Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Blake7 on May 16, 2009, 06:44:58 PM

Title: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Blake7 on May 16, 2009, 06:44:58 PM
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engine heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster,as in the B-17 to the B-24, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing,the foremost of which was Special Operations and Glider Towing. The Halifax was also operated by squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Polish Air Force and the Free French Airforce during WW2


Is adding a fourth Heavy Bomber to the game to much.

I would like to hear how many of you would support its addition.

 :salute

Secondlly i would like to suggest that this aircraft also be added to the AHWikipedia.

Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Greebo on May 16, 2009, 07:04:44 PM
I don't agree this aircraft should be added any time soon. Firstly it flew almost exclusively by night as a bomber so it has little scenario potential. Second it is slightly inferior to the Lancaster we already have WRT defensive armament, ord load and altitude performance so it won't see much MA use. A better choice for a British bomber for the MA would be the glass nosed Mosquito Mks IV and XVI. For scenarios the Wellington would be more useful.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: CAP1 on May 16, 2009, 08:31:27 PM
I don't agree this aircraft should be added any time soon. Firstly it flew almost exclusively by night as a bomber so it has little scenario potential. Second it is slightly inferior to the Lancaster we already have WRT defensive armament, ord load and altitude performance so it won't see much MA use. A better choice for a British bomber for the MA would be the glass nosed Mosquito Mks IV and XVI. For scenarios the Wellington would be more useful.

actually, couldn't that open up many many more scenario possibilities?

night missions!!!!!! :aok
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Karnak on May 16, 2009, 11:36:49 PM
The Lancaster and Halifax are so similar that they are functionally interchangable.  Due to that, the Halifax is a low priority aircraft.

The Mosquito B.Mk IV, Mosquito B.Mk XVI (perked) and Wellington B.Mk III would all be far better additions.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Ruah on May 17, 2009, 01:05:27 AM
I really can't support any new additions until Russian and Japanese plane sets get quite a few additions and a revision of some of the existing aircraft - some of which are quite flawed in their initial design (pre-nurfed as it were).

Eventually I think having proper 24 hour times in MA with a very active and lively night time operations planeset (insturments that are illumitated, onboard radar and such) would be fantastic. . .but for the time being the lack in russian/japanese planesets is lacking too much for this sort of thing.

but thats my opinion.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Nilsen on May 17, 2009, 02:06:16 AM
We used to have night in MA. Hopefully we will never have it again hehe.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Bruv119 on May 17, 2009, 03:21:45 AM
whilst I find it very hard to not support any British plane additions,  Greebo and karnak are right.

The first bomber that has to be added IMO is either the pe-2 / tu-2. 

Then there are the other Axis ones such as the Heinkel-111, dornier 217,  g4m2 betty.

Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Angus on May 17, 2009, 05:26:05 AM
The Stirling might be better, for it has an impressive loadout. Something like 60 bombs if I recall right.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Sakai on May 20, 2009, 02:09:16 PM
Is adding a fourth Heavy Bomber to the game to much.

I would like to hear how many of you would support its addition.

 :salute

Secondlly i would like to suggest that this aircraft also be added to the AHWikipedia.


The Wellington is a far better choice.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Rino on May 20, 2009, 05:45:25 PM
     Bah Mossies and Wellingtons!  More pretty boys, we need some
classic British bulldog ugly!  :lol

     I vote for the Hampden...early war and double bagger ugly  :aok

(http://www.handleypage.com/img96.gif)

Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: PFactorDave on May 20, 2009, 05:50:29 PM
We used to have night in MA. Hopefully we will never have it again hehe.

I don't even like the "twilight" phase that we get now.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Karnak on May 20, 2009, 06:37:18 PM
     Bah Mossies and Wellingtons!  More pretty boys, we need some
classic British bulldog ugly!  :lol

     I vote for the Hampden...early war and double bagger ugly  :aok

(http://www.handleypage.com/img96.gif)


Wellington?  Pretty?  Are you thinking of the same airplane I am?
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Rino on May 20, 2009, 06:41:07 PM
    Well, ok..prettier?  :lol
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Karnak on May 20, 2009, 06:46:58 PM
    Well, ok..prettier?  :lol
I dunno.  I'd rate the Hampden as being considerably prettier than the Wellington, that that that is saying a whole lot.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Patches1 on May 21, 2009, 05:14:48 PM
I remember flying at night! It was fun!
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: FTJR on May 22, 2009, 05:43:03 AM

Eventually I think having proper 24 hour times in MA with a very active and lively night time operations planeset (insturments that are illumitated, onboard radar and such) would be fantastic. . .but for the time being the lack in russian/japanese planesets is lacking too much for this sort of thing.

but thats my opinion.

