FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[What's Burning?]

A team of experts has flown to Burma for the final stage of a 17-year search to locate a hoard of Spitfire planes.

The group of 21 hope to unearth dozens of missing British Spitfires believed to have been buried in the Burmese jungle at the end of World War II. They are expected to to begin digging at Yangon International Airport. There could be up to 36 buried planes at the end of the airport's runway in Mingaladon and up to 124 aircraft in total, it is thought.

I can't link the video because I caught it on BBC America but this is so freaking awesome news. I have seen one in flight, and they're an absolutely beautiful thing to see. Had no idea there were only 35 flying examples in the world. Yeah yeah, I know the Hurricane spiel but it doesn't matter, they were butt ugly.

I will always have a soft spot for WWII airplanes.

[stonemonkey]

Took this at an airshow at Leuchars, could've been about 30 years ago, think it's a Hurricane, Spitfire and Lancaster.

planes.JPG

[Jabberwocky]

It is indeed, the spitfire is the top aircraft, and the bottom is the Hurricane.

the noise of a Spitfire that gives me goose bumps!

[What's Burning?]

I took these at an air show not too far from my home. It was a few years ago now, before I had a quality digital SLR so I had to be creative since I didn't have many options with the crappy point and shoot lens.

[bud]

No Hellcats?

[Jabberwocky]

I love the different philosophies of how each country designed their aircraft.

[bud]

I love the different philosophies of how each country designed their aircraft.

And the different services Navy vs Airforce.
The Mustang was American but designed for the British, most American fighters were radial engined.

[What's Burning?]

No Hellcats?

Haha... that was my same question... it was the only thing they didn't have there, Hellcats or Wildcats. They even had a P-38 Lightning.

A little anecdotal information. Papa Bush flew a Hellcat and he credits it's design for keeping him alive when he ditched it into the Pacific.

[darwin dali]

A little anecdotal information. Papa Bush flew a Hellcat and he credits it's design for keeping him alive when he ditched it into the Pacific.

Damn - the world could have been so much better if...

[bud]

No Hellcats?

Haha... that was my same question... it was the only thing they didn't have there, Hellcats or Wildcats. They even had a P-38 Lightning.

A little anecdotal information. Papa Bush flew a Hellcat and he credits it's design for keeping him alive when he ditched it into the Pacific.

Loved the Navy war birds, Wildcat, Dauntless, Avenger and of course the Hellcat, which I could be wrong but didn't it have the best record of any fighters in both conflicts? At least from the allies standpoint.

Maybe papa Bush knackered himself whilst ditching which would explain bubba Bush's lack of intelligence?

[Jabberwocky]

I think the engineering greatness of the German nation is often over looked when people talk about WW2. Think of the engineering that went into the Junker dive bomber (JU22 iirc) orcthe fact that they had the 1st jet fighter

[darwin dali]

I think the engineering greatness of the German nation is often over looked when people talk about WW2. Think of the engineering that went into the Junker dive bomber (JU22 iirc) orcthe fact that they had the 1st jet fighter

And first ballistic missiles/rockets as well (V1/V2).
The V2 was the progenitor of all modern rockets, including those used by the United States and Soviet Union's space programs. During the aftermath of World War II the American, Soviet and British governments all gained access to the V-2's technical designs as well as the actual German scientists responsible for creating the rockets, e.g., Wernher von Braun.

[Jabberwocky]

I have just finished reading this book

http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/M ... ftkibM5fkC

Some sneaky stuff went on

[bud]

I think the engineering greatness of the German nation is often over looked when people talk about WW2. Think of the engineering that went into the Junker dive bomber (JU22 iirc) orcthe fact that they had the 1st jet fighter

I never felt the German engineering was overlooked, infact I feel the common consensus is they spent too much time and money on advanced weapons instead of mass producing tried and tested gear, like the allies.

[What's Burning?]

I think the engineering greatness of the German nation is often over looked when people talk about WW2. Think of the engineering that went into the Junker dive bomber (JU22 iirc) orcthe fact that they had the 1st jet fighter

I never felt the German engineering was overlooked, infact I feel the common consensus is they spent too much time and money on advanced weapons instead of mass producing tried and tested gear, like the allies.

Maybe when it came to tanks and artillery and such but in the air, the Americans made some pretty advanced warbirds. The thing was they made them for survivability as well as performance. Forget about the Japanese planes... but the Americans had the best record of keeping pilots alive and long term that helped tremendously.

The picture of the folding wing detail is from a Dauntless dive bomber. I spoke to the pilot of the actual plane, he was in his 88 at the time and was sitting in a folding chair under the wing using it for shade. He said that they just dove and ignored the hale of bullets coming their way since once you started to dive you were pretty committed. I wouldn't have the balls to do that.