As a suggestion while we’re on Japanese fighters- KI.84 Hayate vs J2M3 Raiden??
The list of fighters entered into the competition is on page 2 of this thread mate, I think I may have missed the J2M3 out for some reason :oops:
The next competition will be posted tomorrow, not today as promised. Apologies for the delay.
The list of fighters entered into the competition is on page 2 of this thread mate, I think I may have missed the J2M3 out for some reason :oops:
The next competition will be posted tomorrow, not today as promised. Apologies for the delay.[/quote]
Still waiting for the next one! 
As soon as my boots are bulled, you’ll have it
G.55 Centauro (Italy) v P-36 (USA)
G.55 Centauro (Italy)
Max Speed: 391mph (630km/h)
Rate of Climb: 2734ft (833m) per minute
Service Ceiling: 41,667ft (12,700m)
Range: 746 miles (1200km)
Armament: 3x 20mm cannon and 2x 12.7mm (0.50in) MGs. 2x 353lb (160kg) bomb racks
Great care was taken by the Fiat designer Giueseppe Gabrielli to blend an aerodynamically advanced airframe with a structrure that was robust enough to survive battle damage and that would be simple enough to mass production. The resulting aircraft, the G.55, proved to be both fast and manouevarable and very popular with the pilots. The first prototype was flown in April 1942 and the first types were flown in combat evaluation from Match 1943. The G.55 is considered to be the best production Italian fighters of the war and outperformed both the Fw-190A and the Bf-109G in combat trials (while being flown by both German and Italian pilots). Despite always being heavily outnumbered, the G.55 managed to shoot down many Allied aircraft, both fighters and bombers. A torpedo bomber version was also produced, carrying one 2,176lb torpedo under the fuselage.
P-36 (USA)
Max Speed: 313mph (450km/h)
Rate of Climb: 2,500ft (765m) per minute
Service Ceiling: 31,800ft (9,700m)
Range: 1,380 miles (2,220km)
Armament: 1x 12.7mm (0.50in) MG, 3x 7.62mm (0.3in) MGs
The P-36, developed from the Curtiss “Hawk” Model 75 originally designed for France, was first produced for the US Air Corps in 1938. Including 30 P-36G export models seized by the US Government in 1942 because of the German occupation of Norway, the Army Air Forces possessed a total of 243 P-36s.
Both France and the UK used the Hawk 75A in combat over Europe in 1939 and 1940, even though the airplane was obsolescent when compared to its major adversary, the Bf 109. During 1941, the AAF transferred 39 of its P-36s to Hawaii and 20 to Alaska, and with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, two of the first six AAF fighters to get off the ground to meet the enemy were P-36s. Following the outbreak of hostilities, the outmoded P-36 was relegated to training and courier duties within the U.S.A.
G-55 by a mile - the Hawk was obselete at the outbreak of war and rapidly got more so.
Seconded!
Seconded![/quote]
Thirded? :lol:
G-55 Centauro in German colours:
And many P-36s in pre-war era.
The Hawk was one of the first aircraft into the air to meet the Japanese aircraft on their attack of Pearl Harbor.
Have to go with that one myself. I’ll leave this open until tonight, then put the next one up. Doesn’t seem much point in leaving such a one sided contest going.
Seconded![/quote]
Thirded? :lol:[/quote]
About sixethed by now.
G for me…
Most assuredly the G.55.
D.520 (France) v Yak-9 (USSR)
D.520 (France)
Top Speed: 329mph (529km/h)
Service Ceiling: 36,090 feet (11,000m)
Rate of Climb: 2,362 feet (720m) per minute
Range: 620 miles (998km)
Armament: 1x 20mm cannon, 4x 7.5mm MGs
The Dewoitine D.520 started entering service just prior to the opening of World War II. It was the only design that came close to being a match for the latest German types like the Messerschmitt Bf 109 (in trials against a captured Bf-109E, the D.520 proved to be about 20mph slower, but much more manoueverable. They were also highly praised by Luftwaffe pilots who flew captured models), but French building priorities were so confused that mass production didn’t start until after the war started, and only a small number were available to meet the Luftwaffe. After the French surrender, production was restarted to equip the air force of Vichy France. After Operation Torch, these were captured by the Germans occupying Vichy France and passed on to Bulgaria and Italy. A small number were also used by Romania.
Yak-9U (USSR)
Top Speed: 435mph (700km/h)
Service Ceiling: 39,040ft (11,900m)
Rate of Climb: 4,317ft (1,250m) per minute
Range: 540 miles (870km)
Armament: 1x 23mm cannon and 2x 12.7mm (0.50in) MGs
Developed progressivley from the Yak-1, the Yak-9 was the last version of what is said to be 37,000 fighters built by Yakolev during the war. The final version, the Yak-9U is the point were Soviet technology finally caught up with the west and was much respected by Luftwaffe pilots as a threat, even in their Bf-109K and Fw-19D fighters. The Yak was one of the most manoueveable fighters of the war, especially the Yak-3, which was a lightened derivative of the Yak-1. Several versions of the Yak-9 were brought into service, including the Yak-9DD ultra long range fighter, used to escort USAF bombers on shuttle raids between the UK and the USSR and the Yak-9T anti-tank fighter with a heavy 37mm cannon to attack the thinner top armour of enemy tanks.
An interesting bit of cold war (Yak-9 related) politics I found while researching this -
"During 1949 the USSR provided surplus Yak-9P planes to some satellite states in the Soviet bloc in order to help them rebuild their air forces in the wake of West Berlin’s blockade and the allied airlift. Due to human error, a particular section of the plane’s cyrillic operating manual was omitted from the translation in some national languages. Before starting the Yak-9 plane, it was necessary to hand-crank a small cockpit-mounted oil pump 25 times to provide initial lubrication to the Klimov in-line vee engine, something that was not required for WWII German and western fighters equipped with forced-closed cycle lubrication systems. Skipping this unusual step resulted in frequent engine bakings during the take-off roll and initial climb, that claimed several fatalities during 1950.
The satellite states fearing humiliation and reprise from the USSR hastily staged public, pre-arranged trials to purge their new airforces of “Nazi remnants and imperialist saboteurs”. Several officers were sentenced to death and executed in 1951, including Lajos Toth, a 28 victory scoring ace of the WWII Royal Hungarian Air Force, who had voluntarily returned from US captivity to help revive Hungarian aviation. The victims were cleared posthumously following the fall of communism."
editted to add photo of the Yak :oops:
Yak-9. Truly an awesome fighter. Across the board a much better design. Yes, it appeared later in the war, but it certainly left it’s mark whereas the D.520 never really got the chance.
Picture of a YAK-9U (missed by BDL by mistake).
I vote it without doubt. Far superior to D 520.
Seconded here.
YAK for me.
Thirded (fourthed?) - no contest.
cheers Dani, have added it to my original post :oops:
Thirded (fourthed?) - no contest.[/quote]
Fourthed… :lol: … I agree with pdf, there really is no contest.