Your favorite French fighter? - Aircraft of World War II

Oreo · 08-07-2008, 02:14 AM

Not complicated-- which is your favorite?

I am not including the Hawk 75, only indigenous designs.

Oreo · 08-07-2008, 02:19 AM

My favorite is the MB 152 series, which I find very intriguing and I feel it gets less coverage than the D 520.

kool kitty89 · 08-07-2008, 03:00 AM

The MB 152 was also the only one to have wing mounted cannon. (albeit somewhat unreliable) And it was pretty tough.

It was certainly better than the MS 406, and the MB 155 was a pretty decent fighter. (heavier and more relaiable armament and better performance)

The VG 33 was the best all around fighter (with good performance, cost, and armament) to enter production prior to the armistice, but, of course, it came too late.

Not sure what my favorite is though.

Marcel · 08-07-2008, 04:49 AM

Arsenal, I just like the looks.

Oreo · 08-07-2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcel

Arsenal, I just like the looks.

I don't see your vote, there, Marcel?

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 08-07-2008, 03:57 PM

I honestly do not have one. I have been fond of the French Fighters (not to say they did not have any decent ones though). If I had to choose (I chose other because I dont really have one), it would be the D.520.

ToughOmbre · 08-07-2008, 04:03 PM

N/A

Like Adler, just don't have a favorite (or a least favorite).

TO

Thorlifter · 08-07-2008, 04:11 PM

Truthfully, I've never really paid attention to the French fighters. I guess I'll pull a Switzerland and stay neutral.

Oreo · 08-07-2008, 08:00 PM

Well, that's diplomatic of y'all. I know not everybody pays any attention to the "minor aviation nations" aircraft, but I think Marcel will be happy to point out, the "minor aviation nations" contributed some interesting planes!

kool kitty89 · 08-07-2008, 08:29 PM

Particularly looking at the french planes and engines that were in development or entering production just prior to the armistice. (Gnome 14R, HS 12Z, MB 157, and the advanced developments of the VG-33 series)

Hunter368 · 08-08-2008, 12:14 AM

Damn I put my vote into the 510 series but I meant to put it into the 520 series. Oh well.

Oreo · 08-08-2008, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter368

Damn I put my vote into the 510 series but I meant to put it into the 520 series. Oh well.

Sorry-- maybe I should not have included it, but it was being used until right before the war and it is a really "different" looking design, and I wondered if anyone liked it.

kool kitty89 · 08-08-2008, 02:58 AM

Oh well, the D.520 is winning anyway...

But who else voted for the D.510?

Arsenal VG-33 · 08-09-2008, 11:02 AM

As much as I love the D.520, I'm voting my favorite being the Arsenal VG-33 series, and probably the best had it seen mass production. What is so unique about this design is that it called for the use of certain non strategic materials which could be cheaper and quicker to build than other fighters by normal standards at the time. It was also built under less than ideal circumstances because of competition from other aircraft manufacterers, all on the eve of war. I'm tempted to believe the designers/builders of the Arsenal VG series were able to see the dark clouds on the horizons because of these factors. As such, I would classify the Arenal VG-33 series as something resembling that of a "desperation" fighter design, one which could have made a difference had it seen combat on a wide scale. The Caudron C.714 could also be classified as a french "desperation" aircraft given it's construction.

Only 12-13 VG-33 examples were fully built and of these only 2 reached operational status. A few French publications I have mention that one of the two may have shot down 1, perhaps 2 German planes before hostilities ended, though there is some debate in the various French aviation forums about this. One Stuka and one Me-109 are the two aircraft often mentioned. I don't think anyone has concluded either way on this yet.

My other favorites are the D.520, Breguet 693 series, the MB.170-175 series.

Bigxiko · 08-14-2008, 04:27 PM

I believe it were the Morane Saulnier MS 406 series

View Poll Results: Your favorite French fighter?
Morane Saulnier MS 406 series	3	9.38%
Bloch MB 150, 151, 152, 155, 157 series	4	12.50%
Dewoitine D 520 series	17	53.13%
Arsenal VG 33 series	4	12.50%
Caudron C 714	0	0%
Potez 631 series	0	0%
dewoitine D.510	2	6.25%
other?	2	6.25%
Voters: 32. You may not vote on this poll

08-07-2008, 02:14 AM	#1
Oreo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 277	Your favorite French fighter? Not complicated-- which is your favorite? I am not including the Hawk 75, only indigenous designs.

