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Greatest Fighter Pilot Poll.

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 31, 2003 2:03 PM
My vote goes to SCAT, Robin Olds.Just like Chennault did wiht the P-40 by showing men what it could do in the right hands. Olds showed and did with the F-4. Also, do not forget he scored over the Luftwaffe in the 38 as well as the 51.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by JGUIGNARD on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 5:17 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by blackwolfscd
There are some judges on the circuit over here that'll just be ranting about it. I love screwing with people... hehe

Steve:

Never would have guessed it....... Big Smile [:D]

Another Snoopy item I just happened to think of is my all-time favorite "Far Side" cartoon. It shows a fighter pilot walking away from his airplane. There are a number of kill marks on his plane with all of them being airplane oultines except one - the outline of Snoopy on his doghouse !

Jim
Most of us are acquainted with at least one "know-it-all". He may be as close as the mirror. [}:)]
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 9:35 AM
I remember seeing that too! I used to fly rubber-powered stuff in the gym at school, (helped to have my Dad's cousin's husband as an art teacher AND good friend) and there was a guy who had a Snoopy-style Camel. It too was a doghouse. I could never figure out how the hell he got it to fly...

Someday, I'm gonna build a model of a real Camel and build it really well, for competition. I don't really build that way anymore, but I wanna do this model top-notch, and then put a figure of Snoopy leaning up against the fuselage. Just like he leans against the doghouse in the comic strips.

There are some judges on the circuit over here that'll just be ranting about it. I love screwing with people... hehe


Fade to Black...
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by JGUIGNARD on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 9:07 AM
Several years ago I saw an article in an R/C modeling magazine that featured an R/C "Snoopy on a doghouse" that actually flew. The "doghouse" had no front or back and the floor was airfoil shaped and served as the wing. The trailing edge of the floor had the elevator and ailerons, and I believe the rudders were on the trailing edges of the walls. The engine was mounted inside. The article had one or two photos of the doghouse in flight.

Jim
Most of us are acquainted with at least one "know-it-all". He may be as close as the mirror. [}:)]
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 8:33 AM
Similar to FAC pilots in Vietnam, there were requirements for the CFC to take along an observer who was indigenous to the area. In this case, Snoop was on an artillery spotting mission over Woodstock, NY.


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  • Member since
    June 2003
Posted by M1abramsRules on Monday, June 23, 2003 11:55 PM
That thing's way ahead of its time anyway, no wings!!!! but its still manuverable. or is it.....? and since when did the soapy camel have an observer? ;-) so with the observer did it have 2 or 3 mgs?
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Monday, June 23, 2003 4:55 PM
Yeah, that's the improved Mk.VI 'Sopwith Camel'.

It has the thicker reinforced sideboards, larger entry opening and an extra layer of shingles on the roof which are also coated in red RAM for a reduced RCS.

With the exception of the fuel and oil sytems you mentioned, all the new internal systems are still classified.


Fade to Black...
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by JGUIGNARD on Monday, June 23, 2003 3:46 PM
Steve:

It looks like Snoop finally installed inverted fuel and oil systems....

Jim
Most of us are acquainted with at least one "know-it-all". He may be as close as the mirror. [}:)]
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Monday, June 23, 2003 2:26 PM
OMG!!!

How could we forget the Snoop?




Fade to Black...
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by JGUIGNARD on Monday, June 23, 2003 10:27 AM
I don't think anyone has mentioned Snoopy yet.......


Jim
Most of us are acquainted with at least one "know-it-all". He may be as close as the mirror. [}:)]
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Niagara Falls NY
Posted by Butz on Sunday, June 22, 2003 6:28 PM
Sorry, I ment to say that but then again clearview 1900 is the first release LOL
Flaps up, Mike

ya know I have not really thought about it. I'll let ya know

Flaps up,Mike

  If you would listen to everybody about the inaccuracies, most of the kits on your shelf would not have been built Too Close For Guns, Switching To Finger

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Sunday, June 22, 2003 5:57 PM
Uhhh.... Mike, that's Clearview 2000. Wink [;)]

We doin' sumthin' tomorrow?


