So if you were a WW I pilot...

[A Horse With No Name]

For me, B 26 Maurader, One a day in Tampa Bay, baby.

What a hot rod of a plane....

What would you all fly?

[ocnblu]

There's Only One: Sopwith Camel.

[balthazar]

stang- you stated "WWI" yet your plane is from "WWII".

Pick a war already!

[Camino LS6]

I don't know Balthy,I was just going to post that I'd pick "any plane from WWII" !

[A Horse With No Name]

stang- you stated "WWI" yet your plane is from "WWII".

Pick a war already!

Alrighty, then pick either war.

I meant WW II, but I is a moron and cayunt spell weyull

[loki]

the Messerschmidt "rock crusher"... fuel injected and auto altitude adjusted fuel/air mixture

if you mean only a US built one... mustang, or the "dual" mustang

[A Horse With No Name]

By the "Dual Mustang" do you mean the P-38?

[loki]

that sounds right... it was 2 mustangs with about a 1/2 wing between them

[A Horse With No Name]

that sounds right... it was 2 mustangs with about a 1/2 wing between them

Sounds like a modern ricer tale.....

[Intrepidation]

Either: P-51A and P-51D Mustang or B-17B/C/D, B-17E, and B-17G Fly Fortress.

Did you know that The Swoose (40-3097) is the only shark tail B-17 known to exist? I can't believe they have only just now gotten around to restoring the only B-17 of its type left in existence.

On a related note, it's nice that Swap Ghost (B-17E, 41-2446 one of only four E's to be recovered) has finally returned home from Papa New Guinea for restoration in the US.

[Intrepidation]

the Messerschmidt "rock crusher"... fuel injected and auto altitude adjusted fuel/air mixture

if you mean only a US built one... mustang, or the "dual" mustang

By the "Dual Mustang" do you mean the P-38?

that sounds right... it was 2 mustangs with about a 1/2 wing between them

Sounds like a modern ricer tale.....

This is where you guys get schooled.

loki is referring to the F-82 Twin Mustang, which, like all Mustangs, was built by North American Aviation.

It was the last piston engined fighter to be ordered into production by the USAF. It didn't serve in WWII but it did serve in the Korean War and a night fighter, replacing the P-61 Black Widow.

The P-38 Lightning is a completely different plane build by Lockeed.

[Intrepidation]

Yes, I know my planes.

[balthazar]

I have a soft spot for the Fisher XP-75 due to it's appearance :

And because it shares it's designation with this other General Motors design :

...tho the (former) XP-75 doesn't sound that enlightening to fly.

Actually, tho I appreciate airplane history & design nearly as much as cars,

I have no actual desire to fly anything.

[Drew Dowdell]

B-29

P-38

Messerschmitt ME 262

[A Horse With No Name]

Either: P-51A and P-51D Mustang or B-17B/C/D, B-17E, and B-17G Fly Fortress.

Did you know that The Swoose (40-3097) is the only shark tail B-17 known to exist? I can't believe they have only just now gotten around to restoring the only B-17 of its type left in existence.

Didn't know that...cool!

This is where you guys get schooled.

The P-38 Lightning is a completely different plane build by Lockeed.

Cool...I've never ever seen one of these, and I've been to a lot of different air museums.

[ZL-1]

P51

Spitfire

Messerschmitt Me 262

[vonVeezelsnider]

Avro Lancaster or de Havilland Mosquito

Edited October 25, 2010 by vonVeezelsnider

[RjION]

F4U Corsair

Not FU

The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and Brewster-built aircraft F3A. The Corsair served in smaller air forces until the 1960s, following the longest production run of any piston-engined fighter in U.S. history (1942–1952).[1][2] Some Japanese pilots regarded it as the most formidable American fighter of World War II.[3] The U.S. Navy counted an 11:1 kill ratio with the F4U Corsair.[4]

Corsairs served with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, Fleet Air Arm and the Royal New Zealand Air Force, as well the French Navy Aeronavale and other services postwar. It quickly became the most capable carrier-based fighter-bomber of World War II. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear (as the FG-1) and Brewster (as the F3A-1). From the first prototype delivery to the U.S. Navy in 1940, to final delivery in 1953 to the French, 12,571 F4U Corsairs were manufactured by Vought,[5] in 16 separate models.[6][7]

Edited October 25, 2010 by RjION

[Intrepidation]

I also have a soft spot for the B-26 Marauder.

Oh and I love the XB-38. Pity the only one in existence was destroyed.

[A Horse With No Name]

Pity that no B-26 Mauraders are air worthy.

How was the only B-38 destroyed?

[Intrepidation]

There was an engine fire on board the only prototype. Crew bailed out, plane was destroyed.

[A Horse With No Name]

Guys who flew those had kahunas for sure...lots of things happened to planes back in the day.

I think I might have read that more B-17's were destroyed in training, ferrying, and on the ground than in Combat, but that CAN'T somehow be right....

[Intrepidation]

That sounds more like the B-24 Liberator or the B-26 Marauder. Both planes were difficult to fly.

In fact I bet it was the B-26. That's why it was nicknamed the Widow Maker. A very difficult plane to fly, a lot of accidents early in its life, but it also had the lowest combat losses of an US aircraft during the war.

[A Horse With No Name]

Still VERY loved by the pilots that flew the B26...aka Baltimore Bitch.

[Intrepidation]

Last posted edited.

[A Horse With No Name]

Or was that Baltimore Whore...probably both actually.....

[A Horse With No Name]

That sounds more like the B-24 Liberator or the B-26 Marauder. Both planes were difficult to fly.

In fact I bet it was the B-26. That's why it was nicknamed the Widow Maker. A very difficult plane to fly, a lot of accidents early in its life, but it also had the lowest combat losses of an US aircraft during the war.

Lowest Combat losses was amazing given its role in ground support and that it flew much lower than the 17's. Those pilots did NOT fly a very predictable path in the sight of German flak...

Flak bait was hit something like over 1000 times and she still flew...212 missions IIRC...now that's a tough plane.

Which is what I also liked about the Thunderbolt. I think most of the top Thunderbolt aces survived the war, VS most of the top P38 aces, who didn't.

[Intrepidation]

Never cared for the P-47. A capable plane to be sure but not a pretty one. The P-51 is my favorite fighter (and my favorite plane along with the B-17), followed by the P-38.

And now for some pr0n:

[A Horse With No Name]

Actually love the looks of the Thunderbolt...however...I'm addicted to speed, so I love the P-51 as well.

Flying escort into Berlin in the fall of 44 would have been about the ultimate adrenaline rush, provided you survived the trip.