WWII War Birds - pics and video

[Dark Alley Dan]

I think it is, JR. Want a new one? This from Wikipedia:

In addition, since 1991, a number of replica Yak-3s have been newly manufactured by Yakovlev for the warbird market using the original plans and dies. These are powered by Allison V-1710 engines and have the designation Yak-3M, but with the props turning counterclockwise like a Curtiss P-40's Allison V-12 would, opposite of the Klimov V-12s used during the war. Several of these are airworthy today, mostly in the United States, but also in Germany and Australia. Others have been converted as reproductions instead, to "Yak-3U" status from Yak-11 trainers for private owners, with these aircraft also being popular worldwide.

That's awesome.

 

[JR Hartman]

oh HELL yea!! if I hit the big lottery, I AM buying one of those!

 

[Donny Fenn1]

Not likely - I think the red & white was pretty distinctive:

same idea as invasion stripes, except to keep allied and axis fighters from shooting at them when in Swiss airspace and/or when escorting allied or axis aircraft to Swiss airstrips for violating Swiss airspace (defecting or damaged aircraft landed in Switzerland all the time some cool pics out there of airfields filled with all types of aircraft)....

 

[diopter]

http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/topic/1130/Swiss-soldier-with-Model-1911-

http://www.ruudleeuw.com/dubendorf09.htm

 

[Ganderite]

The two parachutes coming out the back on landing was an attempt to use chutes to slow the plane. It had no hydraulics. A standard emergency procedure. If plane it too fast, the chutes break loose.

 

[Arloashean]

I think the first (in German colours) is a Yak 1b - see reference picture below.

[/QUOTE]

Note the difference in the bubble top, the exhaust and the placement of the aerial. The Yak 1b was upgraded to the 1m - the prototype for the Yak 3, which is a little more slender.

 

[JR Hartman]

agreed on those points, but the one in Russian markings under the Nazi capture has a distinct bump that corresponds to that air intake forward of the canopy, dorsal surface. I cannot see those wing root intakes on either of the black and whites, but your in game capture(Sturmovik?) both are clearly absent.

 

[Sharps '63]

I take it that the US bomber "repair shop" was post war, Switzerland being a neutral country.

Ducking into Swiss air space with a crippled bomber likely saved many lives, internment being better than death at the hands of the Luftwaffe. I once read an account of a B-17 that was limping into Swiss air space when a tail gunner suffering from blood loss and oxygen deprivation had a lucid moment and fired on a Swiss Me109. The Swiss shot it down.

 

[Kampfhamster]

In general they were not interested in shooting them down.

Mostly the damaged bombers just wanted to land somewhere safe.

During the battle of France the Luftwaffe crossed into swiss airspace on a regular base, also to test the reaction of our air force.

During the short time in 1940 11 german planes were shot down. 4 swiss planes were lost including the crew.

Later on in 1944 another Bf109E was lost when they were attacked by the P-51-escort of a crippled B-17 that tried to escape to Switzerland.

Don't think the Bf109E stood a chance against the more modern Mustangs.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

This video makes me happy in my pants.

[youtube]xOeGgf5ZMFo[/youtube]

If you ever get the chance to attend a flying day at the FHC, you really, really should. It's epic.

 

[XRCD011]

Also borrowed:

German workshop set up to maintain captured aircraft

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

KG200. That would have been an interesting place to work.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

This slick looking bastard is the ME264 "Amerikabomber".

http://2.bp.########.com/-VONsZkirS6A/U5bXPrluTTI/AAAAAAAAJTY/AwsCw31nYak/s1600/Messerschmitt+Me+264+Amerika+bomber+,+its+objective+being+able+to+strike+continental+USA+from+Germany,+1942.jpg

Voopsie...

Like a Teutonic B-29.

Three built, all destroyed in bombing raids.

 

[diopter]

 

[JR Hartman]

oh my god, that's just cool! I've seen the twin Mustang before, but never the A-51! that's amazing!

 

[diopter]

Don't take it seriously, it's about as real as the Royal Newfoundland Airforce.
http://bispro.deviantart.com/art/North-American-A-51-Stallion-326504426

Nice looking though.

 

[JR Hartman]

Oh, I knew it never made production, as I am sure I would have heard of it, but its at least not fake. when I read your post I figured it was photoshopped or in a game or something.

Same fate as another of my all time favourites the F-20 Tigershark. so cool, but again, never made it into production.

now back to that A-51. 6x .50BMG in the nose, and a pair of 20mm in the inner wing roots. Very tight pattern, very little ranging of the guns or cannon as they are close to the centerline. Pilot simply points the plane at his target. Tons of power with post war Merlins in there. Twice the power but only 1.5 the weight I would guess. Its basically an A-10 with props

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Corsair protptype - The XF4U-1:

Pitot tube doubles as a harpoon. Handy!

Dirtied up and flying:

 

[diopter]

Same basic lines, Hughes XF-11. Howard Hughes crashed it.

 

[dryfire]

F-15 Reporter/P61C photo-recce was adopted instead of Hughes' a/c. Without the armament and improved aerodynamics the Reporter could hustle like the late war single seat fighters.