Post amazingly cool pictures of aircraft (Volume 2)
Discussion
It was as much an insurance policy as anything else in case there was a shortage of Merlins. The issue turned out to be less serious once the US Packard production line for Merlins was opened.
A number of other aircraft had Merlin/Bristol Hercules versions -
the Bristol Beaufighter
the Vickers Wellington
the Handley Page Halifax
In these other cases, production centered on the Hercules versions. There was nothing wrong with the Hercules engine. It was tough, reliable and turned out roughly the same HP as the Merlin. In some areas, such as the desert and far east, it was preferred because of its ruggedness.
A number of other aircraft had Merlin/Bristol Hercules versions -
the Bristol Beaufighter
the Vickers Wellington
the Handley Page Halifax
In these other cases, production centered on the Hercules versions. There was nothing wrong with the Hercules engine. It was tough, reliable and turned out roughly the same HP as the Merlin. In some areas, such as the desert and far east, it was preferred because of its ruggedness.
Ayahuasca said:
Yes, not powered by Merlins. Apparently they performed badly. A rare case of the second mark not being as good as the first mark.
That's not strictly true.While the Service Ceiling of the BII was lower than that of the BI/III by approximately 10,000ft, the BII climbed faster to 18,000ft and once there had a cruise performance equal to the BI/III.
More importantly the BII was fitted with bulged bomb bay doors allowing it to carry the 8000lb 'Cookie'. Furthermore, because the BIIs were not fitted with the H2S ground mapping radar, they could carry the Frazer-Nash FN64 ventral turret, making them less vulnerable to the Shrage-Musik equipped Luftwaffe night fighters.
Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Wednesday 5th July 22:13
Markbarry1977 said:
I believe the Russians actually got something similar to fly. Yes they did take out a lot of the nuclear shielding to make the aircraft light enough. And the problems if one crashed is unthinkable. Not to mention the life expectancy of a crew sat next to a reactor with no shielding made it pointless. That and the bogs and food still run out.
Another pointless idea was the laser mounted in a 747 to shout icbm down. Pointless, I went to a lecture at cranwell and it was discussed.
First you need to get a 747 within the 20 mile range of the laser within the 20 odd seconds you have from launch to it being practically in space.
Secondly the weather has to be near perfect as clouds are full of water and dramatically effect the range and accuracy.
Thirdly you have to hope they have no SAM sites or interceptor aircraft in the vicinity to shoot you down (yeah like that's ever going to happen).
Don't worry though, they had about a 10% success rate against test missiles fired along a trajectory they knew about before hand at a time they already knew about without having to perform any evasive manovers to protect themselves.
What a waste of money. Bit like nuclear aircraft.
This one?Another pointless idea was the laser mounted in a 747 to shout icbm down. Pointless, I went to a lecture at cranwell and it was discussed.
First you need to get a 747 within the 20 mile range of the laser within the 20 odd seconds you have from launch to it being practically in space.
Secondly the weather has to be near perfect as clouds are full of water and dramatically effect the range and accuracy.
Thirdly you have to hope they have no SAM sites or interceptor aircraft in the vicinity to shoot you down (yeah like that's ever going to happen).
Don't worry though, they had about a 10% success rate against test missiles fired along a trajectory they knew about before hand at a time they already knew about without having to perform any evasive manovers to protect themselves.
What a waste of money. Bit like nuclear aircraft.
Edited by Markbarry1977 on Tuesday 4th July 23:05
eccles said:
Fat Fairy said:
JuniorD said:
Instead of Buccaneer they should have been named Penguin
Why?Fairey on the other hand might have made a Penguin, or perhaps Short or more obviously Percival.
Fat Fairy said:
Never worked on them, but never heard them called anything other than Buccs.
FF
They were known as the 'Banana Jet' in Aircrew parlance.FF
GIVE ME BUCCANEERS
Don't give me the Jaguar,
Unless you refer to the car.
The car is a ground hog, the aircraft is half frog,
Dont give me the Jaguar.
(Chorus)
Give me Buccaneers,
They're British through and through.
The Banana Jet,
The Best we've had yet,
We are the last of the few.
Don't give me the Harrier jump jet,
You haven't convinced me yet.
Jets that fly backwards, is soon to be knackered,
Don't give me the Harrier jump jet.
(Chorus)
Give me Buccaneers,
They're British through and through.
The Banana Jet,
The Best we've had yet,
We are the last of the few.
Don't give me this computer crap,
It's no way to tackle a SAP.
It's OK for Dicks, Germans and Spicks,
But a Gentleman carries a map.
(Chorus)
Give me Buccaneers,
They're British through and through.
The Banana Jet,
The Best we've had yet,
We are the last of the few.
Don't give me Air Traffic Control,
They live in a bloody great hole.
They scream and they shout, then F##k you about,
Don't give me Air Traffic Control.
(Chorus)
Give me Buccaneers,
They're British through and through.
The Banana Jet,
The Best we've had yet,
We are the last of the few.
Don't give me the F-104,
It's only a ground loving we.
It goes in a turn, flick, spin, and burn.
Dont give me the F-104,
(Chorus x2)
Give me Buccaneers,
They're British through and through.
The Banana Jet,
The Best we've had yet,
WE ARE THE LAST OF THE FEW.
Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Sunday 23 July 18:38
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