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| | #826 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dordrecht
Posts: 3,809
| Later versions of the Buffalo were too heavy for their enginepower. This especially concerned the RAF versions which had a lot of modifications, making them about 900 pounds heavier than the original version. The B239 of the Finnish airforce on the other had didn't have this problum, thus performed well.
__________________ ![]() " The knack of flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." |
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| | #827 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Helsinki
Posts: 1,333
| Hello, yes 339E's gross weight seemed to be nearly 1000 lb more than that of 239's, but it had 150 hp more at take-off power but only 100 hp more at military power and of course wing loading also went up. F2A-2 should not be too bad, gross 400 lb more than that of 239 but 250 hp more at take off power setting. But F2A-3, gross 1100 lb more than that of F2A-2 with same engine, clearly too much was tried in that version. More protection clearly not always made a fighter more safe in combat. |
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| | #828 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dordrecht
Posts: 3,809
| I think it was the F2A-3 that got beaten at Midway, leading to the bad reputation the Buffalo got. It really was a bad aircraft. Not confinced if the other models were. The dutch put up a helluva fight in their 339C's in the dutch east indies and while aiding the British.
__________________ ![]() " The knack of flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." |
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| | #829 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Helsinki
Posts: 1,333
| Hello Marcel Yes, all 18 Brewsters on Midway were F2A-3s. Now the weights I cited earlier were manufacturer's numbers from Dean’s American 100 000. On next double page there are different sets of numbers and according to them F2A-2 had almost 1400 lb greater gross than Model 239 and F2A-3 1630 lb greater, so the difference between -2 and -3 might not be so great after all. When we think that Model 239 had a powerloading of appr. 5.3 lb per 1 hp and F2A-2 and -3 had 200 hp more power at Military rating we see that powerloading got worse and wing loading even more so. So at least the idea to put more fuel into that small plane was mistake, greater fuel capacity added 440 lb if we only count liquid weight without changes in structural weight. Clearly too much was put into the plane. Juha Last edited by Juha; 09-19-2007 at 06:05 PM. Reason: correcting typo |
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| | #830 |
| Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Timbuktu
Posts: 78
| Any opinions on the Bell Airacobra? I'm sure some remarks were made earlier in the thread, but I'm not privy to them.
__________________ r2 If you think practicing what you preach is rough, just try preaching what you practice. |
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| | #831 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dordrecht
Posts: 3,809
| Not one of the most brilliant fighters, but performed very well in the ground support role with the ruskis
__________________ ![]() " The knack of flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." |
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| | #832 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: FL
Posts: 3,262
| Quote:
Soviet P-39 Aces . | |
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| | #833 | |
| Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Timbuktu
Posts: 78
| Quote:
Or, were they rotated like US pilots?
__________________ r2 If you think practicing what you preach is rough, just try preaching what you practice. | |
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| | #834 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: FL
Posts: 3,262
| I'd astonished if the Soviets didnt fly to ya die in most circumstances but like us, they needed experienced pilots to train youngens too. also their home front needed a few heros alive... On the whole i'm sure they grounded their pilots down but transfered a few for training. I think one of the reasons the P-39 performed well on the Eastern front is IMO aerial engagements tended to take place at lower altitudes where the P-39 could compete better. I suspect much of the Soviet victories in P-39's were against aircraft in ground attack or anti-tank roles. . |
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| | #835 | |
| Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Timbuktu
Posts: 78
| Quote:
__________________ r2 If you think practicing what you preach is rough, just try preaching what you practice. | |
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| | #836 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: FL
Posts: 3,262
| Google, "P-63 Lend-lease" and this is what you get: In total 2400 airplanes P-63 "Kingcobra" were supplied to USSR in accordance to Lend-Lease terms. Russian site with good info: P-63 Kingcobra Google is your friend . Last edited by comiso90; 09-25-2007 at 11:33 PM. |
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| | #837 |
| Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Timbuktu
Posts: 78
| I was reading about the Soviet P-39 aces and I thought it was noteworthy that they wouldn't recognize one of the greatest aces as Hero of the Soviet Union b/c he became such a top scorer in the P-39 instead of one of the Reds workhorses. Such pride!
__________________ r2 If you think practicing what you preach is rough, just try preaching what you practice. |
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| | #838 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dordrecht
Posts: 3,809
| Quote:
__________________ ![]() " The knack of flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." | |
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| | #839 |
| Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Timbuktu
Posts: 78
| The ME 210 would probably rank up there amongst the 10 worst aircraft of WWII.
__________________ r2 If you think practicing what you preach is rough, just try preaching what you practice. |
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| | #840 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: FL
Posts: 3,262
| Quote:
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