XPost: alt.aviation, alt.politics, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14468767/The-Spitfire-iconic-plane-helped-Britain-win-WWII-nation-remembers-defeat-Hitler-80-years-ago-HARRY-HOWARD-finds-hand-formidable.html
. . .
This was just a beautiful aircraft - AND highly
functional in saving the UK from the German Blitz.
The Germans were technically advanced, but the
Spitfire - combined with top-notch and highly-
motivated Brit pilots - matched and exceeded.
Powerful, fast, well-armed ... it turned the tide.
Never anything quite like it - before OR after.
The P-51 Mustang - after adding a RR engine -
was perhaps as functional ... and had longer
range ... but it wasn't as pretty.
In 'unusual', maybe only the P-38 Lightning
fit the bill. It also was a highly functional
plane, but WAS kinda bigger. Most WW-2 planes
were just, well, 'dull'.
Hmmmmm .... some aircraft manufacturer really
SHOULD reproduce the Spit. Plenty of monied
people who WOULD buy them.
The 'modern' version would theoretically
use a turbo-prop ... but, really, to be
kinda 'authentic' you need the piston engine.
Besides, a turbo would totally mess-up the
balance .......
The DC-3/C-47 ... maybe the longest/hardest-working
plane EVER made ... can now be had with turbo-props.
Thing is, they have to physically SPLIT the whole
plane ... move the wings a bit to make up for the
lighter weight of the turbos. NOT cheap - but the
things DO sell. Perhaps still THE best midsized cargo
plane for most 2nd/3rd-world applications with
crap runways. You'd think the 1930s were all over ...
but NOT !
I've flown on a C-47 - actually FLEW one for about
five minutes when the cap had to do something in
the back (hey, he was cap, his word was law). Kinda
crude but SOLID SOLID SOLID ! LOVE 'em. If I was
that rich I'd have BOUGHT one.
ANYway ... the listed article IS worth reading.
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