Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Andy Bush on May 17, 2000, 08:38:00 AM

Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Andy Bush on May 17, 2000, 08:38:00 AM
Our term 'Nikki' has a certain ring to it, but the RL Allied code name for the N1K1 was 'George'. Not nearly as sexy....

The N1K1 began its life as a seaplane fighter (N1K1, code name 'Rex'), and was later built as a land-based fighter. Some sources refer to the land version as the N1K2.

There was a 'Nick'...it was a twin engined escort fighter, the Ki-45.

Here's the George:

 (http://www.doitnow.com/~alfakilo/George.jpg)

and the Nick:

 (http://www.doitnow.com/~alfakilo/Nick.jpg)
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Ripsnort on May 17, 2000, 08:56:00 AM
Yes, most  know the name George is appropriate, but in the heat of battle, typing "niki" is easier, the 'Nick" you refer to  is not the same as what we have coined "niki" here in  this game.  Same  goes with the Buff...Buff stood for  Big Ugly Fat Fellow (or F%&&&er, depending if you were enlisted or an officer   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif) ) actually pertains to the B52 bomber.  But again, buff is easier to type than Bomber,as niki is easier to type than George.

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Ripsnort(-rip1-)
~GeschwaderKommodore~I./JG2~Richthofen~[/i]
CLICK>> JG2 "Richthofen" (http://members.tripod.com/JG2/)
Panzer Group Afrika-15th Panzer Division~[/i]
CLICK>> 15th Panzer Division (http://members.tripod.com/deutcheafrikakorps/index.htm)
 (http://saintaw.tripod.com/ripsnort.jpg)
Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures.  Remember, when
someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, BUT, it
only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm, grasp the joystick button,
and shoot the sucker down!


[This message has been edited by Ripsnort (edited 05-17-2000).]
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Vermillion on May 17, 2000, 09:34:00 AM
And Andy don't forget there was also a N1K1-J predecessor to our bird, basically the mid-war varient of what we have. (Yes I know about the wing and landing gear changes)

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Citabria on May 17, 2000, 09:55:00 AM
well thats all the argument I need to be convinced that the next twin engine fighter for Aces High should be the ki45 nick  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

seriously  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Andy Bush on May 17, 2000, 10:09:00 AM
More little known facts!!

For Citabria..

In addition to Ki-27s and 43s, the AVG (Flying Tigers) shot down a small number of Ki-45s.

And, the Ki-45 was the first a/c specifically configured and flown as a Kamikaze.

To all...I throw these comments in only to add to everyone's knowledge and enjoyment of this sim...not as any kind of nit-pick.

If I wanted to get picky, I could always open up that padlock/external view can of worms!!

 (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Andy
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Vermillion on May 17, 2000, 11:46:00 AM
Ok Andy, since it looks like your a WWII Trivia buff  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) Here's one for you!

How many combat kills did the P-63 KingCobra score in WWII?

Padlock can of worms? Hehe it might be a nice change of pace to all the icon/HA threads, but I still bet they would come down on you like a ton of bricks  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Ripsnort on May 17, 2000, 12:08:00 PM
 
Quote
Originally posted by Andy Bush:
More little known facts!!

If I wanted to get picky, I could always open up that padlock/external view can of worms!!

Andy

Padlock views are for those that lack good SA.   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) Doh!  Quick, close the can!

Verm, though I've read a ton of WW2 books, I don't retain it as well as others do, but I'm gonna guess 0.



[This message has been edited by Ripsnort (edited 05-17-2000).]
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Vermillion on May 17, 2000, 12:54:00 PM
nahh... I wouldn't give you one that easy Ripsnort  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

The Americans didn't use it in combat, but others did, and they scored kills.

Next?  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: blur on May 17, 2000, 01:05:00 PM
People, I hate to be a stickler for details here but the N1K2-J's real name was Shiden Kai (Violet Lightning Modified) which to me is far more exotic and sexy than "George" or heaven forbid "niki", ugh!  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Vermillion on May 17, 2000, 01:10:00 PM
LOL!! Blur  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

<sarcasm> Of course Hog, Jug, and Pony are such glamorous nicknames aren't they </sarcasm>  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)

Personally I just find "niki" much easier to type with one hand, than George or Shinden Vai.

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: blur on May 17, 2000, 01:17:00 PM
 
Quote
Originally posted by Vermillion:

<snip>
Personally I just find "niki" much easier to type with one hand, than George or Shinden Vai.

Shinden Vai? Now I understand why they just called it "George".  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/tongue.gif)
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Andy Bush on May 17, 2000, 08:00:00 PM
Verm

P-63 kills? Beats me! Tanks or airplanes? It must be some...we gave them 2400 of the things.

Andy
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Andy Bush on May 17, 2000, 08:49:00 PM
Ripsnort

Oh no...you're not going to get me to bite on that troll!!

I know when to keep my mouth shut. I realize it would do me no good to tell the snap view ranters that they are all a bunch of anal troglodytes who wouldn't know a realistic view if it bit them on the butt.