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  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Niagara Falls NY
Posted by Butz on Sunday, June 22, 2003 5:17 PM
Riigght..!!!
They must have had coated their a/c w/ Clearview1900..!! LMAOTongue [:P]Tongue [:P]
Flaps up,Mike

  If you would listen to everybody about the inaccuracies, most of the kits on your shelf would not have been built Too Close For Guns, Switching To Finger

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Sunday, June 22, 2003 5:11 PM
Well, according to his flight reports, he'd been tracking a squadron of Jap Zeros for two days, but lost them somewhere over Barstow. He'll get 'em, though!


Fade to Black...
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Niagara Falls NY
Posted by Butz on Sunday, June 22, 2003 5:07 PM
Hey Blacwolf,
How long did it take for him to shoot one down?? Most important how long was he lookin for em..!!!!!
Too funnyTongue [:P]Tongue [:P]Tongue [:P]Tongue [:P]
PS Started the "smudge wash" on my 262...!!!
Flaps up,Mike

  If you would listen to everybody about the inaccuracies, most of the kits on your shelf would not have been built Too Close For Guns, Switching To Finger

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Sunday, June 22, 2003 4:37 PM
Well, I know that the question was "Greatest" fighter pilot, but my absolute FAVORITE fighter pilot would have to be Capt. Wild Bill Kelso, the first American to shoot down a Jap over the continental United States!



War nerves? Who said war nerves?


Fade to Black...
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Posted by maddafinga on Sunday, June 22, 2003 12:30 PM
I acutally mentioned Johnson and Sakai in my earlier posts. Someone else, I think Sally mentioned Rictofen as well, I really think every pilot that came after Bolke owes something to him as well, as he's kept them all alive at some point. There were tons of great great fighter pilots, but my favorite is still Johnson.

madda
Madda Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle. -- Leonardo Da Vinci Tact is for those who lack the wit for sarcasm.--maddafinga
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Saturday, June 21, 2003 10:41 PM
More than any other, I'm surprised that Hartmann wasn't mentioned this time around. (Or was he?)

For anyone interested, here's a link to a "short" list of aces from WWII. There's a helluvalot more than this, there were literally thousands of aces in that war, nevermind any of the other aerial conflicts.

http://www.1000pictures.com/aircraft/aces.htm

There's also a whole lot more out there on the net and in print.


Fade to Black...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 21, 2003 10:20 PM
it seems that a lot of people heve forgot such great names such as priller , udet and rictofen .a.k.a. the red baron with 80 kills in a biplane bong with 40 , Mcguire ,with 39 for the u.s.a. and sabaro saki with 80 kills for the empire of japan and not forget johhston with 29 in the e.t.o. p.s. priller had 202 kills for germany ... and gallands fighter doctrines are taught at top gun as a requiried to learn to pass the course ....I could list more but am out of time remember .. those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it ...so lest we not forget....!!!!!
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Saturday, June 21, 2003 9:07 PM
Exactly! The Apaches and the early Mustangs really were different airplanes than the P-51B.

There's the obvious; the Allison and Merlin engines. But many systems in both aircraft were different as well, some as a result of the change of powerplant but some as a result of the fact that they needed imrovement or replacing.

Wait a minute... we should start a new thread here! Wink [;)]


Fade to Black...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 21, 2003 9:00 PM
QUOTE: The Yak-9 could be considered a greatly improved Yak-7, but ultimately it's hard to draw lines because of the continual stream of changes and improvements made. The late Yak-7's were, indeed, very close to the Yak-9 in appearance. But I see the Yak-9 as being a totally different aircraft than the vast majority of Yak-7's.

This is how I look at it also and I look at the A-36 Apache/P-51 Mustang the same way, sorta.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Saturday, June 21, 2003 6:34 PM
Actually, the Yak-7 started life as a trainer designated the UTI-26. It was a development of the I-26 (Yak-1) and was to be an intermediary step between the low-powered UT-2 primary trainer and the higher-powered combat aircraft.

