Great Planes that never were

Republic XF-12 Rainbow ^ | 08-15-2008 | Self

[valkyry1]

I have been wanting to get this topic on airplanes going for awhile. I hope some of you find an interest also.

[alfa6]

Sknaht

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[TexanToTheCore]

It is very unlikely that the Luftwaffe would have come back due to the devastation of German manufacturing facilities as well as their growing inability to get gas.

Had the manufacturing facilities not been leveled (about 3” high) they probably would have eventually dominated the skies. But that is the whole point of bombing manufacturing operations, to disrupt their supply abilities.

[TexanToTheCore]

I had forgotten the XB-70. What a beauty. Still not in the class of that firtatious tart, the Sr-71, but quite good.

[TexanToTheCore]

Should be “flirtatious tart”. sigh...

[Joe 6-pack]

"...when men dedicated to excellence took the time and care to build her well."

In Don Henley's song, "Month of Sundays," there's a line that goes:

Folks these days just don't do nothin'
simply for the love of it

I often catch myself humming that tune....

[mad_as_he$$]

Some of the watchers think she carries the Aurora or even the antigrav fighter. Others think it is a rapid deployment strategic bomber. Fun to watch them try to guess.

[mad_as_he$$]

I have touched 960. She is a beautiful machine as are all her sisters.

[Joe 6-pack]

"If the Germans had been able to train pilots and fuel them the Me-262 would of devastated the bombers and even the P-51..."

Interesting conjecture, and while I agree that the Me-262 was a fine aircraft, and would have extended the war in Europe, keep in mind that the first prototypes of Kelly Johnson's P-80 were already flying by late 1944 and would have made short work of a 262. Likewise, the British were also flying the Gloster Meteor, and while it was primarily detailed to combat the V-1's falling on England, I suspect it would have been employed against Germany had the 262 been fielded with capable pilots and adequate fuel stores to become a major problem for the Allies.

[mad_as_he$$]

The 262 had a 5:1 kill ratio and only 200 saw combat. Over 1400 were built good thing the Germans could not train pilots and fuel them. Kelly is one of my heroes, P-80 against 262 would be interesting and I bet those tests were run at Edwards after the war.

[mad_as_he$$]

I was just told by a shrink I am not crazy and i believe you.

[valkyry1]

I just hope we have something out there right now capable of dealing with the Iranian underground nuke manufacturing network.

For me this would be a High Altitude Heavy Bomber with new technology ‘rocket assist’ ground penetrating weaponry. It would probably need low yield warheads to be effective.

The B2 is not it IMO.

[Joe 6-pack]

"The 262 had a 5:1 kill ratio and only 200 saw combat."

I'm guessing that number includes bombers(?) Any idea what the straight up Me 262 vs. P-51 ratio was?

[valkyry1]

The Mighty J-58 Engine

[valkyry1]

Any idea what the straight up Me 262 vs. P-51 ratio was?

I think that would be hard to document and the 262’s had the Bombers as first priority.

And IIRC, most of the P-51 kills on the 262 were during its take off and landing periods.

[mad_as_he$$]

I have looked a couple of times and not found anything definitive. Maybe that some FReeper with history bent knows that answer. BTW that is the Allies number - the German number was much higher!

[mad_as_he$$]

I believe the Iranians have developed their cell phone system to track B-2’s. In addition, the Russians are suppose to have something to track B-2s. IMHO if the Iranians get attacked it will be with missiles. Possibly a Trident variant that there are rumors about.

[valkyry1]

I’m hoping we have a new stealth platform for the Iranian issue.

A scenario where we have some plausible deniabilty, all their stuff goes poof the USA is as guilty as sin, but theres none or little evidence we were there.

[editor-surveyor]

"The B-36 was the next bomber in the works after the B-29."

Known as "The Cigar."

[editor-surveyor]

[editor-surveyor]

"The plane was flying a mile every 1.6 seconds"

= 2250 MPH!