Author Topic: aircraft trivia question (Read 132 times)

humble · « **on:** January 14, 2002, 05:54:25 PM »

hope this isn't to far off topic...was amazed when I read it:eek:

What WWI scout (where it may be off topic a bit) had a 37mm cannon firing thru the propeller hub?

This was a true production aircraft, 7 confirmed kills from one well known ace and 4 from another.

ra · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2002, 06:18:16 PM »

A couple versions of the SPAD had this 37mm.

ra

Karnak · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2002, 07:41:30 PM »

SPAD XIII

Cannon was hand loaded.

humble · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2002, 08:34:25 PM »

wow, that was fast....obviously some of us have to much time on our hands (me included I guess). Was amazed someone could score 7 confirmed kills (4-5 probables) with a single shot 37mm. Guess no more squeaking bout needing to close inside 100 yds with the various 30-40mm stuff in AH.

Was the SPAD XII that seemed to be the actual varient used in front line units.

Hangtime · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2002, 09:00:01 PM »

A 37mm?? Was this an exploding shell??

Damn.. just thinkin about a 37mm shell hittin a WWI kite... a whole new view of the term 'confetti'.

I'm willin ta bet anybody that would fly a 37mm equipped spad prolly blew up their train sets (and everybody elses) when they were kids.

Jeeezus.. 37mm... make for of a heluva WWI HO party plane, enh? Maybe we could get a Faiery Swordfish in AH loaded with one... hehehhe

straffo · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2002, 04:37:14 AM »

it was Georges Guynemer and if i recall Ok it was a SPAD S.VII not a spad XIII

Dohhhhhhhhhhhh

I forgot René Fonck ,Navare and Rickenbacker !!!!

HFMudd · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2002, 10:51:33 AM »

If memory serves, a variant of the Voison 3 replaced the observer with a *47mm* cannon. But I think it was only used against ground targets and so probably does not count for this thread.

humble · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2002, 01:04:49 PM »

Fonck (dont think this is right spelling on name, was leading allied ace) flew the XII for a few months...he had 7 confirmed kills with the 37mm and claimed an additional 4 probables. (think may-june 1917).