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View Poll Results: Best Biplane Fighter of WW2?

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  • Fiat CR.42 Falco

    269 28.11%
  • Gloster Gladiator

    381 39.81%
  • Polikarpov I-153

    307 32.08%
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The Best Biplane Fighter of WW2

Polls Discuss The Best Biplane Fighter of WW2 in the World War II - Aviation forums; I never did.............

  1. #76
    Senior Member the lancaster kicks ass's Avatar
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    I never did..........


    "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

  2. #77
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    I WOULD DEFINETLY HAVE TO SAY THE GLADIATOR .

  3. #78
    Senior Member toffigd's Avatar
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    no - too weak armament - only 7,7mm

  4. #79
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    I would have to say the Polikarpov I-153 is the best biplane fighter. During WW2 Goering actually made an order to Luftwaffe Pilots to stay away as the Germans were losing too many aircraft to this biplane fighter. In Russia it was very fast and powerful. I am surprised you are considering the Gladiator and the CR-42 which didn't really last that long. In mainline service the Gladiator was gone by WW2, and the Italians really didn't have too much better than the CR-42 to replace it with.

  5. #80
    Senior Member mosquitoman's Avatar
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    It hink the problem is that comparitively, not much is known about Russian aircraft compared to say, the RAF or 8th AF aircraft

    When you realise that the light at the end of the tunnel is actually an oncoming train, you know it's time to run for your life

  6. #81
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    and the Italians really didn't have too much better than the CR-42 to replace it with.
    Except the Fiat G.50 and Macchi MC.200... The CR.42 was a great biplane.

  7. #82
    Senior Member the lancaster kicks ass's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by HealzDevo
    I would have to say the Polikarpov I-153 is the best biplane fighter. During WW2 Goering actually made an order to Luftwaffe Pilots to stay away as the Germans were losing too many aircraft to this biplane fighter. In Russia it was very fast and powerful. I am surprised you are considering the Gladiator and the CR-42 which didn't really last that long. In mainline service the Gladiator was gone by WW2, and the Italians really didn't have too much better than the CR-42 to replace it with.
    you obviously haven't met my patriotic side

    "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

  8. #83
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    To say that means he hasnt met you at all, as your patriotic side is your only side

  9. #84
    Junior Member Bushranger's Avatar
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    CR 42 gets my vote

    Mainly because of the better engine than the Gladiator, the better armament, and the manouverability

    The famous test-pilot Captain Eric M. Brown, RN, had an opportunity to fly the captured CR.42 MM5701, which was captured after a forced-landing in the later stages of Battle of Britain. He reported that the aircraft was an aerobatic gem. It was remarkably fast for a biplane with a top speed of 270 mph at 12,400 ft and a marginal stability, the hallmark of a good fighter. The CR.42 was a superb biplane that gave an outstanding performance for its type, but as a fighter it was under-gunned. Though highly manoeuvrable, like all aircraft with a lot of fabric covering it was very vulnerable to enemy fire.
    On the Gladiator:
    Burges saw nine bombers turning in a wide circle south of the island, obviously preparing to head back to Sicily. Cutting across the circle, he and one of the other pilots (probably Squadron Leader A. C. Martin) gave chase, and he was able to fire most of his ammunition at one bomber without apparent result. These were some of 34o Stormo BT S.79s which had hit Hal Far, and the crews reported that the Gladiators fired from long range. One S.79 piloted by Capitano Rosario Di Blasi from 52o Gruppo was hit in the fuselage.
    Five hours later a lone S.79 was sent out by the 34o Stormo to reconnoitre the result of the raid. Again Gladiators were scrambled. This time two went up to intercept. Flying Officer John Waters in N5520 got within range and opened fire. He believed that he had shot down the Italian machine, but in fact it was merely driven away, making for Sicily without being able to complete its mission.
    At 19.25 the eight and final raid came in and the Gladiators were scrambled. Flying Officer ’Timber’ Woods first attacked two different S.79s without apparent result before being attacked by an escorting MC.200 from 79a Squadriglia flown by Tenente Giuseppe Pesola who blasted off 125 rounds at him without result. Woods immediately went into a steep left-hand turn. He circled with the enemy fighter for three minutes before he got it in his sight. He got in a good burst with full deflection. The Italian fighter went down in a step dive with black smoke pouring from his tail. He couldn’t follow it but he taught it went into the sea. Woods was subsequently credited with an unconfirmed victory as the first victory for the defenders of Malta. In fact Pesola’s aircraft hadn’t even been seriously damaged. Evasive action and the black exhaust smoke from the hastily opened throttle had obviously misled Woods.

  10. #85
    Senior Member plan_D's Avatar
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    That's kind of bias. Refering to the lack of armament on the Gladiator while in the previous quote it clearly states the Cr.42 lacks decent offensive armament for a fighter.

    Then, this is best Bi-Plane and lets face it...they were all poor.
    "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004

    To those in that club.

  11. #86
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    Well, the Gladiator had 4 x .303 and the CR.42 had 2x 12.7mm. PErhaps the Gladiator has a slight edge there but then again 12.7mm's are gonna do more damage than 7.62mm's, so I dont know. I still maintain the CR.42 was better though.

  12. #87
    Senior Member plan_D's Avatar
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    They both lacked effective armament. There's really no point in comparing because both armaments were unlikely to bring down an aircraft without lucky hits or perfect aim.
    "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004

    To those in that club.

  13. #88
    IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO FLYBOYJ's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by plan_D
    Then, this is best Bi-Plane and lets face it...they were all poor.
    I think what's being shown here is the obsolescence of these aircraft during WW2 when compared to other contemporary fighters of the day. All these bi planes were highly maneuverable "delightful to fly" etc. but what good is that maneuverability when a 109 or a Spitfire could just accelerate away and come back and blast you out of the sky while you're performing those slick little aerobatic maneuvers?

    These aircraft were conceived with conservative WW1 thinking, the twilight of the day when you could get away with performing slick aerobatics during aerial combat in limited numbers. And don't forget the light armament, that was considered heavy a decade earlier.

  14. #89
    Junior Member Bushranger's Avatar
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    You have a point concerning the weak armament on the Cr 42 plan_d, but also read what it says concerning the Gladiator. It says a couple of times about how the Glads poured shots into the bombers/fighters without effect. I've read reports on the Cr 42's of the CAI in combat with Hurri's. A couple of Hurricanes were forced away by bullet holes in the fuel tanks, controls etc. The Falco's still lost the engagement, but that's to be expected.

    How abou the best biplane bomber? I'm thinkin Swordfish

  15. #90
    Senior Member plan_D's Avatar
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    Both the Cr.42 and Glad's armament were weak, not nearly powerful enough for a modern engagment. The Falco's strikes to the Hurri's fuel tanks would be lucky but there's more chance of actually making a strike against a vital area if you're throwing more lead hot, which the Glad did.
    "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004

    To those in that club.

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