The Hangar: the Aviation Discussion Thread

[Pax Nerdvana]

I love aircraft and aviation in general, and I've never seen a thread here specifically devoted to flight and aviation on this forum before. I would love to be a pilot, or at least work with aircraft in some manner. This thread's purpose is the discussion of aircraft, aviation, and spacecraft. I'm especially interested in WWII military aircraft, one of my favorite aircraft is the P-51D Mustang. What airplanes do you guys like? Would you want to be a pilot?

Clearly the best aircraft from ww2 is the BF-109. Look at the kill ratio.

I said the P-51D was one of my personal favorites, not necessarily the best.

Pretty sure I would fail the "fit to fly" medical (since have things like an asthma diagnosis that while not current - symptom free for at least five years - I believe is a life-time lockout).

That's too bad. I might be able to get a license, but I'm not sure what the vision requirements are.

[Democratic Exodian Territories]

I love aircraft and aviation in general, and I've never seen a thread here specifically devoted to flight and aviation on this forum before. I would love to be a pilot, or at least work with aircraft in some manner. This thread's purpose is the discussion of aircraft, aviation, and spacecraft. I'm especially interested in WWII military aircraft, one of my favorite aircraft is the P-51D Mustang. What airplanes do you guys like? Would you want to be a pilot?

Clearly the best aircraft from ww2 is the BF-109. Look at the kill ratio.

Screw you, that’s the Hawker Hurricane. Workhorse of the Allies during the first few years of the war, with its versatility vital during the Battle of Britain.


The F6F Hellcat is my favorite, though. I like the Hellcat and the Hurricane because they always seemed like underdogs, pitted against these legendary Axis aircraft such as the BF-109 and Zero but never receiving any recognition.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Clearly the best aircraft from ww2 is the BF-109. Look at the kill ratio.

Screw you, that’s the Hawker Hurricane. Workhorse of the Allies during the first few years of the war, with its versatility vital during the Battle of Britain.


The F6F Hellcat is my favorite, though. I like the Hellcat and the Hurricane because they always seemed like underdogs, pitted against these legendary Axis aircraft such as the BF-109 and Zero but never receiving any recognition.

True. Besides, the F6F was a good plane, or at least better than the F4F.

[Datlofff]

Clearly the best aircraft from ww2 is the BF-109. Look at the kill ratio.

Screw you, that’s the Hawker Hurricane. Workhorse of the Allies during the first few years of the war, with its versatility vital during the Battle of Britain.


The F6F Hellcat is my favorite, though. I like the Hellcat and the Hurricane because they always seemed like underdogs, pitted against these legendary Axis aircraft such as the BF-109 and Zero but never receiving any recognition.

The Hawer Hurricane only proved effective during the battle of the Britain because Britain had RADAR, the British themselves admitted that the plane was woefully outclassed against the BF-109. Although, the polish in me wants to agree with you.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Screw you, that’s the Hawker Hurricane. Workhorse of the Allies during the first few years of the war, with its versatility vital during the Battle of Britain.


The F6F Hellcat is my favorite, though. I like the Hellcat and the Hurricane because they always seemed like underdogs, pitted against these legendary Axis aircraft such as the BF-109 and Zero but never receiving any recognition.

The Hawer Hurricane only proved effective during the battle of the Britain because Britain had RADAR, the British themselves admitted that the plane was woefully outclassed against the BF-109. Although, the polish in me wants to agree with you.

The Brewster Buffalo was totally the best fighter of the war.

[Democratic Exodian Territories]

Despite me fawning over the Hellcat and Hurricane, my favorite WWII plane that wasn’t a dedicated fighter has to be the de Havilland Mosquito multirole aircraft. Fuggin’ made of wood yet one of the fastest operational aircraft at its time.

[The New California Republic]

Screw you, that’s the Hawker Hurricane. Workhorse of the Allies during the first few years of the war, with its versatility vital during the Battle of Britain.