Nope...I wouldn't ever open myself up to the public lashing and scorn that such a comment would surely bring upon myself...

Even when the forces of goodness and light are on my side!

Andy
World's Leading Proponent of the Player-To-Target View and Slayer of the Snap View Bombast Practitioners.

 (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Spoons - SimHQ on May 17, 2000, 09:06:00 PM
ROTFLMAO!  Head for cover!


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John Sponauer
Senior Editor, SimHQ.com
jsponauer@simhq.com

[This message has been edited by Spoons - SimHQ (edited 05-17-2000).]
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Sorrow[S=A] on May 17, 2000, 10:21:00 PM
Verm you can't possibly have an accurate number for that!  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) Half those kills were probably unrecorded or classed as group kills.
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Spoons - SimHQ on May 17, 2000, 10:47:00 PM
Wasn't the P-63/P-39 the one that they slapped a lot of armor on and a big light on and used for target practice?

They'd have some poor slob fly the thing and let bomber gunners shoot at it.  Everytime they got a hit, the light would go off.

Anyone else heard this story?

------------------
John Sponauer
Senior Editor, SimHQ.com
jsponauer@simhq.com
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Andy Bush on May 17, 2000, 11:00:00 PM
Spoons

That's right. The ammo was 'frangible', meaning it was supposed to disintegrate when it hit the P-63 target. If I was the P-63 pilot, that would give me a real warm and fuzzy!!
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: easymo on May 18, 2000, 01:14:00 AM
 Now THAT is the ugliest airplane I ever saw.
There motorcycles arent anything to write home about either

[This message has been edited by easymo (edited 05-18-2000).]
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Citabria on May 18, 2000, 03:45:00 AM
they lost quite a few p63 live targets when the p63 rolled away, the newbie gunners would nail the p63 as it was disengaging in the underbelly where there was no armor against the rubber bullets  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

true story
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Jekyll on May 18, 2000, 06:04:00 AM
Ah yes, the P-63 'Pinball', so named because a red light on the spinner used to flash whenever a hit was scored.

And also known as 'The Lend-Lease Fighter', as 2,421  out of a production run of 3,303 were sent to the USSR.  A further 300 P-63Cs went to the Free French.

Hmmm.. 7.3 minutes climb to 25,000 feet, top speed of 408 mph at 25k, 37mm nose cannon and two .50s in the wings.

Let's have one  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

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C.O. Phoenix Squadron
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/phoenix
'feel the heat .......'
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Vermillion on May 18, 2000, 06:23:00 AM
Actually Sorrow I do  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Well, lets say I read it the other day in an article about the Soviets and their use of the P-39 and the P-63, but I would have to search around to find it again.

If no one comes up with it by the end of the day I will try to post the article I saw.

The P-63C would be a great little addition to the planeset  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) Actually I would prefer the D model, with the improved engines, wings, and a bubble canopy. But the war was ending and the production was canceled after only a couple were made. Lots of C models produced though.

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Vermillion on May 18, 2000, 12:46:00 PM
Ok here is the article on the Russian P-39's and P-63's, its quite and interesting read.

 http://www.aerohistorian.com/p39.htm (http://www.aerohistorian.com/p39.htm)

What follows is just a small part of the article:
 
Quote
Since the Airacobra was such a success in Russia, naturally the Soviets would be a major recipient of its bigger brother, the P-63. They were sent 2456 Kingcobras, flown across the Al-Sib ferry route, of which 2421 actually arrived, including both major variants, the P-63A and P-63C. However, contrary to Dorr and other western authors, it did not prove to be a potent tank-buster. It never got a chance. Only in September 1944 did the first P-63 begin it's long journey across two continents, from Buffalo, New York to Russia. By May 1945 there were only 51 P-63As in service, assigned to PVO air defense regiments, which by that stage of the war had little real chance of combat. Consequently, the P-63 never got to show its stuff against either a panzer or a "messer". However, the P-63 did see brief combat in Russian service. Soviet units continued reequipping after the German surrender. Many P-63s went to Soviet units assigned to the Far East and Transbaikal Fronts preparing for war against Japan. The 12th Air Army of the Trasnbaikal Front equipped its 245 IAD, consisting of the 940 and 781 IAPS. This Air Army was reinforced after the German surrender by the transfer from the west of the 190 IAD which included the 17 IAP and 21 IAP, both of which replaced their P-39Q and La-5 fighters with the Kingcobra. One of the pilots of the 17 IAP was Captain Viacheslav Sirotin, HSU, a 21 victory ace. On August 15, he and his wingman, Junior Lieutenant Miroshnichenko caught 2 Japanese fighters (either Ki-27 or Ki-43, the records are unclear), and shot down one of them. This was the Kingcobra's only aerial victory - ever.

So yes it was a kind of trick question   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Not zero, but simply One.

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"

[This message has been edited by Vermillion (edited 05-18-2000).]
Title: In the 'Little Known Facts' Department...
Post by: Wanker on May 18, 2000, 12:50:00 PM
I will hug him, and squeeze him, and call him "George".