With the chaos created by the German invasion, fighters were needed and aircraft of any type that could be used as a fighter were ordered armed and into combat. The Yakovlev Design Bureau was forced to convert the UTI-26 into a combat aircraft, redesignated as the Yak-7. The few two-seat trainers on the production line at this time were designated Yak-7V (Vyvozonyi - Familiarization).

The first two-seat fighters were designated Yak-7A, armed with a single 20mm cannon and two 12.7mm machine guns. Provisions were also made for the aircraft to carry six rockets or two 220lb bombs.

Subsequently, the instructor's seat was removed and replaced with an additional fuel tank, giving the Yak-7A increased range, about 510 miles. Because of the extra weight, some changes were made, mostly to the landing gear.

The Yak-7K (Kuryerski - Courier) was a development of the Yak-7V with two seats, but no dual controls. This was used mainly for transporting top-ranking officers and for courier flights.

There were further developments of the Yak-7; the Yak-7B, D, DI and many other sub-variants, but I don't want to write a novel as I usually do!

The decision to introduce, all at once, a large number of changes and improvements to the Yak-7 design resulted in the designation Yak-9. One of the most significant changes to occur toward the end of Yak-7 production and even moreso into production of the Yak-9 was the introduction of more metal into the structure of the aircraft. This was made possible by the increasing numbers of shipments of steel from the USA.

The Yak-9 could be considered a greatly improved Yak-7, but ultimately it's hard to draw lines because of the continual stream of changes and improvements made. The late Yak-7's were, indeed, very close to the Yak-9 in appearance. But I see the Yak-9 as being a totally different aircraft than the vast majority of Yak-7's.

Doesn't matter, though. I like 'em all!


Fade to Black...
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Posted by maddafinga on Saturday, June 21, 2003 12:34 AM
I'd imagine that they would have to do a bit more rescuing than many other countries, their philosophy seems to have been (and still be for that matter) is just to build as many as possible and hope most of them work. I don't think I'd have wanted to be a Russian pilot back then, er, or now either for that matter. I just don't trust their equipment.

madda
Madda Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle. -- Leonardo Da Vinci Tact is for those who lack the wit for sarcasm.--maddafinga
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 21, 2003 12:14 AM
The extended canopy was for rescues, they would land and the downed pilot would jump in the rear and then they would take off again. The short canopy version had a hatch behind the antenna (item 5 in the image left and below the front view) for another person (image of scrunched person below front view). There is better detail on the drawings I have which are 1/10 scale (resized and comverted to jpeg before uploading).
  • Member since
    June 2003
Posted by M1abramsRules on Saturday, June 21, 2003 12:08 AM
Billy Barker. 50 some planes, V.C. and nerve, the day he was released from the hospital with his left arm in a sling he took up the prince of Wales and put on an acrobatics show over St Pauls cathedral!!
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Posted by maddafinga on Saturday, June 21, 2003 12:04 AM
Not much difference at all between them, mostly in the canopy as far as I could see. The yak7 is more like a razorback to the 9's bubbletop.

madda
Madda Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle. -- Leonardo Da Vinci Tact is for those who lack the wit for sarcasm.--maddafinga
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 20, 2003 11:26 PM
I have over 90 pics aircraft + ships and weapons (airieal and Naval) Including blueprints and builders drawings totaling about a Gig.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Friday, June 20, 2003 11:04 PM
Claymore,

Nice stuff. There's a Ukranian guy in my club and he keeps shoving stuff my way, some of it like those drawings. And I keep saying, "Thanks, but I can't READ this stuff!"

The photos and drawings are in English, but the text and captions... I gotta learn Russian, I guess...


Fade to Black...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 20, 2003 10:40 PM
Figured I better post these.

Yakovlev 7
http://rongeorge.com/modules/Gallery/album04/jak7_1sm

Yakovlev 9
http://rongeorge.com/modules/Gallery/album05/jak9r_1sm

Couldn't get the pics to post so it's just linksSad [:(]
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