The F6F Hellcat is my favorite, though. I like the Hellcat and the Hurricane because they always seemed like underdogs, pitted against these legendary Axis aircraft such as the BF-109 and Zero but never receiving any recognition.

The Hawer Hurricane only proved effective during the battle of the Britain.

The what, and the what?

Regardless. I have a very keen interest in Soviet aircraft from the Cold War period (I have an interest in Soviet military hardware in general), it is verging on aficionado status. Most of my favourite aircraft are Soviet. I have had the privilege of going on several of them. I'd say my favourites are, in no particular order: Tupolev Tu-154, Ilyushin Il-62, MiG-25, Antonov An-225, Tupolev Tu-114, MiG-21, MiG-29, and the A-90 Orlyonok. The Ilyushin Il-62M in particular is, in my mind, one of the most aesthetically-pleasing aircraft ever.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Despite me fawning over the Hellcat and Hurricane, my favorite WWII plane that wasn’t a dedicated fighter has to be the de Havilland Mosquito multirole aircraft. Fuggin’ made of wood yet one of the fastest operational aircraft at its time.

Oh yeah, the legendary Mosquito. Although it can't beat out the B-17 in terms of durability...

[Datlofff]

Despite me fawning over the Hellcat and Hurricane, my favorite WWII plane that wasn’t a dedicated fighter has to be the de Havilland Mosquito multirole aircraft. Fuggin’ made of wood yet one of the fastest operational aircraft at its time.

Oh yeah, the legendary Mosquito. Although it can't beat out the B-17 in terms of durability...

Except for the fact that the average b-17 crewman only had a 1/4th chance of actually surviving his 25 required missions.

[The New California Republic]

Oh yeah, the legendary Mosquito. Although it can't beat out the B-17 in terms of durability...

Except for the fact that the average b-17 crewman only had a 1/4th chance of actually surviving his 25 required missions.

That was more to do with the intensity of the flak, as well as the Luftwaffe air cover, rather than an inherent flaw with the aircraft itself...

[Datlofff]

Except for the fact that the average b-17 crewman only had a 1/4th chance of actually surviving his 25 required missions.

That was more to do with the intensity of the flak, as well as the Luftwaffe air cover, rather than an inherent flaw with the aircraft itself...

The b-17 wasn't really that durable of an aircraft, nothing about it made it any more durable than any other bomber of its size. Yah it had a defensive armament that was good, but that doesn't help you when the nazis are blowing you ass out from underneath you with flak.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Except for the fact that the average b-17 crewman only had a 1/4th chance of actually surviving his 25 required missions.

That was more to do with the intensity of the flak, as well as the Luftwaffe air cover, rather than an inherent flaw with the aircraft itself...

Yeah. I've heard stories of B-17s flying home on one or two engines.

[The New California Republic]

That was more to do with the intensity of the flak, as well as the Luftwaffe air cover, rather than an inherent flaw with the aircraft itself...

The b-17 wasn't really that durable of an aircraft, nothing about it made it any more durable than any other bomber of its size.

Wrong. The B-17 was a durable aircraft. It could survive considerable punishment before it succumbed. It has a reputation of being one of the most durable aircraft of the war.

[Democratic Exodian Territories]

Despite me fawning over the Hellcat and Hurricane, my favorite WWII plane that wasn’t a dedicated fighter has to be the de Havilland Mosquito multirole aircraft. Fuggin’ made of wood yet one of the fastest operational aircraft at its time.

Oh yeah, the legendary Mosquito. Although it can't beat out the B-17 in terms of durability...

Well, naturally. The Mosquito was made of wood, the B-17 sheet metal.

[Pax Nerdvana]

The b-17 wasn't really that durable of an aircraft, nothing about it made it any more durable than any other bomber of its size.

Wrong. The B-17 was a durable aircraft. It could survive considerable punishment before it succumbed. It has a reputation of being one of the most durable aircraft of the war.

Yeah, that sounds about right.

[Democratic Exodian Territories]

That was more to do with the intensity of the flak, as well as the Luftwaffe air cover, rather than an inherent flaw with the aircraft itself...

