And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Your alternative was a ship in those days. WWII built the airfields that made the flying boats obsolete. I used to love watching the Japanese Self Defense Force (Shinmaywa?) at Iwakuni. Sort of an ugly duckling.
Neat story about one of those Clippers that flew around the world, after leaving the area that the Japanese then attacked. Hawaii? They kept flying west, with lots of interesting stops, until reaching NYC. I think they had to swap an engine in/near India/Africa, due to bad fuel.
Noisy as hell. I spent a summer flying 4 engine piston pounders. Noisy. Damn noisy.
ReplyDeleteIIRC those seaplanes had sleeping berths. How could one sleep if it was as noisy as you say. I'm thinking they might have been well-noise-insulated!
DeleteI have a feeling that only deaf people made use of the sleeping berths.
DeleteThose radial aircraft engines really are loud! Those planes had long flights, sleeping would be nice even with the roar of the engines.
DeleteC 130 maybe?
ReplyDeleteConsolidated PB4Y Privateer.
DeleteBoeing 314 Clipper. Twelve built for PAA.
DeleteYour alternative was a ship in those days. WWII built the airfields that made the flying boats obsolete. I used to love watching the Japanese Self Defense Force (Shinmaywa?) at Iwakuni. Sort of an ugly duckling.
ReplyDeleteYeah, better than a days-long sea voyage, but the vibration and 14-hour flights don't age well over time.
ReplyDeleteAt max fuel, they could stay aloft for 26 hours, cruising at 184mph.
Thanks, but no.
Neat story about one of those Clippers that flew around the world, after leaving the area that the Japanese then attacked. Hawaii? They kept flying west, with lots of interesting stops, until reaching NYC. I think they had to swap an engine in/near India/Africa, due to bad fuel.
ReplyDeleteCondensed story:
https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/december-7-1941-and-first-around-world-commercial-flight