Well, I won't bore you guys with the details, but here are a few interesting things I learned this weekend.
Interestingly enough, when a C-47 has both props in the inverted Y position and stopped with the gear retracted, it can land with very minimal damage. It rolls on the mostly retracted wheels and the brakes do work. No damage will be done to the engine. So when someone ditches a C-47 wheels up and engines out/off in AH, it should roll.
The YAF's B-17 is one of the most complete and original B17's out there. This includes the ball turret. There is an orientation guage in the ball turret so that the gunner can orient himself with the o'clock positions using the guage. I will draw one from memory, as I think it would be a great addition to the game.
And no, the ball turret gunner was never locked in there. They rarely rode in the turret on takeoff and landing. They got in it in flight by moving the guns th the downward-vertical position, moving the hatch into the fuselage. When the Germans saw the ball turret straight down, they weren't as reluctant to attack. Interestingly, by the end of the war, the ball turret was the most surviveable position on the B17.
Also, the B17 could lose any one (or maybe two) gear and the ball turret will not touch the ground unless something major breaks.
I can only imagine how a crew got out of the B17 as it was going down, as it isn't that easy to get from one end to the other.
On this plane there is an oil temp (or pressure) guage on the inside of the #2 and #3 cowlings to read from the cockpit.
The 17 also has extinguishers for each engine. You get two shots at it then it's gone. In the C47, you only get one shot. It would be cool to have extinguishers in AH.
The B-17 had everything electrically operated, with the hydraulic system just operating the cowl flaps. There was a crank-port for nearly everything electrically driven, so if the motor burnt out, you could crank em, just like in Memphis Belle. The cranks are located in the radio operator's compartment. This while the C-47 is mostly hydraulic.
Both the C47 and B17 have an Oil Dilution System in which prior to flying in very cold weather, gasoline is injected into the oil to thin it.
Also, the supercharger setting was variable. On a range from 1-10, it was normally operated in 7 or 8, being safety wired not to pass 8. In a bad situation, the crew could break the safety wire and put the superchargers on 9 or 10, letting them get home faster. This would of course, ruin the engines after prolonged running. Sorta like a WEP for buffs.
Well if I think of anything else I'll post it. It was a fun experience
-MarkVZ-
[This message has been edited by MarkVZ (edited 04-02-2001).]
