Which plane was the most economically efficient?

[Grampa]

I wonder which type of plane did the most bang for less bucks in the air war? Was it the Polikarpov Po-2/U-2 or something else?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Po-2 is a good choice, I would go with the Lysander....

unk

 

[syscom3]

C47 for me.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

C47 for me.

I'd have to put it up there as well....

 

[davparlr]

If your going to name the Lysander, you gotta name the Storch. The grunts would probably name the L-3 Grasshopper.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

the lizzie is by no means the same as the storch or L-4, they're more comparable to the Auster Series, but none of them played a huge part in the war, other than in the communications role, and i think the lizzie is up there, along with the mossie.........

 

[Gnomey]

Yep as well as the C-47 and maybe the Halifax...

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

halifax no, sunderland..... maybe.....

 

[Grampa]

What about those Yak-fighters? The Russians focused the production of those plane in great number by adjusting the assembly as simple as possible, make the plane simply and whit low cost of resource from the nation. Those fighters must have give a high combat-results whit lowest cost as possible in use, maintinant and production during combat compare to others ww2-fighterplane.

 

[pbfoot]

How about Fairey Swordfish

 

[cheddar cheese]

Agreed with the Russian aircraft...

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Id go with either the Lysander or the Storch.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Id go with either the Lysander or the Storch.

Agree...

Remember folks, econimical and efficient - I don't think anything with 2 engines is either....

 

[Glider]

The Lysander certainly was quite a large sophisticated machine and must have been expensive to produce, the Storch less so but it was still a sophisticated machine. In this group the L4 would take my vote.

If we are talking about in the war then I agree that the C47 would take some beating. Already in production on a commercial basis pre war, increase production by a factor of I don't know how many hundreds to get economy of scale and you have the C47.

If we are talking warplane then the Hurricane gets my vote. Simple in structure, and design, based on the technology of the Fury and with ease of production in mind it must have been one of the cheapest front line warplanes of the war.

If you want to take a punt at the most expensive for the buck then I would go for the Waco Glider. Did you know one of those cost more than a P51 or P47? Someone made a fortune out of producing those.

 

[Twitch]

Well the country got a swell deal when privately owned Piper Cubs took to the air on antisubmarine patrols. Remember, one even sank a U-boat.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Well the country got a swell deal when privately owned Piper Cubs took to the air on antisubmarine patrols. Remember, one even sank a U-boat.

Good ole CAP! But I think the subs were sunk by Stinsons...

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

If we want to talk about fighter/intercepter I have to go with the P-51D. She could go all the way.

 

[pbfoot]

what would a 35hp J3 use to sink a sub

 

[FLYBOYJ]

what would a 35hp J3 use to sink a sub

Yep - A Stinson 108 I think sank one of the subs..

Actually I think the J-3 used by CAP was a whopping 65hp....

 

[Erich]

that Po-2 = death !

have you chaps considered any of the single engine German bi-planes that did so much on the Ost front especially with the night ground attack units or the Sea service ?