Visit to the Eighth Air Force Museum

[Karnaaj]

Y'know, other than the heavy machinery (and the assorted Destructive Devices, since we *do* want Authentic & Operational, yes? <EG>), it'd be easier to repro tanks... none of this "airworthiness certificate", delicate birdsucking engines, or "ooops, the wheels were up" rubbish. Just remember not to make the turret too heavy to rotate on anything but level ground (KV-2), not to use beta-development engines (early Panthers), and properly adjust all tracks before shipping ("#$%^&*!!! Threw another one!").

Actually, on one of the "military archaeology" pages, I *did* see a Panther, with main gun, in some junkyard. Accompanying text said it appeared to have had an engine fire... can't remember the URL, but as I recall I got the main-page URL off a post on one of the Matrix forums, so...

[Belisarius]

*ponders*

Ofcourse we want it fully functional! :p The main gun and optics is the tricky part, but there *are* pieces standing in backyards here and there. A modified Pak40 barrel could also do the trick, right? And I'm sure that Carl Zeiss Co has blueprints somewhere if you ask them nicely... Engine doesn't have to be authentic, look at the ME boys. They're throwing in trainer jet engines instead of the originals. Problem is size, they don't make gasoline engines that big anymore, but I can easily imagine that a modern 600+ HP Mercedes truck diesel engine would fit. And it'd give the kat some serious mobility too! Then again, the torque from a diesel engine would probably require modifications to the drive sprockets and track, otherwise they'd be thrown instantly. Heh heh heh.... ahh the fantasies.

[TheChin]

What makes that 190 look like a 109 is that it has an inline engine instead of the much mure common radial engine you usually see on 190's. 109's had the liquid cooled inlines.

[Noodleboy]

Over Easter i popped into the RAF museum at Hendon. Didn't take any pics but they had crammed into one hangar a Vulcan Bomber, a Victor, a B-17 (wings cropped), a B25 and a Lancaster (wings cropped) amongst all the smaller stuff!!!

Let me say, it was free and it was fantastic (although i think the missus kinda drifted off a quarter of the way through!)

They also had the only two-seater FW190 still in existence.

Also, the He162 Salamander was beautiful, it wouldn't look out of place now.

Top prize though; Spitfire Mk1 (although the Merlin engine has been replaced by a different Rolls Royce one i think).

[Bing]

I wasn't gonna say anything, but I can't resist: A Vulcan! I would love to see one up close. Served a good long tour with the RAF, combat and also as a tanker IIRC. From where I sit, the Vulcan airframe design was years ahead of its time, reminding me for some reason of the manta rays I have seen in Florida.

An exceptional aircraft from any point of view. Wish you had done some good 35mm or high res digital closeups. I guess we could dig around the aircraft photo archives, at that.

Bing

[Bing]

OK - for lovers of really different combat aircraft, try this site for the VRT - Vulcan Restoration Trust - history of the aircraft:

http://www.avrovulcan.com/vhisavro.htm

Also good photos to go with the history, personal experiences and info on VRT, plus a link to a fine website which chronicles Farnsborough from 1978 on.

At the time the Vulcan - that is, what was to become the Vulcan - came off the drawing boards into development shortly after WW2, it was felt by some designers that the RAF requirements couldn't be met. I would say Avro did so handsomely.

Great aircraft. Fought the Falklands, too. Flew until ~1984.

Bing

[WhiteRook]

Thanks for the Vulcan web site! That is the one and only modern bomber I have ever had the pleasure to have personaly had a tour of! When I was stationed at SAC HQ we had a British detatchment stationed there and the Brit ground crews were always so friendly and willing to show you something and or explain a question. I got along with the Brit ground crews and air crews just famously.
The American ground crews were horse's rear's and would not let you touch one of our planes - except to attach the ground wire to them before fueling one!

[Karnaaj]

Vulcan web site?

http://www.town.vulcan.ab.ca/

<smirk>

[Bing]

That's a different Vulcan.

Bing