The b-17 wasn't really that durable of an aircraft, nothing about it made it any more durable than any other bomber of its size. Yah it had a defensive armament that was good, but that doesn't help you when the nazis are blowing you ass out from underneath you with flak.

It was really durable, it just had little chance of surviving when pretty much every Wehrmacht AA crew on the ground and every Luftwaffe Bf-109 in the air trying to kill it via firing squad.

[Pax Nerdvana]

The b-17 wasn't really that durable of an aircraft, nothing about it made it any more durable than any other bomber of its size. Yah it had a defensive armament that was good, but that doesn't help you when the nazis are blowing you ass out from underneath you with flak.

It was really durable, it just had little chance of surviving when pretty much every Wehrmacht AA crew on the ground and every Luftwaffe Bf-109 in the air trying to kill it via firing squad.

Yep. The other tough aircraft is the Warthog.

[Fartsniffage]

It was really durable, it just had little chance of surviving when pretty much every Wehrmacht AA crew on the ground and every Luftwaffe Bf-109 in the air trying to kill it via firing squad.

Yep. The other tough aircraft is the Warthog.

You say that but can it fly with just one wing?

[Pax Nerdvana]

Yep. The other tough aircraft is the Warthog.

You say that but can it fly with just one wing?

I didn't realize the F15 was so durable.

[Datlofff]

Yep. The other tough aircraft is the Warthog.

You say that but can it fly with just one wing?

Any plane is capable of flying with 1 wing. there are plenty of ww2 examples

[Datlofff]

The b-17 wasn't really that durable of an aircraft, nothing about it made it any more durable than any other bomber of its size.

Wrong. The B-17 was a durable aircraft. It could survive considerable punishment before it succumbed. It has a reputation of being one of the most durable aircraft of the war.

I too can show some evidence of other similar sized bombers sustaining similar damage and making it back.

[Fartsniffage]

You say that but can it fly with just one wing?

Any plane is capable of flying with 1 wing. there are plenty of ww2 examples

Such as?

[The New California Republic]

Wrong. The B-17 was a durable aircraft. It could survive considerable punishment before it succumbed. It has a reputation of being one of the most durable aircraft of the war.

I too can show some evidence of other similar sized bombers sustaining similar damage and making it back.

Unsourced photo devoid of context. Proves nothing. For all I know, that Heinkel He 111 sustained the damage on the ground.

[Datlofff]

I too can show some evidence of other similar sized bombers sustaining similar damage and making it back.
(Image)

Unsourced photo devoid of context. Proves nothing. For all I know, that Heinkel He 111 sustained the damage on the ground.

Actually given what Ive researched on it people are determinate what brought her down, but they are all sure that it was in the air, and the damage was done by a fighter, as the damage isn't conducive to flack damage. Due to the camp on the He-111 It was a night bomber, so it was probably from a British night fighter. Although there is one person suggesting it could have been a Swiss BF-109 that did the damage, due to the fact that that type of damage is conducive to Meingeshoss damage from a German 20mm gun.

EDIT: From what I've found there is also the claim that the British found this plane on a captured runway in eygpt.

[The New California Republic]

Unsourced photo devoid of context. Proves nothing. For all I know, that Heinkel He 111 sustained the damage on the ground.

Actually given what Ive researched on it people are determinate what brought her down, but they are all sure that it was in the air, and the damage was done by a fighter, as the damage isn't conducive to flack damage. Due to the camp on the He-111 It was a night bomber, so it was probably from a British night fighter. Although there is one person suggesting it could have been a Swiss BF-109 that did the damage, due to the fact that that type of damage is conducive to Meingeshoss damage from a German 20mm gun.

EDIT: From what I've found there is also the claim that the British found this plane on a captured runway in eygpt.

Unsourced speculation. You may as well have thrown a photo of any damaged bomber in front of me, and claimed that it is battle damage sustained in the air. Complete speculation on your part.