RAF_Louvert

. For those of you interested in the Lafayette Escadrille this is the definitive work on the subject. If you have never read this outstanding two-volume set written in 1920 by James Hall and Charles Nordhoff, (both former flyers of the Lafayette Flying Corps), you owe it to yourselves to do so. Now, since an original edition such as those shown will run you about $1,500 I am not suggesting you run out and try to find yourselves a set. Even one of the 500 presentation set reprints from 1964 that were done for surviving members and friends and family of deceased members of the Escadrille will likely cost you $300 to $500, and while I am fortunate enough to own one of those sets I know full well even this "lower" price is outside most folks book budget. However, I was poking around this afternoon and discovered both volumes available on Google Books in full scanned PDF format. So I quickly grabbed them, zipped them up, and am posting them here as a download for any of you who would like a first-rate, informative, and exciting read. Here is the link: The Lafayette Flying Corps I hope you'll enjoy these as much as I have. I can guarantee you that if you read through both volumes in their entirety you will be a full-fledged expert as concerns the Escadrille Américaine. Cheers! Lou .

Av8er wrote: Yuppers, I had a shorter one. Signed on to fly SE5's with AFC2 and crashed taking off. Less than a minute is how long I lasted. Cheers! Lou

. Wow Olham, that's a heck of a deal then, and they appear to still be in sound condition. Someone should snap those up for their own WWI library. Rickitycrate, right back at you. And I think you are going to enjoy reading those two volumes Sir. BTW, I have another 15 to 20 Great Air War related books in full scan PDF format collected together and will be adding a few more to them and post a second zip download for the lot at some point in the not-too-distant future. But I'm betting most folks have barely scratched the surface of the first set I put together. Cheers! Lou .

. You are more than welcome hood. Enjoy Sir. Cheers! Lou .

. Olham, if you could buy them for that opening bid price they would be a bargain! The lowest price for an original set that I have seen sold on auction was $1,300. And to answer your previous question, I'm afraid the only reprint that you will run across will be the 1964 edition I mentioned. These are one of the most sought-after WWI-related printings ever, with their closest rival being the original, massive 9-volume set of "The War In The Air" by Raleigh and Jones. That one will also sell in the $1,500 to $2,000 range, when you can find one for sale that happens to have the two volumes of maps, (there is a reprint of this set as well but does NOT include the maps). This is what the first printing looks like: I am again very, very fortunate to own the original edition shown of this stellar work, and it is incredible in its depth and scope. Cheers! Lou .

. Wels, I'm quite sure Siggi has hit it. I have flown the BE2c a fair amount and it is very touchy when it comes to the fuel/air mixture, (which BTW was typical of the early war planes). Too lean and you will overheat, too rich and you will foul out. If you catch either situation soon enough you can correct your settings and get power back. But if you don't you will conk your motor. As to the bombs, the normal weapons controls should do the trick Sir. Cheers! Lou .

. Actually Olham, "wasting money on OFF" is an oxymoron, sort of like "military intelligence". Welcome to the OFF virtual skies Av8er! Cheers! Lou .

. RC, you will likely have to re-install CFS3 and OFF but before you do, make a copy of your entire "pilots" folder so you will have all the related files you need for your existing campaigns. You could try going back one day and restoring your system as well and see if that gets OFF back and running, but I kind of doubt it will. Good luck Sir. Lou .

WM wrote: Yes indeed. I am always filled with awe and a whole lot of respect for those courageous souls who took to the skies 90-some years ago to do battle for their chosen cause, knowing they might well die a horrific death. Most of us here have it pretty darned easy and should be extremely thankful for that. Also, I do the same thing Gents as I am driving out on the open road for work and look up and think: "That sky will be perfect for a recce flight this morning and with the sun above me Archie will have a tough time staring into it to get my alt." Or when I am gaining on a car that's been ahead of me for the last several miles: "OK now, back off on the throttle a bit, he doesn't even know your on his six...a little closer before you open fire...a little closer...NOW!" Olham wrote: They're turnips with an attitude. Cheers! Lou

