Best Jet of the War?

[cheddar cheese]

And even if it did see him, it would be able to turn and evade very well because of the unstable flight characteristics.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Do you mean unable to evade?

[cheddar cheese]

Yeah sorry - I always miss the suffix off of woulds like that.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

No prob just wanted to make sure I was understanding you right.

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

Yes but you have to realize that jet aircraft hardly ever fly at top speeds, they are mostly using there cruising speed, which is significantly lower. A Spitfire or P-51 diving from the rear of a Salamander could have gotten him without the pilot even knowing what hit him.

These jets would have been flying at high speed right to the target bombers, and at close to top speed in the area of expected combat, just like the 262's did. Even crusing speeds were over 400 mph.

A P-51 maybe, a Spitfire doubtful (the spitfire's performance at the top of its flight envelope was not very good). But to achieve this the P-51 would have to be in near perfect position. Even in a maximum dive of about 525 IAS, the P-51 pilot would only have about a 50 mph speed advantage on the He 162. As he leveled out he'd quickly loose this advantage and fall behind, so he would have at best one quick shot at the He162. Just like with the 262, the best chances for intercept would be when the jet was taking off or landing.

=S=

Lunatic

Originally Posted by cheddar cheese

And even if it did see him, it would be able to turn and evade very well because of the unstable flight characteristics.

That unstablity applies even more to the attacking prop plane than the jet it is attacking. At such high speeds, most prop planes (like the spitfire) were buffeting badly. Even the P-51 would be difficult to put the guns on target at over 500 mph.

[cheddar cheese]

Yes, but it was just said that Jets cruised at roughly the same speeds as the fighters, and at that stage the P-51/Spit/P-47 had the upper hand. The advantage could only be gained by the 162 if it could the speed in time, but with a surprise attack from the rear there is only one way to describe the Salamander pilot - mullered.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yes but that does not take from the fact that the Salamander was a bad design with the engine being above the fueslage the way it was and overall was not a very good jet fighter. It was inovative and many good design features but was overall a poor jet fighter.

[cheddar cheese]

Yup.

Originally Posted by cheddar cheese

Yes, but it was just said that Jets cruised at roughly the same speeds as the fighters, and at that stage the P-51/Spit/P-47 had the upper hand. The advantage could only be gained by the 162 if it could the speed in time, but with a surprise attack from the rear there is only one way to describe the Salamander pilot - mullered.

I think the jets (262 and 162) cruised at about the top speeds of the prop fighters. Combat cruise that is, not best-fuel economy cruise. (A combat cruise is to preserve the engine).

And I agree it was not a particularly great "fighter", but neither was the 262. The 162 had the advantage of being cheap and only needing one engine. For the job it was designed to do, intercept bombers, it was sufficient.

=S=

Lunatic

[cheddar cheese]

The 262 was MUCH better at intercepting bombers though.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The 262 may have had some problems but it was still the best jet fighter of the second world war. The 162 does not even come close.

[cheddar cheese]

It's behind all the other lpanes in the poll at least.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

It just was the best, in all catagories.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

exept perhaps manouverability......................