P-51's in movie "Empire of the Sun"

Well, since it's the Navy, and they couldn'b be like abyone else, it's
one of those "That Depends" things again.

For example, the Amphibian models of the PBY and PBM flying boats were
the PBY-5A and the PBM-5A.

But the F4U-1 Corsair with the bulged canopy was an F4U-1A.
(And the version with 4 cannons was an F4U-1D).

But weren't the letters A, B, C. D, assigned in alphabetical order, to
successive mods?

An uprated engine was usually signified by an 'F' tacked on, but not
always.

Even if the preceding mod was an A or a B? Are you saying the Navy
jumped over the C, D, and E? What if the preceding mod was up to G,
or H; did they go back to F?

But it wasn't always consistant. An F6F-5E was a Night Fighter,

Was that not because the preceding mod was the F6F-5D?

and an PBM-3E was an ASW Patrol Bomber.

And did that follow the PBM-3D?

Thanks. vince norris

In article ,
Cub Driver writes:

Fighter Bombers got a 'B' for a suffix.
Radar carrying airplanes gor an 'E'.
Night Fighters/Bombers got an 'N'.
ASW airplanes got an 'S'.
Elint airplanes got a 'Q'.

But it wasn't always consistant. An F6F-5E was a Night Fighter, and
an PBM-3E was an ASW Patrol Bomber.

No wonder McNamara decided to take this problem in hand!

Legend has it that the Great Designation MacNafit took place after
he'd gone in fromt of Congress to tout the various merits of the C-130
over teh Marine Corps GV-1. He rattled on for an hour or so, until
somebody pointed out to him that they were the same airplane. (ANd I
wonder the the USCG's R8V-1 came in as well). Since he hated to be
humiliated, especially by himself, (and he does have a lot to be
humble about) he decreed that the designation systems be merged, so
that he couldn't do it again. (Or you can substitute the F4H/F-110 if
you'd rather.) It's a great story, but I'm sure rality is somewhat
different, (and a lot more dull)

--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster

Thats interesting info (but not intended to be in a morbid sense), I knew
he'd died, but i didnt realise it was this one he died in! Thanks for that
Info.
I read an article in flypast mag a few years ago about the Bf 109 and they
said it was a tricky beast to fly because of among other things, its under
carriage, next time you see a pic of one, have a good look at the
undercarriage; you'll see what i mean!
"Lee Hutchinsom" wrote in message
...

Quite a few of the surviving '109s' are actually Hispano HA-1112
aircraft that were built post war with either Hispano-Suiza or
RR Merlin engines.

Keith



The one used in Memphis Belle was a Spanish built example with a Merlin
engine flown by Mark Hanna of the Old Flying Machine Company.

Unfortunatley Mark lost his life in this very aircraft a few years back.

Lee Hutch

of course, sorry, havent seen that for a long time!
"Richard Brooks" wrote in message
...
M. H. Greaves wrote:
It is a 108! i saw it in "mosquito sqdn" and "633 sqdn", and further
to that it was in a flypast issue magaizine (dont ask me which one
because it was a few years ago!!).
But it is a Bf108!!

Not forgetting VonRyan's Express!

IIRC they had rockets as well. Not bad for a light trainer.



Richard.



"Krztalizer" wrote in message
...
said, the chances of getting a REAL russian plane for the film
would be pretty slim!

"Ice Station Zero" - a flight of four (?) MiG-21 models turns into a
real Phantom as it overflies the submarine.

I have a photo from 1981, holding that MiG 21 model (there was
actually only one - the flight of four was only a flight of one,
copied several times). Its quite large, perhaps 30" long or a bit
more. The original model is in a storeroom today in the San Diego
Aerospace Museum.



Also didn't Donald
Pleasence get shot after James Gardner crashed theirs in 'The
Great Escape'?

I thought that was a Bucker Bu181 Bestmann (or a derivative), but I
might be wrong.

As Captain Tenneal would say, "Well, you're wrong." (Sticking
my neck out here) I think its a 108. Dern few Bestmanns around.
Anyone know for sure?

--
Graeme

Currently Reading: "The Day We Bombed Switzerland" - Granholm


Where the heck have you been, Graeme?

yfGordon
====(A+C====
USN SAR

Its always better to lose AN engine, than THE engine.

