name this plane (for fun)

[haitch40]

Originally Posted by juz1

that'll be the mitsubishi f-3 (future stuff tweaks my geek)

god they have come along way since the zero

[juz1]

Originally Posted by haitch40

god they have come along way since the zero

not really-they're still pinching everyone else's ideas...just a little less blatant than the Chinese
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MERCEDES-BENZ W187 SPECIFICATIONS

[flynlion]

What was "pinched" with the zero?

[juz1]

the zero was based on a howard hughes design which the japs "acquired"
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Redblock engine

[flynlion]

So the H-1 racer had a 2,000 mile range, 3100 fpm climb and could shoot down any allied fighter in existance until 1943?

I love the H-1, gorgeous airplane, but it's not a fighter. To say that the Zero (or the FW190) had anything more than a superficial resemblance to it is unjustified. Might as well claim that any metal airplane with flush rivets is also a copy of the H1.

Here's a link y'all might dig:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKqLe...eature=related

[FOZ_1983]

Sounded nice.... couldn't actually see it once it took off though! haha. Looked dog ugly though

[flynlion]

Originally Posted by FOZ_1983

Sounded nice.... couldn't actually see it once it took off though! haha. Looked dog ugly though

Ha! I guess it's not much of a video, definately has a "home movie" quality to it. But you really think the H1 is ugly? It's beautiful! I just gotta find a better video or pic or something to help you appreciate its awsomeness......

[flynlion]

I think virtually all of the great piston engined fighters were influenced by 1930's air racers, why not accuse them all of "pinching"? To claim that the Japanese simply "pinch" other designs is an extremely simplistic viewpoint and ignores a great engineering accomplishment. Very few modern aircraft can perform as well as the Zero on as little fuel. Give 'em a little credit why don't ya?

[juz1]

I've already used words like "ingenuity"...and alot of the zeros performance was due to it lacking pretty much any safety equipment or luxury items (like radios) which pilots/ground crew would strip out post build to keep the weight down.

If credit is due its the pilots that fought in them. Great plane but bit of a death trap...
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BUY VAPOLUTION

[flynlion]

Originally Posted by juz1

If credit is due its the pilots that fought in them. Great plane but bit of a death trap...

I agree with you there, but we should also remember that the Zero only became a "death trap" after it had been in service for several years. Early in the war it was virtually unstoppable, and the allies never did produce a carrier based fighter that could match the Zeros range.

You also have not produced any evidence to indicate that the similarities between the Zero and the H1 were anything more than superficial. Clearly the Japanese were impressed by the H1. So was Kurt Tank. So what?

Ok, so maybe I'm getting a bit too defensive here. Point is I would LOVE to own a Zero as a peacetime toy. I would have to modify the cockpit some to get my 6'5" American sized body to fit, but what fun! And as efficient as the Zero was, I could even afford the gas bill