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It's hard to accurately put the importance of the WW II crew chief, his mechanics and the armorers in perspective. It's just as difficult to visualize both the complexity of their jobs and the environments in which they had to perform them.
First the hardware: If you strip away the intricate electronic systems of today's fighters, it's not stretching the facts to say that it's easier to maintain a jet than it is an R-2800 P & W or a Merlin V-12. A jet engine may be incredibly precise but the parts count is MUCH lower than something like a high-performance two-row, 18-cylinder radial engine. Keeping a jet running is relatively easy compared to keeping almost any WW II combat engine hale and hearty. Especially considering two important
facts: the crews were fuzzy-cheeked kids and every flight saw the airplane stretched to its absolute limits.
This story is from the November - December 2022 edition of Flight Journal.
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This story is from the November - December 2022 edition of Flight Journal.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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A-26 BRIDGE BUSTER
Courage under fire in North Vietnam
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Spitfire FIGHTER-BOMBERS
The iconic fighter was surprisingly effective in other roles
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"BAT WING" LIGHTNING
The Charlie-Model F-35
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OUTGUNNED & OUTMANNED
A losing battle against a well-equipped foe
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Wichita Wonder
Cessna’s I-50 proves to be astonishingly necessary for RCAF trainees
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WARRIORS REMEMBERED
Families gather in England to pay tribute to a fallen WW II aircrew
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Lockheed XP-49: Trying to Do the P-38 One Better
IT MADE NUMEROUS TEST FLIGHTS and at least one cross-country journey, yet no air-to-air picture of it appears to have survived.
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Keeping 'em Flying!- The new generation of warbird pilots, restorers and mechanics
The new generation of warbird pilots, restorers and mechanics. Nearly 80 years after the end of World War II, the fighters, bombers, and trainers that defended freedom continue to enthrall and inspire audiences at airshows, thanks to generations of warbird pilots, maintainers, restoration specialists and collectors. In our September, 2022 issue we introduced you to the young warbird pilots, maintainers and restorers who are already beginning to displace more "experienced" warbird fliers and fixers.
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The Corsair Maker- Bringing the Vought Corsair to the fleet was a daunting challenge that spanned nearly three years.
When the first production Corsairs exited the Stratford factory in June 1942, Guyton, as seen here, was tapped to manage the flight and production test program. Armament was improved to six wing-mounted .50s, displacing the wing fuel tanks now placed forward of the cockpit which necessarily was moved rearward by 32 inches. Overall length was increased, armor plate added, landing, arresting and tail gear improved, aileron control enhanced, and a new version of the R2800 engine was incorporated. But those significant improvements unearthed numerous idiosyncrasies that would take an extended period to make the Corsair acceptable for carrier operations
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STARFIRES Over Korea
F-94 pilots tangle with MiGs