Warbirds Thread
- Thread starter PsihoKekec
- Start date
gral
Well-known member
The Rafale is sure a contender, but there is something... majestic about the Mirage 4000, that the Rafale doesn't have.
The Mirage 4000 is actually substantially bigger in all dimensions than the Rafale, and has hints of the brutal elegance of the Eagle in her relatively simple and direct lines, as opposed to the much more complex aerodynamic sculpting of the Rafale.
paulobrito
Well-known member
The Mirage 4000 is called the French F-15 for a reason.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
When I was a kid I had a little aircraft booklets and Mirage 4000 was in it, years later when I had money to buy more serious publication I sought information about it, but there was zero, it was only with the advent of the internet that I learned that it was cancelled soon after those booklets were printed.
Those booklets were nice but, some information in them was wrong, like the claim that Hawker Typhoon carried 8 cannons. Also the picture of Mil-24 was that of A variant, imagine my surprise when I learned that the vast majority look very differently.
Those booklets were nice but, some information in them was wrong, like the claim that Hawker Typhoon carried 8 cannons. Also the picture of Mil-24 was that of A variant, imagine my surprise when I learned that the vast majority look very differently.
Vargas Fan
Head over heels in love :)
I remember seeing a picture of the Mirage 4000 flying in formation with two Mirage 2000 which showed the relative size difference, lets see if I can find it. Ah, here it is...
Indeed, but most of those comparisons seem to primarily reference the similar size and weight class, not the visual lines.
Vargas Fan
Head over heels in love :)
If we're talking Mirages, I've always like the look of the Mirage IV for some reason.
And for another French cold war bomber, the Sud Aviation Vatour
And for another French cold war bomber, the Sud Aviation Vatour
Aaron Fox
Well-known member
The likely evolution of aircraft, a
It has a 200+ ton tactical bomber companion as well (which doesn't have an image yet).
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paulobrito
Well-known member
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
paulobrito
Well-known member
Do-335 with USAAF markings.
And with 'normal' Luftwaffe paiting.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
That thing must have head really poor visibility by late WWII standards. Is the right wing damaged in the first picture?
paulobrito
Well-known member
Apparently so - the planes is a 'bit' rouged. About the visibility - yes, is bad, but is not a dogfighter.
What are those land based B-25B Mitchell Bombers doing on board the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier, of all things?!?!
And they're taking off! 😲
Aaron Fox
Well-known member
In comparison to the others? Not that bad. Remember, most fighters in this period weren't using bubble canopies but something similar to this. You can count the number of fighters with a bubble canopy with two hands and still have some leftover (from my recollection) at most... and most of them are American.
What are those land based B-25B Mitchell Bombers doing on board the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier, of all things?!?!
And they're taking off! 😲
They stripped those planes of pretty much everything to get them to fly off that deck mind you.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
At that point in war, most fighters in production had bubble or two piece cannopy.
Aaron Fox
Well-known member
Only for the Americans (and the Spitfires), most nations during that point of the war didn't fit their aircraft with bubble canopies. Two-piece canopies were more common but not replacing the more 'conventional' canopy types, at least from what I can tell.
It should be also be noted that this aircraft was designed to be an interceptor with some ground strike capability (it was planned to have a bomb bay for a handful of 1,000kg bombs from my recollection). It is also one of the first aircraft with a combat-capable ejection seat due to the engine configuration.
Typhoons