The SPAD, the 51 of its era...

[stephen]

I hope this plane makes it into the the update, also the SE-5 with its single Vickers on the cowl, and single Lewis gun "drum fed" on a Foster mounting on the upper wing (the Foster mount was equipt with a lever capable of dropping the lewis closer to the pilot so that he could reload the gun without standing outside of the cockpit, and was somtimes used to attack enemy aircraft by firing from the reloading position, which pointed approximatly 45% above and forward of the pilot)..., its a whole new era fellas!...

I believe (if I recall correctly) that the Spad had a tendency to shear fabric from its top wing in a dive, though this plane supposedly held its energy well by many accounts, and was used to boom and zoom in a time when said tactics where "just"being developed.

I look forward to being on the leading edge of a new game, and anyone that might have relative info on planes of that era, I invite to comment.

Later

[stephen]

One wierd question though...

I've read accounts of ww1 pilots exploring alttitudes above 12'000ft, how was this possible in the times before oxygen bottles?!

Its plainly stated in many pilot accounts..., anyone have an answer?

[USCH]

You can go without O2 to higher alts but you need to become accustom to it...
In alot of parts of the worlds there are people who live quite high in mountain areas on a daily basses that requires O2 for other sea level type living people.

Mt. Everest is 29,028ft and people have climbed that without O2 before.

[Wingnutt]

Mt. Everest is 29,028ft and people have climbed that without O2 before.

9% fatality rate of those who try.  of those that reach the summit 1 in 6 dont make it down alive.

and thats is WITH oxygen

[Anaxogoras]

The N28 had a tendency to shed fabric from the upper wing, not the Spad 13, which was one of the sturdiest divers of the war.

I've been over 14k ft without O2 before and it is no picnic.  There is a photo of a DVII pilot with an O2 canister mounted in the cockpit.  The pilot wore a nose-clip and held a tube in his mouth to breath.  I don't know how widely things like that were used.

[Angus]

Been cruising at 13K in a Cessna, - didn't even feel it.

[Rino]

     The Spad series flew more like the P-47 than the P-51. 

[Noir]

     The Spad series flew more like the P-47 than the P-51. 

I hope we'll get to verify that !

[Nemisis]

because you can go for some time without O2 bottles. Eventually it will kill you, but you can make it above 12k and come back alive.

There is a certian altitude at which there isn't enough O2 to keem someone alive regardless of how effecint their bodys are at using it. People who climb everest without O2 bottles have to make it back down past that line before they asphixiate.

[curry1]

I was on top of pikes peak with is 14k+ and I don't think I am dead.  Actually I probably am this board is obviously hell.

[shiv]

I was on top of pikes peak with is 14k+ and I don't think I am dead.  Actually I probably am this board is obviously hell.

 

[Anaxogoras]

Been cruising at 13K in a Cessna, - didn't even feel it.

Try climbing to that altitude on foot.

[2ADoc]

FAR part 135.89 a(1) At altitudes above 10,000 through 12,000 feet MSL for that part of the flight at those altitudes that is of more than 30 minutesduration; and
  (2) above 12000 feet msl

That is for unpressurized aircraft.

[Angus]

because you can go for some time without O2 bottles. Eventually it will kill you, but you can make it above 12k and come back alive.

There is a certian altitude at which there isn't enough O2 to keem someone alive regardless of how effecint their bodys are at using it. People who climb everest without O2 bottles have to make it back down past that line before they asphixiate.

I was as quick as possible from SL to 13K and stayed there for an hour without even feeling it. As for the efficiency of your body, being fit will definately help.
BTW there are entire communities living above 13K....

[W7LPNRICK]

One wierd question though...

I've read accounts of ww1 pilots exploring alttitudes above 12'000ft, how was this possible in the times before oxygen bottles?!

Its plainly stated in many pilot accounts..., anyone have an answer?

Modern parachute recovery systems are automatically deployed at 14,000ft. The military believes this is the max safe altitude for bail-out in an open canopy.