03.06.2009, 06:47
There were lots of claims about top speed made in WW2.
The classic instance is the model 14, ordered by the British Purchasing Commision as the "Caribou Mk1". Bell had offered the aeroplane with specs provided from a highly polished prototype weighing a ton less than military production examples and were understandably annoyed to discover how lacklustre the new aircraft were on arrival in Britain.
The Germans sometimes encountered similar problems. Their aircraft industry were offering prototypes on a regular basis and the RLM were just as often disappointed with the 'less than expected' performance suggested by the manufacturer.
In some cases, aircraft were not allowed to achieve their full potential. Before hostilities, the Me209-I (under the false designation Bf109R) won itself the world airspeed record. Heinkel wanted that title for his products and began work on a special version of the He100. The RLM told him to stop work because it would be embarrasing for the Germans to have a faster aeroplane than their current front line fighter. Even worse for Mr Heinkel seeing as he'd already lost out in the propaganda war between the Bf109 and his He112.
There is therefore a great deal of difference in a top speed made by a solitary prototype, almost handmade, in as perfect conditions as possible, as opposed to a production line example weighed down with military equipment, subject to poor quality work due to circumstance, and flown by combat pilots instead of test pilots experienced in measuring performance. There is of course the propaganda angle as mentioned already, and the Germans made assiduous use of it.
Alford J Williams, a well known US pilot, had visited Germany before the war and had been allowed to fly an early 109. He was very impressed, and on reflection, announced he would rather fly it than the british spitfire or hurricane. Of course, Mr Williams had no experience of the british aircraft and thus was making this comparison on the basis of what the Germans had told him.
The classic instance is the model 14, ordered by the British Purchasing Commision as the "Caribou Mk1". Bell had offered the aeroplane with specs provided from a highly polished prototype weighing a ton less than military production examples and were understandably annoyed to discover how lacklustre the new aircraft were on arrival in Britain.
The Germans sometimes encountered similar problems. Their aircraft industry were offering prototypes on a regular basis and the RLM were just as often disappointed with the 'less than expected' performance suggested by the manufacturer.
In some cases, aircraft were not allowed to achieve their full potential. Before hostilities, the Me209-I (under the false designation Bf109R) won itself the world airspeed record. Heinkel wanted that title for his products and began work on a special version of the He100. The RLM told him to stop work because it would be embarrasing for the Germans to have a faster aeroplane than their current front line fighter. Even worse for Mr Heinkel seeing as he'd already lost out in the propaganda war between the Bf109 and his He112.
There is therefore a great deal of difference in a top speed made by a solitary prototype, almost handmade, in as perfect conditions as possible, as opposed to a production line example weighed down with military equipment, subject to poor quality work due to circumstance, and flown by combat pilots instead of test pilots experienced in measuring performance. There is of course the propaganda angle as mentioned already, and the Germans made assiduous use of it.
Alford J Williams, a well known US pilot, had visited Germany before the war and had been allowed to fly an early 109. He was very impressed, and on reflection, announced he would rather fly it than the british spitfire or hurricane. Of course, Mr Williams had no experience of the british aircraft and thus was making this comparison on the basis of what the Germans had told him.