Cool article on Hellcats and compressibility

[Stans]

Yeah, I know, it's primarily a Navy plane, but it's a good article to read.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_...108/ai_n8957348

[OldWSO]

Cool post. I've seen those Schlieren lines standing on the wings of an RF4C. they looked like glass pencils about 2 feet tall, slanted back about 20 degrees. We did'nt have to worry about the tail fallingoff, however.

[Joker]

Thanks for the link, Stans. Always good to read something by Corky Meyers.

Schatt hates Hellcats, BTW. Just wait, he'll tell you himself ...

[neddie seagoon]

Thanks Stans.

Yeah, Corky is always a good read. You got to get past the Grumman bias though, but it is understandable.

Kelly Johnson at Lockheed had figured out the same problem on the P-38 the day he saw it, but, as Corky mentioned, it was a long time before the dive flaps could be incorporated into the production line.

[Schatten]

I hate Hellcats.

[Stans]

I don't hate Hellcat's, the Marines did operate some, mostly night fighter -3N and -5N types.

[Schatten]

I don't hate Hellcat's, the Marines did operate some, mostly night fighter -3N and -5N types.

And they hated them too I bet.

Hellcats. Pfuuuuweeey.

[Shepherd]

Have to agree with Schatt here, only worse than a hellcat is a FM2

[Stans]

All I can say is, if it has stars-n-bars on the fuselage and wings, I like it!

[Baltar]

Hellcats are not pretty but you have to consider how much less they cost than a Corsair, and that they are easier to fly. Just the ticket late in the war when we needed lots of planes to mop up large numbers of mostly inferior pilots. The Corsair is the better plane though and better looking by far!