Saturday, November 4, 2023

Quite the engineering marvel

 


9 comments:

  1. Was the "profile cam" added before or after someone shot up part of their own aircraft?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Engineers: You think we should make it so you can't shoot your own plane?
      Army Air Corp: Nah, we have great training.......................................

      Delete
  2. do they make it to fit in a sun roof?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I never knew about the bicycle seat. Cool.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What about the waist gunners? What kept them from blowing the wings off? Did they have cams too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They had a guard around the pintle, no moving parts needed.

      Delete
  5. My dad was a B-17 pilot and flew 35 combat missions over Europe with the 447th.

    http://447bg.com/

    He flew his first mission January 2, 1945. Here is one of his stories.

    They were on their way to the target. Way out in front, an Me-163 Komet came straight up, leveled off, and made a head-on pass through the formation. My dad called to his top turret gunner and asked, "Did you get a shot at him?", meaning 'did you attempt engage?'. His gunner replied, "Get a shot at what, sir?" The gunner never saw the Komet. My dad did not mention that anyone in the formation was hit. From what I've read, the Germans abandoned head-on attacks with jet aircraft because the high closure speed made hitting anything matter of luck.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Instruction Manual is twenty two pages long. https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ref/AirGunnery/TURRETS5.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. I want one that works with production automobiles and trucks.

    Fast-lane slow-pokes and tailgaters beware.

    ReplyDelete