I know I have a small readership that likes to see the odd aircraft feature I include in this slightly unlikely location, so here's the next item in this occasional series.
I have so far neglected the less glamorous aircraft, but many did do sterling work and deserve a mention. The subject this time is the Bristol Beaufighter. Described as a "heavy fighter" the "Beau" as it was popularly known was developed very quickly from the previous Bristol Beaufort. This rapid gestation was valuable at the time: the Beau first flew in 1939. Despite being powered by two Bristol Hercules radial engines of 1600hp each it could manage only 335mph maximum speed, so it was presumably rather inefficient aerodynamically. [edit: very inefficient!] Equipped with four Hispano 20mm cannon it packed a real punch. Some examples were fitted instead with a total of six .303 machine guns for pure fighter service, whilst others carried torpedoes or rockets as may be seen in the film.
Not one of the "stars" of the time, nevertheless the film I include here shows that they could still present an impressive spectacle.
I have so far neglected the less glamorous aircraft, but many did do sterling work and deserve a mention. The subject this time is the Bristol Beaufighter. Described as a "heavy fighter" the "Beau" as it was popularly known was developed very quickly from the previous Bristol Beaufort. This rapid gestation was valuable at the time: the Beau first flew in 1939. Despite being powered by two Bristol Hercules radial engines of 1600hp each it could manage only 335mph maximum speed, so it was presumably rather inefficient aerodynamically. [edit: very inefficient!] Equipped with four Hispano 20mm cannon it packed a real punch. Some examples were fitted instead with a total of six .303 machine guns for pure fighter service, whilst others carried torpedoes or rockets as may be seen in the film.
Not one of the "stars" of the time, nevertheless the film I include here shows that they could still present an impressive spectacle.
À bientôt
4 comments:
Vous voulez nous faire revivre Le Grand Cirque, Paul ? (le livre récit de Pierre Clostermann, pilote français des FAF détachées au sein de la RAF)
Merci Fleur.
C'est difficile de trouver une limite pour l'etendue des articles sur ce blog!
J'ai inclus les avions ici parce que je sais bien que frequentment, les amateurs des voitures classiques aiment aussi les avions classiques. Neamoins, pour moi-même, je chercherai M. Clostermann - merci encore.
Ce n'était pas un reproche ! J'avais adoré les livres de Clostermann (j'essaie de trouver les équivalents en anglais), qui
faisaient partie de mes trésors "légués" par l'un de mes grands-pères à sa petite fille : un grand carton plein de vieux livres, pour une petite fille de sept ans très très curieuse, qui allait piquer tous les livres interdits de la bibliothèque des parents et grands-parents (de Clostermann à Aldous Huxley en passant par SAS, Genevois, Anatole France, De Gaulle, Malraux, etc. Pas des références pour les enfants, on s'en fiche ! quand on veut être grand avant l'âge)
Je vous envoie quelques liens (en anglais et en français):
http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/spotlight/Clostermann.pdf
http://www.eregbaker.info/ww2_1943.htm
http://www.aerostories.org/~aerobiblio/article29.html
http://www.flyandrive.com/cadremunsterland2.htm
http://www.flyandrive.com/story5.htm
http://www.flyandrive.com/story.htm
http://www.flyandrive.com/livre.htm
http://www.flyandrive.com/munsterland1.htm
http://jpgleize.club.fr/aces/ww2fraf.htm
http://www.cocardes.org/tvcine/articles.php?pg=18&lng=fr
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Clostermann
http://www.pierre-clostermann.com/index.html
He spoke about Beaufighters too.
http://www.eregbaker.info/ww2_1943.htm
Thank you Fleur: plenty to keep me occupied there...
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