F4u-1 Canopy

[OntosMk1]

 Yeah i have agree that the birdcage sux but on the other hand i think it gives the A/C character...since the other Hogs have bubbles we should leave it there....
BTW Boyington flew a huge part of his campaign in the F4U-1s remember they were way out in front during most of the pacific campaign and that the acusition of the bubble canopies took a while...Yall need to read Boyington's book its the shiznit

[Don]

I have read two books about Greg Boyington and the Blacksheep. In each account, Maj. Boyington did not have a personal aircraft, whats more, none of the blacksheep did. In photo ops. he was photographed in a shiny new model F4U complete with japanese plane kill stickers on the side that was being photo'd.
Also, the Blacksheep were supplied with older modelled F4U's with the birdcage canopy and, newer models with the bubble canopy. They flew whatever plane was properly serviced and available. The original F4U1-a was outfitted with the birdcage canopy. As the pilots complained about the poor visibility of the planes, the manufacturers reps would report the complaints to the company and adjustments were made either in the field or with the next batch of planes shipped out to the frontline airfields.

[cajun]

Originally posted by OntosMk1
 but on the other hand i think it gives the A/C character...since the other Hogs have bubbles we should leave it there....

Yeah I wanna leave the F4u-1 with its birdcage canopy but add the F4u-1A with bubble canopy and stronger engine and still the nice lookin white/grey/grey-blue paint job.

[cajun]

Originally posted by Don
I have read two books about Greg Boyington and the Blacksheep. In each account, Maj. Boyington did not have a personal aircraft, whats more, none of the blacksheep did. In photo ops. he was photographed in a shiny new model F4U complete with japanese plane kill stickers on the side that was being photo'd.
Also, the Blacksheep were supplied with older modelled F4U's with the birdcage canopy and, newer models with the bubble canopy. They flew whatever plane was properly serviced and available. The original F4U1-a was outfitted with the birdcage canopy. As the pilots complained about the poor visibility of the planes, the manufacturers reps would report the complaints to the company and adjustments were made either in the field or with the next batch of planes shipped out to the frontline airfields.

Hmmmm.... I read on a web site the blacksheep used bubble canopy and they made it sound like boyington had his own plane...

I'd like to read boyingtons autobiography BaaBaa BlackSheep.

[Mathman]

Originally posted by cajun


Hmmmm.... I read on a web site the blacksheep used bubble canopy and they made it sound like boyington had his own plane...

I'd like to read boyingtons autobiography BaaBaa BlackSheep.

If you want to learn about Boyington, I would suggest reading the book "Blacksheep One"  by Bruce Gamble.  It is free from the exagerations and outright lies that Boyington filled his book with.  It is a good book and gives some great insight into what made him the way he was.  Also by Bruce Gamble is a book called "The Black Sheep"   This is a great unit history of VMF-214 and a wonderful read.

Not trying to piss in anyone's cheerios, just passing along some good reads that may open your eyes as to Pappy Boyington and his squadron in WW2.

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by Mathman


Not trying to piss in anyone's cheerios, just passing along some good reads that may open your eyes as to Pappy Boyington and his squadron in WW2.

Serriously, if you are happy with the Blacksheep squadron you know from "Baa Baa Blacksheep" (the book) you might want to skip Gamble. I imagine that Gamble is much more on the money historicaly speaking. But Papy could tell a sea story like nobody else.

There were greater truths in Boyingtons book than his kill totals, or his drunken brawls. Most importantly, that all of our heros are flawed individuals. And they become heros by setting those flaws aside long enough to get the job done. I know his coment about "show me a hero and I'll prove he's a bum" has torqued some people off, but I think it's a fair enough statement.

Gamble proved it on Boyingtons account, so, like I said, know what you're getting into when you read those books (Although I haven't read "Blacksheep One" yet)

-Sikboy

[Mathman]

Don't get me wrong, I still admire some of the things I have read about Boyington.  I just look at him a little different than I did when I first read his book in high school.  He is a flawed hero (almost a tragic hero), and I think that makes him even more interesting than the drunken brawling misfit he portrayed himself as.

[Hooligan]

cajun wrote:

Yeah I wanna leave the F4u-1 with its birdcage canopy but add the F4u-1A with bubble canopy and stronger engine ...

The stronger engine you are referring to is the addition of WEP so we already have it.  I wouldn't mind seeing a ground-based  fixed-wing goodyear version (even without the WEP upgrade).  Lacking folding wings, arrestor hooks etc.. that version should be something like 800 lbs lighter.  It would be an interesting addition.

Hooligan