Boeing 757 vs ME 262
Discussion
Having caught a mercifully brief bit of this cinematic masterpiece the other day Flight WWII, do you reckon a 757 would be able to escape from an ME 262 if it spotted it in time? It’s like the Final Countdown with air hostesses
Click here at your peril
Click here at your perilThe 757 cruises around the level of the 262's service ceiling and at a speed around the maximum of the 262.
So the first challenge for the 262 would be an intercept solution, especially in the absence of ground control (can't remember how high the German radar sets went in WWII).
The next challenge would be for the 262 to maintain control at the edge of its capabilities with fairly manual flight controls while the 757 pilots enjoy fully powered controls with stability augmentation.
Then we get into icing and the ability of the 757 to fly through the nearest cloud while the 262 freezes up.
And the 262 was mostly only armed with cannon - so would need to line up its shot very carefully.
I think the 757 would probably be fine. Especially if they noticed the 262 clawing its way towards them and were able to make a hard turn while opening the throttles and climbing (which would likely all be possible at once for the 757, unlike the 262!)
So the first challenge for the 262 would be an intercept solution, especially in the absence of ground control (can't remember how high the German radar sets went in WWII).
The next challenge would be for the 262 to maintain control at the edge of its capabilities with fairly manual flight controls while the 757 pilots enjoy fully powered controls with stability augmentation.
Then we get into icing and the ability of the 757 to fly through the nearest cloud while the 262 freezes up.
And the 262 was mostly only armed with cannon - so would need to line up its shot very carefully.
I think the 757 would probably be fine. Especially if they noticed the 262 clawing its way towards them and were able to make a hard turn while opening the throttles and climbing (which would likely all be possible at once for the 757, unlike the 262!)
Flooble said:
The 757 cruises around the level of the 262's service ceiling and at a speed around the maximum of the 262.
So the first challenge for the 262 would be an intercept solution, especially in the absence of ground control (can't remember how high the German radar sets went in WWII).
The next challenge would be for the 262 to maintain control at the edge of its capabilities with fairly manual flight controls while the 757 pilots enjoy fully powered controls with stability augmentation.
Then we get into icing and the ability of the 757 to fly through the nearest cloud while the 262 freezes up.
And the 262 was mostly only armed with cannon - so would need to line up its shot very carefully.
I think the 757 would probably be fine. Especially if they noticed the 262 clawing its way towards them and were able to make a hard turn while opening the throttles and climbing (which would likely all be possible at once for the 757, unlike the 262!)
I would imagine the wake turbulence from the 757 would cause some problems too?So the first challenge for the 262 would be an intercept solution, especially in the absence of ground control (can't remember how high the German radar sets went in WWII).
The next challenge would be for the 262 to maintain control at the edge of its capabilities with fairly manual flight controls while the 757 pilots enjoy fully powered controls with stability augmentation.
Then we get into icing and the ability of the 757 to fly through the nearest cloud while the 262 freezes up.
And the 262 was mostly only armed with cannon - so would need to line up its shot very carefully.
I think the 757 would probably be fine. Especially if they noticed the 262 clawing its way towards them and were able to make a hard turn while opening the throttles and climbing (which would likely all be possible at once for the 757, unlike the 262!)
The 263 would be akin to a (slow) SAM. Almost no cross range or manoeuvring ability, so the 757 can turn away from it. The only chance of a successful attack would be if the 757 was unaware of the intercept. Which is entirely possible given they don't come with RWR as standard fit the last time I checked!
The operational service ceiling for airliners is often defined as being the maximum height from which it can safely descend to a level at which the passengers can breathe without pressurization or oxygen masks, as the oxygen generators for the masks only have a limited duration. As such it is likely that the Boeing 757 could fly higher than 42,000ft if absolutely necessary; e.g. to avoid being shot at.
k out.I like how they are able to communicate so easily with the ground who explains to them where they are as if it happens every day ("I say we've got another one of those time travelling aircraft from the future again"), but airliners use VHF today and they didn't in 1940, the RAF used AM transmitters to talk to their aircraft.
FourWheelDrift said:
I like how they are able to communicate so easily with the ground who explains to them where they are as if it happens every day ("I say we've got another one of those time travelling aircraft from the future again"), but airliners use VHF today and they didn't in 1940, the RAF used AM transmitters to talk to their aircraft.
They still use AM. But I agree the RAF didn't start using VHF until slightly later.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff