Goal in life: To own a fully functional Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.

[JJ]

After seeing Pearl Harbor and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, it becomes apparent to me that a P-40 might quite possibly be the best fighter aircraft in history, past or present.

With manueverability that rivals that of Imperial TIE fighters (look at how they fly in either of those two movies! Through buildings, battleships, warehouses and skyscrapers) and .50 cals that make A6Ms and giant flying robots explode on impact (albeit, I know their armor was weak, but these are bullets, not shells), perform multiple-g maneuvers without the need of a flight suit, and the ability to transform into a submersible - I'd be able to single handedly defeat any invasion, aliens, Russians, etc all by myself.

Jeez I love Hollywood realism!



Disclaimer: Yes, I know Sky Captain is fiction. Yes I know they're movies. Yes I know Pearl Harbor reeked of historical inaccuracy - but what a sonic experience! But I still want one. Complete with average maneuverability and mediocre top-speed - a real one like those used by the Flying Tigers. This thread is not meant to be taken seriously. Calm yourself.

[GreenScar]

We should all get one and then we can go out and play.

[Marquoz]

If we all went out and play, we'd better learn the meaning of the words, "Collateral Damage" very quickly!

[RUR]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

...it becomes apparent to me that a P-40 might quite possibly be the best fighter aircraft in history, past or present.

Slow and not all that maneuverable. Prop-wise, I'll take a P-51D, please.

I do have a photo of the Black Sheep squadron standing by and sitting on a P-40, and signed by the last four living members.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by RUR

Slow and not all that maneuverable. Prop-wise, I'll take a P-51D, please.

I do have a photo of the Black Sheep squadron standing by and sitting on a P-40, and signed by the last four living members.

lol, read the disclaimer, RUR! I know this. We're history buffs, remember! Although I would've killed to fly one of the late-model Focke-Wulf Fw-190s, would've given you a run for the money against that Mustang of yours,

::highlight the text under the smiley face::

[Blu-Dog]

Well...quiet as it's kept...

The Tomahawk and Warhawk were plagued with slow climb rates, and sluggish performance at slower speeds...but it was a real SOB at speed. It was extremely agile at high speed, a feature that Chennault taught his boys to exploit to the fullest in China.

Fast, slashing dives were nearly impossible for the Zeros to evade, if they got jumped. And if the Tigers could keep lashing the horses, the A6M couldn't catch it as it ran away, then make another long, slow ascent for another diving attack.

Wtih the P-40, you had to fight low and fast, something that couldn't always be done. The British rejected it for that reason. But dive, turn, and burn...it put on a hell of a show, I guess.

Once they got the F4F, F6F, P-38, P-47, and P-51 dialed in, no question, it was parked.

I've seen the P-51 in movies...but no P-38's or P-47's. And a gull winged Corsair...that's a meat-eating beast, and it never shows up. Maybe one day.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Well...quiet as it's kept...

The Tomahawk and Warhawk were plagued with slow climb rates, and sluggish performance at slower speeds...but it was a real SOB at speed. It was extremely agile at high speed, a feature that Chennault taught his boys to exploit to the fullest in China.

Fast, slashing dives were nearly impossible for the Zeros to evade, if they got jumped. And if the Tigers could keep lashing the horses, the A6M couldn't catch it as it ran away, then make another long, slow ascent for another diving attack.

Wtih the P-40, you had to fight low and fast, something that couldn't always be done. The British rejected it for that reason. But dive, turn, and burn...it put on a hell of a show, I guess.

Once they got the F4F, F6F, P-38, P-47, and P-51 dialed in, no question, it was parked.

I've seen the P-51 in movies...but no P-38's or P-47's. And a gull winged Corsair...that's a meat-eating beast, and it never shows up. Maybe one day.

There's a few F4Us in Letters from Iwo Jima, Flags of our Fathers, and the Korean war film Taegukgi, Blu!

And I loved the snipped at the end of saving Private Ryan..."They're P-51s sir...tank busters!"

They should've had some olive-painted Republic Thunderbolts instead, flying low in all their bulky glory!

But, out of all WW2 era aircraft, one I would love the see in movies that I've not seen yet is definitely the Me-262.

[RUR]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

lol, read the disclaimer, RUR! I know this. We're history buffs, remember!

Peace! If you'd like an excellent read on P-40's, try God is My Co-pilot, by Robert L. Scott. Scott flew with the Flying Tigers under Chennault.