F7F Tigercat

[bozon]

The F-82's always puzzled me... Two engines. Two cockpits. Two pilots...

Wouldn't it just be better to have two separate P-51s?

it was a stupid plane. the only good thing about it was that it could use in its constraction the parts from many many scrapped P51s. Otherwise, that is the worst way to build a two seater.

[nrshida]

The Whirlwind was very small for a twin-engined plane, just a little larger than the Hurricane. I think it was designed around its nose-mounted armament. The two Kestrels adding up to a single Merlin essentially.

 

[Kazaa]

Such a shame planes like the F8F/Hornet didn't see combat in WW2, which is one of HTC's rules for adding new aircraft.

What an absolute monster she'd be.

[Chalenge]

it was a stupid plane. the only good thing about it was that it could use in its constraction the parts from many many scrapped P51s. Otherwise, that is the worst way to build a two seater.

Your assessment is incorrect. The F-82 was a completely new plane with zero parts in common with any of the P-51 line (including the engine). The opposing cockpits, however, were poorly conceived.

[Brooke]

The F-82's always puzzled me... Two engines. Two cockpits. Two pilots...

Wouldn't it just be better to have two separate P-51s?

I think original design was for very-long-range escort of B-29's, for 2000-mile missions with one pilot at a time maybe taking a nap (or at least relaxing).

[GScholz]

An autopilot could have done that.

[Brooke]

An autopilot could have done that.

Also, for long escort flights of B-29's, the F-86 would need to stay in formation with, or in escort position with, the B-29's, so an autopilot wouldn't do that at the time.

[Ack-Ack]

Your assessment is incorrect. The F-82 was a completely new plane with zero parts in common with any of the P-51 line (including the engine). The opposing cockpits, however, were poorly conceived.

The twin vertical tails were from the XP-51F (XP-51F became the P-51H).

[Ack-Ack]

I think original design was for very-long-range escort of B-29's, for 2000-mile missions with one pilot at a time maybe taking a nap (or at least relaxing).

Remember -HR- (Hard Rock) from AW?  His father flew P-82s and I had asked him about the role of the 2nd pilot and he said it was for the reason you stated, alternating controls on long flights.  The only exception was the night fighter version, a radar operator replaced the 2nd pilot.

[morfiend]

Such a shame planes like the F8F/Hornet didn't see combat in WW2, which is one of HTC's rules for adding new aircraft.

What an absolute monster she'd be.

(Image removed from quote.)

 You know I've never seen such rules......  I have heard no 1 offs and no prototypes but nothing about combat.  If you ask HTC you wont get a definitive answer!

  In the past I have heard all sort of rules,like most see combat,must be at squadron level/equipped,had to be in service.  However this has mostly come from the players!!!


  So would the F8F count?  it was in squadron service in the US,there were 2 fully equipped squads in transport before the war,then I've heard that there were 2,maybe 3 F7F's flying night patrols around Okinawa,I'm not sure how many were in transport at the time.  Then the Hornet,it was flying in trials before the war ended,IIRC it's first flight was very early 45 like Jan.


  So until I hear from HTC what the exact rules for inclusion are,I would hope that maybe 1 day we will see several of these monster flying,besides they could decide to do a Korean war arena which would  include the above planes and several more!



   

[DaveBB]

F-82 was designed as a B-29 escort.  Pilot fatigue was a major factor, hence the two pilots.  An autopilot would not have been effective, as it doesn't keep formation.

[GScholz]

A loose formation could easily be held. The B-17 used autopilot and they flew in tightly controlled formations.

http://www.398th.org/Research/B17_AFCE.html

Some versions of the 109 and 190 were also fitted with an autopilot.

[Brooke]

Did bomber pilots use the autopilot while flying in formation (other than when bombardier was in control for the bomb run)?

I have read lots of accounts by bomber pilots and have never seen mention of pilots using autopilot in formation.

GScholz, don't bother posting anything written after WWII, even if it is by a WWII bomber pilot saying "We used autopilots in formations in WWII" -- as that doesn't count, right? 

[DaveBB]

I have never read of B-17 pilots using autopilot to maintain formation. I know B-17s were equipped with a rudimentary autopilot (mainly for bombing), but every account of formation flying in combat I have read about talked about manually flying the aircraft.

Can you cite one source of pilots using autopilot to maintain formation?

[Zoney]

GScholz, don't bother posting anything written after WWII, even if it is by a WWII bomber pilot saying "We used autopilots in formations in WWII" -- as that doesn't count, right? 

WAPOW !!!