08-07-2008, 04:49 AM	#4
Marcel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dordrecht Posts: 3,834	Arsenal, I just like the looks. __________________ " The knack of flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."

08-07-2008, 03:57 PM	#6
DerAdlerIstGelandet Der Crewchief Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany Posts: 33,152	I honestly do not have one. I have been fond of the French Fighters (not to say they did not have any decent ones though). If I had to choose (I chose other because I dont really have one), it would be the D.520. __________________ fly boy:"isnt that the first jet bomber becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"[/I]

08-07-2008, 04:03 PM	#7
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,230	N/A Like Adler, just don't have a favorite (or a least favorite). TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

08-07-2008, 02:19 AM	#2
Oreo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 277	My favorite is the MB 152 series, which I find very intriguing and I feel it gets less coverage than the D 520.

08-07-2008, 03:00 AM	#3
kool kitty89 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,412	The MB 152 was also the only one to have wing mounted cannon. (albeit somewhat unreliable) And it was pretty tough. It was certainly better than the MS 406, and the MB 155 was a pretty decent fighter. (heavier and more relaiable armament and better performance) The VG 33 was the best all around fighter (with good performance, cost, and armament) to enter production prior to the armistice, but, of course, it came too late. Not sure what my favorite is though.

08-07-2008, 04:11 PM	#8
Thorlifter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 4,345	Truthfully, I've never really paid attention to the French fighters. I guess I'll pull a Switzerland and stay neutral. __________________

08-07-2008, 08:00 PM	#9
Oreo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 277	Well, that's diplomatic of y'all. I know not everybody pays any attention to the "minor aviation nations" aircraft, but I think Marcel will be happy to point out, the "minor aviation nations" contributed some interesting planes!

08-07-2008, 08:29 PM	#10
kool kitty89 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,412	Particularly looking at the french planes and engines that were in development or entering production just prior to the armistice. (Gnome 14R, HS 12Z, MB 157, and the advanced developments of the VG-33 series) Last edited by kool kitty89; 08-07-2008 at 08:41 PM.

08-08-2008, 12:14 AM	#11
Hunter368 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,240	Damn I put my vote into the 510 series but I meant to put it into the 520 series. Oh well. __________________ "Ivan the Terrible or Russian Achilles" Ivan Kozhedub - Hero of the USSR (x3), Order of Lenin (x2), Order of Red Banner (x7), Order of Alexander Nevsky, Order of the Great Patriotic War (x2), Order of the Red Star (x2), 62 kills during 1943-1945

08-08-2008, 02:58 AM	#13
kool kitty89 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,412	Oh well, the D.520 is winning anyway... But who else voted for the D.510?

08-09-2008, 11:02 AM	#14
Arsenal VG-33 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 312	As much as I love the D.520, I'm voting my favorite being the Arsenal VG-33 series, and probably the best had it seen mass production. What is so unique about this design is that it called for the use of certain non strategic materials which could be cheaper and quicker to build than other fighters by normal standards at the time. It was also built under less than ideal circumstances because of competition from other aircraft manufacterers, all on the eve of war. I'm tempted to believe the designers/builders of the Arsenal VG series were able to see the dark clouds on the horizons because of these factors. As such, I would classify the Arenal VG-33 series as something resembling that of a "desperation" fighter design, one which could have made a difference had it seen combat on a wide scale. The Caudron C.714 could also be classified as a french "desperation" aircraft given it's construction. Only 12-13 VG-33 examples were fully built and of these only 2 reached operational status. A few French publications I have mention that one of the two may have shot down 1, perhaps 2 German planes before hostilities ended, though there is some debate in the various French aviation forums about this. One Stuka and one Me-109 are the two aircraft often mentioned. I don't think anyone has concluded either way on this yet. My other favorites are the D.520, Breguet 693 series, the MB.170-175 series. __________________ You'll live. Only the best get killed. - Charles de Gaulle England is a former colony gone horribly wrong. - Georges Clemenceau

08-14-2008, 04:27 PM	#15
Bigxiko Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vila Real Posts: 87	I believe it were the Morane Saulnier MS 406 series __________________ "A room without books is like a body without soul" Confucius

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