Recent content by post76

Exactly, weight growth. Is that not an opposing design feature to "design to fly higher"?

Another look... The Avia B-135 Fiat G-59

i can't help notice that most Italian fighter designs resemble the earlier Avia B - 135. In fact, they all have that same basic Macchi trademark shape. There is a comparison of Kurfursts site that puts the Re-2005 ahead of the bunch, including the G.55 and 109G. I found it a tough read...

I think looking at climb to height and top speed are different than what becomes apparent when reading about the P-40. Think of design height. It has a wing loading and shape that favors a certain altitude range. It might fly up to its cieling, but what could it do beyond a diving pass...

Where are you getting that? I read the radiator at the front of the plane was a higher drag location than the rear scoop position. In part because it disrupts the boundary layer over the wing, multiplying drag. This was based on a 1976 publishing.

Agreed, the 109G was the first to make the P-40 seem dated, otherwise the P-40 stood up well in the areas it confronted the 109. The reason for the G superiority would be the higher FTH, which usually correlates with higher top speed. As always, forums like these reveal the ratings the...

Thanks for making those distinctions. It would still be a correct statement to say "The Flying Tigers" encountered the Zero understanding that by the time they did they were no longer called the AVG, they had become the 23rd fighter group.

night bombing with a rear hatch. drop them off rollers.

I think the AVG still referred to the type 96 and 97 as Zeros since they resembled the same carrier based version the A5M claude. They also encountered ki-44 and 43. The bulk of their kills appear to be Oscars, Nates and Sallys. I wonder what Erich Schillings rather descriptive encounters...

I've seen the comparisons and the italian series five fighters seem superior to most contemporary designs. Why continue to build 109s when thousands were already in the field? Perhaps they were more complex and complicated to build, and matching the Allied fighter force was more about...

ahhh, here they are. C-54 converted for bomber use primarily for dropping incendiary sticks.

Actually, from my reading Curtiss put a lot of work into various prototypes including parallel production of the P-42. In the end they decided the P-40B was the best suited as a production fighter, although the XP-42 was still repeatedly tested through 1945. The P-42 is actually one of those...

If this aircraft were produced in Mid 1944, do you think it would've made a difference for the Axis powers in Europe?

I find it telling that the Aussies preferred the P-40 over the Spitfire for lower altitude missions. I think it would be close, giving the 109 better vertical and the P-40 a horizontal advantage. If you read the comparisons of the Hurricane vs 109, they even give the Hurri more turn up to...