Warbird Information Exchange

Warbird Kid asked why the Buchon was not popular with US pilots? A good question, and brings up what are the advantages/disadvantages of types for Civilan Use, so I start it off by some I know about.
Spitfire: Pro: Very historic, flys very well, High performance(varies with model) tremendous climb, ceiling over 40,000 feet, good speed, low time pilot can fly one safely( docile stall and great low speed handling) Can handle crosswind landings to about 20 mph, if pilot is current. Can use shorter runways, under 3000 feet for Merlin models if pilot is in tune. Good pilot comfort in summer, no heat in winter. A good support industry behind the plane.
Con:There are no real "gotcha" hidden points. Most are fairly short on range, but in civi use some have an extra tank so a good 3 hours which is enough. The Merlin models, especially early ones can't sit on the ground and idle for a long time in hot weather. They were made as interceptors to fly,not to drive. Some pilots doubt the air brake sytem, but if you have flown them you may even prefer it over toe brakes. Single seaters don't have a jump seat, but some like mine are full dual control.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

My guess on the 109 is it has good performance, I think the ME109 E especially flys pretty well once airborne, short takeoff and landing and good low speed handling. Of course it is Very historic.
On the Neg. side, they certainly have a rep for poor ground handling, and they are short range. The cockpit looks tight, no junp seat or likely much baggage area. I'm sure parts and service must be difficult, but likely not impossible. You need to be on your game to fly one.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

IMHO the gear is to narrow for hard runways and there just arent that many good grass strips capable of dealing with the support required....again IMHO only

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EVERYTHING that CAN fly should be ALLOWED to FLY!
IWO JIMA'S best narative..."GOD ISN'T HERE"
http://www.amazon.com/God-Isnt-Here-Ame ... 0976154706


P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from midget.

I've also read in the past on the 109 that the radiator controllers are thermostatic in operation and that the constant opening and closing of what seem like unbidden, un -coordinated, unexpected dive brakes would be unsettling and cause a lot of slewing around

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

T-34 Pro: The easiest airplane to land I have ever flown. I had an ex WWII T-6 instructor fly mine and he came back and said, "If you can't fly that you can't fly anything." At the BKD show one year a friend asked me to take his son who was about 13 years old for a flight. After a quick briefing he flew the whole flight, even though he only had about 15 hours of student pilot time and had never been in a T-34. Of course, he was Lefty's son, not just any kid. There is a lot to be said for a "friendly" plane. The stall speed is about 48 knots, you can even make an approach at 55k wiht full control and land in 1000 feet. I can't think of a plane I'd rather be in in an engine out emergency landing, and I sort of was once. It is a good all around acro plane, nice loops and spins, at no more than 3 gs. The stock ones have an inverted system. It climbs well at low altitude, 1000fpm, has abotu 3 hours range on 50 gal. It has a big enough baggage area to make travel easy, just watch the cg. Most shows consider it a warbird, just don't expect to fly wing on a P-51.
Cons: It is not real fast, about 140 k for the stock 225 engine. Many have been modified with a 285 or 300 hp, but it is still a heavy plane, not too streamlined and a 270 hp Mooney will run away from a T-34. Above 10,000 feet climb falls off and you can't stay with a T-6. It is pretty noisy. Most of all there are major ADs that affect the wing and now tail, since the combat sim schools broke two through over g and overspeed. Prices have come down to reflect this.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Interesting post Bill. It would be even better if we could get some input from some of the guy's that are P-40, P-47, P-51 Drivers. Comparative handling charachteristics stuff. I know I would like to hear some input on the subject. Let's face it, flying a P-40 ain't the same as a Jug! We all know that these aircraft were "cutting edge" for their day and many a young pilot did not "outlive" the experience. The Spit just "looks like a fighter" and the eliptical wing might help in some of her handling? How about some thoughts on that? Maybe we can get some input on F4F(FM2), F6F, drivers too!

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tracers work both ways

Sgt Hawk, I would like to have some replies by guys who have owned other types or at least have a lot of experience in them. However please stay on the topic of warbirds in CIVILIAN USE. There are other sites which compare fighters, etc. as combat planes. Most anything is fair game. Jug, P-40, Corsair, B-25, TBM, Stearman, even T-28 or L-39. Guys seem to hang onto P-40s and T-6s a long time so they must be pretty satisfying.
I know a P-51 makes a good civilian warbird, one of the best, it just is expensive as heck.
If you missed it, last year we had a long, detailed, involved forum on Best Fighter, that I started which focus only on combat use. Lot's of opinion and info.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK