WWII War Birds - pics and video

[Dark Alley Dan]

How about two more engines?

The CANT Z.508 was quite the full-figured gal as well. But the slickest looking thing the Hard Workin' Lads at CANT made was the Z.511:

An Italianate FW200-ish LR bomber on floats. Awesome.

http://3.bp.########.com/-gTPg_jWRsMo/VQApi-LIjwI/AAAAAAAAscE/geqVtzWdHl8/s1600/16b3a8cd_1_1.jpg

 

[dryfire]

The Goose might be sitting lower in the water if it was afloat. The Z.511 has the look of a DC4 on floats save the tail. I can't imagine it would be any more than a nuisance for an attack on New York, especially with only one Chariot crew.

 

[Old Ranger]

Early in my career as a Fire Crew Leader with Ont MNR I had a few flights in both a Goose and which ever Grumman had inline engines (Mallard?). Pilot lowered landing gear to water taxi. I assume to act as a bit of keel. Both aircraft belonged to Kenora Airways if I remember correctly. This was in the early 70's. Water take offs and landings were cool as you were sitting close to water level. Getting in or out of the A/C into a boat in rough water could be a bit of an adventure. If the AC was rising on a wave the boat always seemed to be headed down. Trick was to make the step when the door and the boat were more or less even.
I still love the sound of radial engines. Not many around anymore. Smell a lot better than kerosene burners too.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

This is a bit sad:

http://ww2live.com/en/content/world...-wrecked-german-aircrafts#.VciyLtSORAw.reddit

The amount of money sitting there. Someone far-sighted with a few acres of open space and a lot of patience could have made millions of dollars from this bounty.

 

[tootall]

Regarding the CANT, having the huge engine mounted about 5 metres above the bulk of the fuselage must create all sorts of goofy stresses trying to force the nose down.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

There are a bunch of flying boats with this layout - Catalina/Canso, Republic SeaBee, a bunch of Dornier stuff from the war and before - and yep, throttle changes make the nose rise and fall noticeably. Line of thrust is substantially above the fuselage.

Gotta keep the prop out of the water - not much a designer can do about it, I guess. One could always go to jets...

 

[diopter]

Macchi M.C.72

Macchi M.C.72 440 Mph Average in 1934 with the drag of a two floats an struts and wires. She must have really hummed.

 

[JR Hartman]

wow, I figured that the Supermarine had that one in the bag. Who knew? A Fiat with 2800+ hp

 

[tootall]

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" was at the Abbotsford Airshow on Aug 7/8/9

I had a chance to walk through her. This was the second B-17 I have seen up close ever. And both within the last two months! (Pics from Nine-O-Nine already posted earlier)
This one is more complete, with the upper turret guns still in place, etc.

I brought a ridiculously wide angle (8mm fisheye) lens along, so all the photos have that fisheye effect.
It also makes it look far more roomy than it actually is.
It is bloody tight inside!


Looking forward to bomb aimer's area, navigator table on left

Cockpit (the radio stuff above the centreline of the window is new, not WW2 vintage)

Looking rearward from cockpit area through upper turret gunner position, towards bombay.

Bomb bay catwalk. Tight!

Looking FORWARD from radio operator room to rear of bomb bay

Ball turret visible on floor, waist gunner area.
Looking forward, with a tiny bit of radio room and bombay beyond

Similar to above. Note that waist gunners are offset to avoid bumping each other. (Starboard is forward)

Looking rearward, port gun on photo right. Note wooden box of 600 rounds of 50BMG

Looking forward, port gun closer, starboard gun farther away

 

[tootall]

Ultra wide lens allows me to capture more plane and less crowd (I dont have to back off so far...), but it distorts it a lot.

Lying on my back, looking directly up into bomb bay.

Playing with Photoshop to recreate a vintage B&W WW2 look. Did I succeed?

Similar shot at dusk, without the B&W trickery

Tail gunner.

Norden bomb sight

Details

 

[wbaad]

gear lowered for water landing? whats up there?

Looks to be sitting high in the water. Maybe still sitting on a slip with water over it.
But you can taxi it up and down the slip with the gear. Gear must be up for takeoff and landing!

 

[dryfire]

Couple more not so frequently seen

 

[Sqr]

Our Hamiltons own VeRA and England's Thumper are the last two flying Lancs.

Last two flying with Just Jane taxiing on a runway in Englend last summer. JJ is waiting for a safety certification to begin flying.

 

[Sqr]

This is a cool picture.

 

[wbaad]

2015 and still working for a living
Not as shiney or glorious but it's good to see the sky trumpet flying!

 

[Sharps '63]

Couple more not so frequently seen

ID please ....

 

[375rum]

Bottom one looks like a Brewster buffalo.

 

[Donny Fenn1]

Top:Vought Chesapeake on floats?
Bottom:Brewster Buffalo in Finnish service.

 

[Donny Fenn1]

You got me, Northrop Nomad on top.

 

[soldner61]

Yep Northrop Nomad and Brewster Buffalo