Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: Bf109man on August 22, 2008, 07:06:38 PM
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Northrop P-61 Black Widow
The P-61 was the first US aircraft specifically designed as a night fighter. As large as a medium bomber, it was actually very maneuverable. The P-61 was first fielded in Europe but found greater use in the Pacific. The Black Widow replaced the interim Douglas P-70 and eventually equipped all 14 USAAF night-fighter units. The key to the P-61's success was the Western Electric SCR-720 airborne intercept radar.
The first recorded "kill" came on July 6, 1944, when 1st Lt. Francis Eaton (pilot), 2d Lt. James E. Ketchum (radar operator), and SSgt. Gary Anderson (gunner) intercepted and shot down a Japanese "Betty" bomber. P-61 crews accounted for 127 confirmed victories, including 18 V-1 "buzz bombs" in Europe. Four Black Widow crews became aces.
The last kill by a P-61 was made by Major Lee Kendall to whom "Lady in the Dark" was assigned. The nose art was commissioned by Major Kendall on Iwo Jima. Major Kendall, a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, on August 15, 1945 while on CAP caused a Tojo aircraft to crash - the Japanese fighter crashed into the Pacific without a shot being fired. At that time Kendall was known as Captain Solie Solomon (look at document).
In 1946, 36 aircraft of a slightly modified design were built as the F-15 Reporter photoreconnaissance aircraft. P-61s were also used for ejection-seat tests and for a research program that studied the effects of thunderstorms on aircraft structures after the war. In 1946, a dozen P-61Cs were transferred to the Marines as trainers and were designated F2Ts. The P-61 was phased out of USAF service in 1952, and the last F-15 was retired in 1955
Only four P-61s are thought to exist today.
The first one, a C-model that never saw combat, is on display at the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson, in Dayton, Ohio.
The second is on display at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington DC.
The third is on display at, of all places, a park in China.
The fourth is currently (and slowly) being restored at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum at the Reading, PA, airport. It was discovered on a mountainside in New Guinea. Check out the museum's website for some great info this particular P61 and the ongoing restoration.
General characteristics P-61B
Primary function Nightfighter
Contractor Northrop Aircraft Inc.
Power plant Two Pratt&Whitney R-2800-65 engines
Thrust 2x 2,000 HP 2x 1,491 kW
Wingspan 66 ft 20.12 m
Length 49.5 ft 15.1 m
Height 14.8 ft 4.49 m
Wingarea 662.3 sq ft 61.53 sq m
Weight empty 24,000 lb 10,886 kg
max. 38,000 lb 17,237 kg
Max. speed 366 mph 589 km/h
Initial climb rate 2,200 ft/min 670 m/min
Ceiling 33,000 ft 10,060 m
Max. range 2,800 miles 4,500 km
Armament 4x 20mm cannon M-2 under fuselage, (P-61A also 4x 12.7mm machine guns in dorsal turret), up to 4x 725 kg external weapons or tanks.
Crew Three (pilot, radar operator, shooter)
Date deployed 1944
Number built 706
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think it would be great if they also did night in arenas!!!!
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use the """ SEARCH """ please :aok
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since it's standard forum procedure for me to post links, i will do so now.
every thread asking for the P-61 that i could find:
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,27880.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,158493.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,237791.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,228972.0.html (one of the planes requested on that list)
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,238225.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,209117.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,65408.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,214979.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,65409.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,12674.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,176182.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,81582.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,119542.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,158151.0.html
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,122467.0.html
(^^^ 15 threads)
Damn, that's even more threads asking for the P-61 than the threads i could find asking for the B-29.
not trying to be a love muffin, but seriously
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u7/rattfink31/SEARCHBUTTON.jpg)
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Search doesn't reside here for it's health.
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People are going to be seriously disappointed in the Black Widow if we get the A or B model. The definitive model of the Black Widow in which everyone usually bases their opinion of the Black Widow was the C model and it entered the war too late to see any action.
ack-ack
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Disappointed like the 39 and b25?
Say it is not so. :rofl
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As long as we get the P-61B-15, with the reintroduced barbettes and the pylons for 4x1600lbs bombs, I'll be a happy animal :D
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ok the 20th noob to open a P61 thread wins a carrot
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Maybe they think Ben Affleck flew one??? ;)
Helm ...out
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Maybe they think Ben Affleck flew one??? ;)
Off a carrier no less.