. rwmarth, as has been mentioned, there is no single source, but there are many outstanding books on the Great Air War. If you want an historical one from the British perspective you might look for Raleigh and Jones 9-volume set, "The War in the Air". It is likely the most comprehensive single work on the subject, but is hard to locate and VERY expensive if you wanted to buy it. Aaron Norman's "The Great Air War" is a nice concise little work and available online used for about $20 or so. "The Lafayette Flying Corps", by James Hall and Charles Nordhoff is an outstanding two-volume work, (but can also be a bit hard to locate). However, as uncleal pointed out, there are many free books you can read online as well. And since BH mentioned it, here is the zip file I put together with a few titles you could start with if you like: WWI Books Download Zip This download contains the following titles: Biogrophies, Diaries, Personal Writings “A Flying Fighter”, by E.M. Roberts, c.1918 ”A Happy Warrior”, the letters of William M. Russel, c.1918 ”Above the Battle”, by Vivian Drake, c.1918 “Air Men O'War”, by Boyd Cable, c.1918 ”An Aviator’s Field Book”, the field notes of Oswald Bolcke, English Edition c.1917 ”Cavalry of the Clouds”, by Alan Bott, c.1918 ”En l'air!”, by Bert Hall, c.1918 ”Fighting the Flying Circus”, by Eddie Rickenbacker, c.1919 ”Flying For France”, by James R. McConnell, c.1917 ”Go Get 'Em!”, by William Wellman, c.1918 ”Green Balls: The Adventures Of a Night-Bomber”, by Paul Bewsher, c.1919 ”High Adventure”, by James Norman Hall, c.1918 ”Night Bombing With the Bedouins”, by Robert H. Reece, c.1919 ”The Flying Poilu”, by Marcel Nadaud, c.1918 “The Red Battle Flyer”, by Manfred von Richthofen, English Edition c.1918 ”The Way of the Eagle”, by Charles J. Biddle, c.1919 ”Winged Warfare”, by William A. Bishop, c.1918 References: “Aircraft Mechanics Handbook”, c.1918 ”Heroes Of Aviation”, by Laurence La Tourette Driggs, c.1918 ”How To Fly”, by A. Frederick Collins, c.1918 “Learning To Fly in the U.S. Army”, by E.N. Fales, c.1917 “Practical Flying”, by W.G. McMinnies, c.1918 “The Aero Manual”, c.1909 “The German Air Force in the Great War”, by Georg Paul Neumann, c.1920 ”The Romance Of Aircraft”, by Laurence Smith, c.1919 Cheers! Lou .

. Catfish, to answer your question, "bis" is Latin for "twice". In this sense it means "second", as in the second version of an aircraft type. And now you know. .

. Here is an item I just ran across on eBay: Original RFC Tunic Don't I wish I had a G-Note to spend on such a treasure. Cheers! Lou .

. Thanks for the heads-up Stiffy, and for the link to Sutlers. Their work looks outstanding! Olham, thanks to you as well for the link to that German site. They have some beautiful items for sale there, and some of the prices look quite reasonable. Cheers! Lou .

. Yuppers, I am very familiar with the Kaiser's Bunker website Olham. It has been on my list of reference websites for a long time. Great info and photos. Cheers! Lou .

. Now see, that right there is a B-E-A-U-tiful uniform! And Olham, I am sure you are right about it cost WAAAAAY more than the ones from Replicaters. But what the heck, it's only money. .

. uncleal, I've been selling and buying on eBay for about three years now and it's amazing what comes along sometimes. This RFC tunic for example, while it does not have a bid on it yet, may well go for way above the starting price. But then you just never know with auctions, that's what makes it so darned exciting. BTW, you mentioned wing fabric, this is on eBay right now as well: Original German Biplane Fabric .

. Stiffy wrote: That may well be Sir, however if all is correct with this tunic we can assume the owner survived until at least April of 1917 as that is when the Mons Star ribbon appeared. Olham, are you aware of this manufacturer? Replicaters.com From the looks of their work it would appear they give pretty good quality for a very fair price. Cheers! Lou .

. Yes I agree Ras, there were so many beautiful planes in WWI, and its amazing how many of them the OFF devs have created for us. If you've never done so you should use the DXTBmp program to look through the hundreds of plane skins in the folder of the sim. It will amaze you. Cheers! Lou .

. Yes, it is funny in an odd, uneasy sort of way, and it gets to me as well Olham to think that these men are many years gone yet their personal items remain. I ponder that very same thing when I use my father's woodworking tools or wear one of his old ties. .

. "Oh, what sad times are these when passing ruffians can say Ni at will to old ladies. There is a pestilence upon this land, nothing is sacred. Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress in this period in history." .

. hee, hee...good one RC appraiserfl, great story, and I soooo want your OFF gaming set-up. SWEET! Cheers! Lou .

. If I might paraphrase George C. Scott in his portrayal as General Patton... "YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARDS!" .

. zoomzoom, if you and everyone else posts their reports at Olham's new "Krauts and Crumpets" thread we will have them all in one central location which would be nice for sharing. You might still want to start your own thread as well and just edit the original post in that each time you add a new report, if you want Siggi to provide a link to your "Pilot Log" on the DiD roster. As Siggi mentioned, if you edit your initial post rather than add a new post your Pilot Log thread does not move back to the top of the rankings in the forum so it won't clutter up the first page. This is what I will keep doing in order to have all my reports and letters collected in one spot, in addition to sharing them in the "K and C" thread. Cheers! Lou .

. Sandbagger, that is a gorgeous little plane, I can't wait to fly her. The N24 is on the short list of my favorite WWI aircraft. Cheers! Lou .

. I also love the Nieups, and that new N28 looks outstanding Pol. Thanks again for all the time and effort you devs put into this incredible sim. Cheers! Lou .