In article , Krztalizer
writes

I have a photo from 1981, holding that MiG 21 model (there was actually only
one - the flight of four was only a flight of one, copied several times). Its
quite large, perhaps 30" long or a bit more. The original model is in a
storeroom today in the San Diego Aerospace Museum.

From memory, 'they' (it) looked as though it had a red light bulb in the
tailcone....

As Captain Tenneal would say, "Well, you're wrong." (Sticking my neck out
here) I think its a 108. Dern few Bestmanns around. Anyone know for sure?

I'll have to watch it again (!)

Gordon: I've been rather busy with one thing another, and also the
signal-noise ratio after Gulf War II got a little too much for me. Too
much politics and too little talk about aircraft!
--
Graeme

Currently Reading: "The Day We Bombed Switzerland" - Granholm

he he he! thanks mate!
"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...

Choppers are known as rotary wing a/c, and ordinary a/c are known as
fixed
wing a/c.

Some of us know them helicopters and airplanes, respectively.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (requires authentication)

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

Not that its actually designed for this purpose of course!
"Dave Kearton" wrote in
message news
"M. H. Greaves" wrote in message
...
| I saw a video about the extensive testing of the early 747's (not the
| 400's), and the test pilots had a big wooden skid attached to the rear
| underside, and were taking off at too steep an angle grinding the wood
skid
| along the ground; amazing!!
| shows just how strong they were and how they could stand up to rough
| treatment; of course the one at Aukland didnt have a wooden skid so the
| effect must have been quite sparking, ('s'cuse the pun!!)



I don't have the 747-400 manual on hand, but on one of the first few
pages
it mentions that the APU is as effective as a wooden skid, if you drag it
along 400m of concrete.





Cheers


Dave Kearton

(QDurham) wrote:

I hope you'll allow me a small smile and a wink at your "3 to 5
feet".

As you wish. You've a lot more experience than I have -- at the higher
altitudes, of course. (snicker/wink)

Quent

Ooooook... snort
--

-Gord.

"Dave Kearton" wrote in message ...
"M. H. Greaves" wrote in message
...
| I saw a video about the extensive testing of the early 747's (not the
| 400's), and the test pilots had a big wooden skid attached to the rear
| underside, and were taking off at too steep an angle grinding the wood
skid
| along the ground; amazing!!
| shows just how strong they were and how they could stand up to rough
| treatment; of course the one at Aukland didnt have a wooden skid so the
| effect must have been quite sparking, ('s'cuse the pun!!)



I don't have the 747-400 manual on hand, but on one of the first few pages
it mentions that the APU is as effective as a wooden skid, if you drag it
along 400m of concrete.


Wooden skids give (false, thankfully in SQ286's case) APU fire warnings?

Some piccies

http://www.airdisaster.com/photos/9v-smt/3.shtml
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydispl...toryID=3200538

Discussion on aus.aviation:
www.google.com/groups?threadm=3abd9d15.0312151327.2d6555c2@posti ng.google.com

Cheers, Errol Cavit
"Il vino è la luce del sole catturata dall'acqua."
(Wine is sunlight held together by water.)
Attributed to Galileo Galilei

To my knowledge there is the merlin engined Bf109 at duxford, and an
originally engined one titled "GUSTAV", it was captured in the desert and
restored later it is the only one with its original daimler benz engine
still in good nick and still powering the aircraft, last i heard of it was
when it was being carted off down under. Its probably back home by now.

G-USTAV is otherwise known as Black 6. It is a genuine Bf 109 G-6. It is
owned by the RAF museum I believe and since they had several other examples
they allowed this one to be rebuilt to flying condition and flown for a few
years. On its last flight before being grounded for museum display the
aircraft was crashed and heavily damaged. It has since been rebuilt for static
display. I don't believe that it was ever shipped Down Under.

There have been two or three Spanish built Buchons rebuilt with Daimler
engines and flown in Germany. Most have been ground looped and damaged and
then retired after being rebuilt. I believe that there are not now any
original German built Bf 109s flying though several capable of flight and
several more being restored.

John Dupre'