kicks ass · 04-23-2005, 04:02 AM

well then why not compare it to a fury??

but remember by the end of 1945 even later spits would have entered service...........

DAVIDICUS · 04-23-2005, 01:51 PM

I think the "Fury" was a biplane.

The first production Sea Fury didn't fly until mid to late 1946.

Which was the best model of the Spit that was operational by the end of '45?

the lancaster kicks ass · 04-23-2005, 02:10 PM

well the prototype furies had flown by the end of the war..........

DAVIDICUS · 04-23-2005, 02:20 PM

"... that became operational up through the conclusion of the year of our Lord, 1945. "

Yeah, I'm sure he meant "operational as a prototype."

I'm obvioulsy inclined towards the F-8 (that powerplant makes by butt tingle)

but will reserve judgment until a contender appears.

pbfoot · 04-23-2005, 03:05 PM

first fury flew on sept 1 44 prototype the 2n flew 27/11/44

DAVIDICUS · 04-23-2005, 03:24 PM

It wasn't operational in 1945.

From: http://www.unlimitedair.com/Hawker_Sea_Fury_History.htm

Early in 1944, a revised naval specification, N.22/43, supplanted N.7/43. and in April 1944 contracts were placed for 200 F.2/43 planes for the RAF and 200 N.22/43 planes for the Fleet Air Arm. The first Sea Fury prototype, SR661, flew on 21 February, 1945. It was powered by a Centaurus XII engine driving a four-bladed propeller. This airplane had a deck arrester hook under the rudder, but retained fixed wings. The second Sea Fury prototype, SR666, was powered by a Centaurus XV driving a five-bladed propeller and was a fully navalized aircraft with folding wings. The prototype Sea Fury SR661 was subsequently tested for its suitability as a naval fighter, and in deck landing trials, at the A&AEE Boscombe Down in May 1945. Tests were still underway as the Japanese surrendered in August 1945.

With the end of the Second World War, the RAF cancelled all production contracts for the Fury, deciding to concentrate all of its future efforts on jet fighters. The Royal Navy reduced its order for Sea Furies to 100 aircraft, and canceled the Boulton-Paul contract in its entirety.

The first production aircraft - a Mark 10 which was a carrier-based version, with folding wings- did not make its initial flight until September 1946. Although originally intended to serve with both the RAF and FAA, the RAF order was cancelled at the end of the war. The first deck trials with Sea Fury TF898 began aboard HMS Victorious during the winter of 1946-47. The Mark 10 was approved for carrier operations in Spring 1947, and five Fleet Air Arm squadrons were then equipped with the Sea Fury. The Mark 10 was followed by the Mark 11 fighter-bomber - 615 of these were eventually delivered to the Navy. It became the Fleet Air Arm's principal single-seat fighter and remained so until the introduction of the Sea Hawk jet fighter in 1953.

pbfoot · 04-23-2005, 04:15 PM

in january 45 the contract had already been halved as the raf decided on the jet option in jan 45 tested deck landings with vampire hence the low proirity of sea fury