-1 for this,  if we had night, again, then all of us in the non US timezone would be stuck with some nightfighting, already we dont have that great amount of numbers.. no thanks
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: lyric1 on May 22, 2009, 06:55:22 AM
     Bah Mossies and Wellingtons!  More pretty boys, we need some
classic British bulldog ugly!  :lol

     I vote for the Hampden...early war and double bagger ugly  :aok

(http://www.handleypage.com/img96.gif)


Well if we are going for ugly this has my vote.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE1aTpGez3M

http://aircraftwalkaround.hobbyvista.com/bv141/bv141.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blohm_%2B_Voss_BV_141
http://www.geocities.com/asymmetrics/bv141ph/bv141ph.htm

Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Furball on May 22, 2009, 07:29:58 AM
The Halifax could be used as a glider tug - if they introduced the Horsa or Hamilcar :)

(http://www.strijdbewijs.nl/birds/HALIHOR01.jpg)

(http://www.89fss.com/affiliated/images/Pics_Historic/horsaII.jpg)

Would be a fun perk way to take a base, could even load up the glider with jeeps, but i don't think this will ever be added.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Aircraft_Hamilcar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airspeed_Horsa

Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Angus on May 22, 2009, 09:44:17 AM
I guess there would then be begging for the Me Giant....
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Have on May 25, 2009, 01:47:03 AM

For truly efficient, fun and realistic night fighting we'd need completely revised ground radar and completely new airborne radar systems to be added to the game. I'd give 0% chance for those to be ever implemented :)

Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Angus on May 25, 2009, 04:37:26 AM
Imagine the ground dar being as it is, or perhaps only bar-dar in the darkness. The airborne is simple and would not be much of a problem to program. Would be fun IMHO.
Gets a bit tricky with the bomb aiming though would call for incendiaries ;=)
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Blake7 on May 25, 2009, 11:43:59 AM
Imagine the ground dar being as it is, or perhaps only bar-dar in the darkness. The airborne is simple and would not be much of a problem to program. Would be fun IMHO.
Gets a bit tricky with the bomb aiming though would call for incendiaries ;=)

No What We Would Need Would Be Pathfinder Squadrons And Marker Flare Ordanance adding to the game.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Angus on May 26, 2009, 03:37:16 PM
Not no, BOTH ;)
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: MORAY37 on May 27, 2009, 11:41:24 PM
     Bah Mossies and Wellingtons!  More pretty boys, we need some
classic British bulldog ugly!  :lol

     I vote for the Hampden...early war and double bagger ugly  :aok

(http://www.handleypage.com/img96.gif)



The Westland Whirlwind was the Hampden's crazy second cousin.  But damn, what a hard hit she had (4 20mm all on centerline).  Below 6K, could out turn a 109.  Withdrawn for service for no real reason with a very good combat record

Quote
Philip J.R. Moyes notes in Aircraft in Profile 191: The Westland Whirlwind:

    The basic feature of the Whirlwind was its concentration of firepower: its four closely-grouped heavy cannon in the nose had a rate of fire of 600 lb./minute – which, until the introduction of the Beaufighter, placed it ahead of any fighter in the world. Hand in hand with this dense firepower went a first-rate speed and climb performance, excellent manoeuvrability and a fighting view hitherto unsurpassed. The Whirlwind was, in its day, faster than the Spitfire down low and, with lighter lateral control, was considered to be one of the nicest "twins" ever built… From the flying viewpoint, the Whirlwind was considered magnificent.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Westland_whirlwind.jpg)
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Angus on May 28, 2009, 03:34:56 AM
I seem to recall that there were two reasons for the withdrawal, one was the engines being unreliable and the second that the structure would not allow them to be replaced with Merlins. And in 1941 that bird was no match for the 109 any more.
Combat record? Would be nice to see some stats, but as far as I remember they got spanked during the channel dash.
And for AH? Would be nice. although the ammoload is not that great, you'd have something rather nimble with quad hizookas in the nose. That would not be a Hangar queen.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Rich46yo on May 28, 2009, 09:04:25 AM
If we get another Brit plane I hope it can be launched off a CV.

Still, a lot needs to be adressed before we get another heavy Brit bomber.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Angus on May 30, 2009, 03:32:34 AM
That would be the Firefly, but easier still would be a Sea Hurricane or a different Seafire
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Tilt on May 31, 2009, 06:33:09 PM
but easier still would be a Sea Hurricane or a different Seafire

agreed............  Sea Hurricane was issued in both MKIIb & c variants.They simply require hooks & skins.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Angus on June 01, 2009, 05:14:50 AM
Actually normal Hurricanes were once landed on a cv. A squadron or so, untrained in that. No mishap, but later the carrier was sunk  :(
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Blake7 on June 12, 2009, 09:59:08 PM
The Westland Whirlwind was the Hampden's crazy second cousin.  But damn, what a hard hit she had (4 20mm all on centerline).  Below 6K, could out turn a 109.  Withdrawn for service for no real reason with a very good combat record

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Westland_whirlwind.jpg)

The reason for the withdrawl from service of the Whirlwind was other cannon-armed fighters, like the Hawker Typhoon and the Bristol Beaufighter were becoming available and the Whirlwind was tightly designed around the Rolls Royce Peregrine engine which was being built in considerably lower numbers than the Napier Sabre,the Merlin and the Bristol Hercules.Changing the Whirlwinds Powerplant was not a feasible Option.Only 116 Whirlwinds and a corresponding number of Peregrines (302)were built.
Title: Re: A Hand For The Halifax
Post by: Blake7 on June 12, 2009, 10:02:19 PM
The Westland Whirlwind was the Hampden's crazy second cousin.  But damn, what a hard hit she had (4 20mm all on centerline).  Below 6K, could out turn a 109.  Withdrawn for service for no real reason with a very good combat record

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Westland_whirlwind.jpg)


The reason for the withdrawl from service of the Whirlwind was other cannon-armed fighters, like the Hawker Typhoon and the Bristol Beaufighter were becoming available and the Whirlwind was tightly designed around the Rolls Royce Peregrine engine which was being built in considerably lower numbers than the Napier Sabre,the Merlin and the Bristol Hercules.Changing the Whirlwinds Powerplant was not a feasible Option.Only 116 Whirlwinds and a corresponding number of Peregrines (302)were built.