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Off a carrier no less.
lol
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Guys,
Multiple posts on the same Wish aside, how much does AH factor in what wish(s) to grant next? How do they weight which to do next?
Thanks,
WT
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Guys,
Multiple posts on the same Wish aside, how much does AH factor in what wish(s) to grant next? How do they weight which to do next?
Thanks,
WT
its about how much impact the wish will have in game. If you ask for a nuke, it would have a huge impact, but itd kill the fun of the game, on the other hand, you ask for waves in the ocean and itd also kill the fun of the game cause itd make people FPS crash like a mofo. Things such as the M4, B25 and P39 HTC thought would have a large impact in game, how ever you see the P39 sittin in hangar more than it seems to be landing kills. The B25 and M4 seeem to almost always be used, but these 3 items have/had a big impact in game.
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The P39 had all the hype, and TBH I'm glad the 25 got added first. Look at the P39. The D is rarely used and the Q I almost NEVER see. Only one I know that flies the 39 is 1+44...
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What they need to do is focus on early war birds, that way our ubber rides will have more meaning, and probably may get perked more them selfs.
Its a shame we only have a small hand full of perked aircraft, no fine line, nothing in between, no 1-5 perk aircraft, or anything like that.
And it would be nice IMHO.
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its about how much impact the wish will have in game. If you ask for a nuke, it would have a huge impact, but itd kill the fun of the game, on the other hand, you ask for waves in the ocean and itd also kill the fun of the game cause itd make people FPS crash like a mofo. Things such as the M4, B25 and P39 HTC thought would have a large impact in game, how ever you see the P39 sittin in hangar more than it seems to be landing kills. The B25 and M4 seeem to almost always be used, but these 3 items have/had a big impact in game.
jtty, 1plus44 loves the P39 and im starting to like it, and it does get kills, just not when ur on :lol, ive seen more ppl fly it then you would think uber... and no, its not multiple shades of 1plus :D
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This would be an awesome plane in the arenas!
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The P39 had all the hype, and TBH I'm glad the 25 got added first. Look at the P39. The D is rarely used and the Q I almost NEVER see. Only one I know that flies the 39 is 1+44...
:aok
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(http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm134/waystin2/NecroBumpBatman.jpg)
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its about how much impact the wish will have in game. If you ask for a nuke, it would have a huge impact, but itd kill the fun of the game, on the other hand, you ask for waves in the ocean and itd also kill the fun of the game cause itd make people FPS crash like a mofo. Things such as the M4, B25 and P39 HTC thought would have a large impact in game, how ever you see the P39 sittin in hangar more than it seems to be landing kills. The B25 and M4 seeem to almost always be used, but these 3 items have/had a big impact in game.
I guess you see it's impact depending where you play. Seems like the last few FSO's had the 39, I know it's crazy but the LW MA's aren't the only arenas.
I'd like to see the P-61, always fun to have something new.
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+ 1
Please add this plane.
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There are far more planes needed before the P-61 should even be considered being added.
ack-ack
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Only four P-61s are thought to exist today.
The second is on display at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington DC.
The fourth is currently (and slowly) being restored at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum at the Reading, PA, airport. It was discovered on a mountainside in New Guinea. Check out
Didn't realize there were only 4. Was eyeing the the first one a few days ago. Seen the second one many times visiting MAAM.
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I guess you see it's impact depending where you play. Seems like the last few FSO's had the 39, I know it's crazy but the LW MA's aren't the only arenas.
I'd like to see the P-61, always fun to have something new.
The problem with this logic is that FSO's and special events are generally day time operations and the P-61 was a night fighter. The only night ops I've ever seen was one of the Sunday events and that was RAF vs. Luftwaffe. It's scenario use is pretty much irrelevant.
Really... how many times has a plane had to have been subbed for the P61? Now think how many times aircraft are subbed for the Beaufighter, Buffalo, He-111, G4M, and Ju-52. Even for the standard M4 Sherman.
BTW... I think that over time P39 usage has slowly inclined in the MA. When you think about it, it doesn't really make sense that an aircraft with such odd flight characteristics would catch on quickly.
Maybe Lusche could....
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Didn't realize there were only 4. Was eyeing the the first one a few days ago. Seen the second one many times visiting MAAM.
The one at M.A.A.M. is going to fly someday :pray but it still has a long way to go. It will probably be air worthy about the same time we get one in AH.
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The one at M.A.A.M. is going to fly someday :pray but it still has a long way to go. It will probably be air worthy about the same time we get one in AH.
Never?