Worst aircraft of the war

18 June 2003, 04:58 AM

Spinner - Those stats are a little more along the lines of what I'm interested in. But I still don't know...I like to look at the "Big Picture," so to speak, not just individual success stories. And I know that such a large study can't be done in this forum...do you know of any works specifically on the R.E.8 to recommend? But anyway, I could be wrong here. The R.E.8 at the least lasted throughout the war, which says something in its favor...although was it because there wasn't anything else?

Gregvan - I'll start to give the Halberstadts more of their due and I'll check out that book. I will admit that I was not familiar with the exact production and release dates for the various Halberstadt types. Perhaps I've just been reading too much into the "hype" of its stable mates.

and StephenLawson - I really didn't think Ginger believed that!

And I have NO idea what all that meant about him in a canoe, but it sounded funny!

EdStevens · 18 June 2003, 07:06 AM

In defence of the Morane Parasol, it should be pointed out that

Cecil Lewis also said "I did come to love the Morane as I loved no other aeroplane. She carried me right through the Somme battle. I did all my best work on her. I flew her for over three hundred hours, and never during all that time did I have a crash of any kind, and only one case of engine failure. Good old Parasol!"

StephenLawson · 18 June 2003, 09:35 AM

Quote:

'StephenLawson I have NO idea what all that meant about him in a canoe, but it sounded funny!

HistoryDude Not in a canoe, as a canoe. Here's a bit of something for you. *Read through it.

GINGER TO THE RESCUE!!!

18 June 2003, 10:10 AM

Quote:

HistoryDude Not in a canoe, as a canoe. Here's a bit of something for you. Read through it.

GINGER TO THE RESCUE!!!

Oh, no, what have I gotten into?!?!

PeterL · 18 June 2003, 11:12 AM

Quote:

HistoryDude Not in a canoe, as a canoe.

In the straight to video remake of Cockleshell Heroes Ginger was stunt double for Canoe Reeves (above left)

Vigilant · 18 June 2003, 11:30 AM

Quote:

The R.E.8 at the least lasted throughout the war, which says something in its favor...although was it because there wasn't anything else?

HistoryDude, the RE8 began to equip RFC squadrons from Nov. 1916. It was the BE2's replacement, so it didn't go through the whole war - just the last two years.

The only aircraft that might claim that honour is perhaps the Avro 504 (started as a bomber, finished as a trainer)?? But perhaps that's a different thread...

Vig.

RLWP · 18 June 2003, 01:56 PM

Peter L,
you'll find me right there on your Starboard wingtip in the defence of the BE2. Reading the history of the Royal Aircraft Factory really puts this 'plane into context.

Richard

....only, you won't find me on your starboard wingtip in a BE2.... maybe an SE5a...I mean, I'm not stupid....

Ginger. · 19 June 2003, 09:50 AM

In future I may well keep my expert observations to myself. :-/

Richard_Schrader · 19 June 2003, 10:07 AM

All;
*This is a tough question as so many planes were death traps. *The bottom line is the skill of the pilot. *A ham fisted or stupid pilot could kill himself in any plane. *On the other hand, a great pilot can make a bad plane look good.
*Having said that if I had been a British pilot I wouldn't have wanted to go to war in a B.E of any type. *If I were French I would stay away from the Spad A-2. *As far as the Germans go, The Fokker D-1.

* * * * * Richard Schrader

David_Layton · 19 June 2003, 11:53 AM

Shredward's passage aluded to my candidate:

Morane Salnier BB

Take a perfectly fine MS P parasol and modify it to the British command's insistance on biplanes instead of monoplanes and you get a real death trap.

I am sure this little brute inspired the saying "You're not sending the kid up in a crate like that!".