RAF_Louvert

Absolutely right Dej, in all regards, including the source of the illustration. An original 1918 first edition of Flight Commander McMinnies' highly informative work has resided on my WW1 bookshelf for many years now, and Flight Lt. Ford's illustrations sprinkled throughout the book are outstanding. IMHO, "Practical Flying" should be a must read for all WW1 combat flight simmers. Two more points to you Dej. Well done. Cheers! Lou

No Olham, sorry Sir, that is incorrect. Better luck next time. Cheers! Lou

No, no, not Dunkin' Donuts Olham, Mini Donuts. That's a whole 'nother thing. As to the false alarms of these postings and all the nervous twitches they may be causing, well all I can say to that is... DING DING DING !!! WILD CARD PHOTO ! The first to correctly identify the WW1 combat flight tactic shown in the illustration, what it was called by the French, and which modern aerobatic maneuvers most closely match it will be awarded 2 bonus points. You must be spot on with all answers to win. Good Luck!

Fantastic Fates, thank you from the bottom of my ol' heart for all your time and efforts on this project. The end result is a thing of beauty, and a thing of beauty is a joy forever, (or in this case until the next php upgrade comes down the pike, but we'll not talk of such things). You really are too good to us Sir, and you deserve more recognition for all you do. Maybe we can get the Pres to declare this National Fates Day! Cheers! Lou

I've had to do the same thing Red-Dog just to keep ahead of you lot. Cheers! Lou

WOOO HOOO! Look at our pretty new wallpaper. Very nice. Cheers! Lou

BTW Red-Dog, I just noticed that Bullethead's last guess was only three minutes after yours, so you may have him breathing down your neck as well, at which point waiting 5 extra minutes would not be a wise idea. All I can recommend is to have your timepiece synchronized and be ready. Could be a photo finish. Can't you just feel the tension mounting. Cheers! Lou

Red-Dog, 36 hours from the time stamp on your most recent guess Sir and you can go for it. But whatever you do DON'T post early or your guess won't count, (I noticed that Olham waited a full five extra minutes more than the 36 hours just to be sure...wise move). And it looks like Dej will be following closely so you best have your answer and information in order and set to post R-D. Cheers! Lou

Yes Jim, those are the correct inputs to trim out your kite. BTW, the BE2 wallows like a pig at low speed so you have to watch out for that, and it doesn't handle all that much better even at higher speeds. Mr. Lucky, good advice here from others on flying and surviving in your EIII. I will add that in the real war, the German pilots seldom flew more than a few miles over the lines, and when they did it was at the top of their working ceiling and generally speaking only to manage a recce or a high-alt bombing mission. They tended to let the fight come up to them and would drag their would-be attackers back over to the Hun side of the mud as much as possible. The good ones kept their alt, engaged en masse, picked out the straglers and those showing signs of damage or mechanical trouble, and never chased their opponents down to the deck. And whenever the odds appeared not in their favor they flew away and lived to fight another day. Remember too that since most of their fights did occur over their own territory they had the advantage of setting down when they took damage or had to attempt a crash landing, a luxury the Allied pilots seldom had. BTW, I am currently in an EIII campaign myself flying as Fredrick Krieg with FFA 23 out of Vaux-en-Vermanbois in Flanders, September of 1915. I have about 11 hours under my belt and 7 confirmed kills, with most of those being cold meat, (i.e. BE2's). The EIII can hold it's own against the Bristol scout of the day, and if you make use of the Einie's ability to tailstand you can usually get the Bristol to fall off first if he is chasing you, at which point you can then drop on his six for a brief few seconds before you have to pull out of the fight and let your opponent continue diving. Do NOT chase him. Also, it better be a lone Bristol you try for or his wingman will chew on you like a dog with a new bone. Good Luck. Cheers! Lou

Aaah, flea markets with lots of old vehicle parts and tools, all for sale and everyone open to bartering. If there's a mini donut stand at the same locale I know I've found Valhalla.

stumpjumper, I think you've about got it there Sir. The amount and trajectory of those glowing tracer rounds looks nearly perfect to my eyes. Great work, can't wait to give it a try. Cheers! Lou

He, he...yes Dej, I go through the exact same thing with my better half, though she only tolerates war films. I recall on one occasion we were at a large rummage sale and I came across an old Zenith altimeter that I was sure to be WW1 vintage, which got me about as giddy as a kid in a candy store. My wife just looked at what I imagine to her eyes appeared to be a crusty old piece of junk, then looked at me going on about it as if I'd just discovered the lost gold of the Incas, and she just shook her head and walked over to a table full of used summer clothing and did her best to look like she'd come in alone. Ah but I still love her bless her heart, and more importantly she me, which is a good thing as I'm not sure how many other women out there would even tolerate me, let alone attempt to understand me. Cheers! Lou

BINGO! You've got it Dej. The Morane-Saulnier I is one of the most commonly misidentified planes from the Great War. It has been repeatedly misrepresented as an 'N' for years, and the 'Nbis' designation is nearly unheard of. As you have correctly noted, the 'I' has the larger 110hp engine and the Vickers with the Alkan syncronizer. The 'I' also sports the cowling shield running up over the gun, as well as the added sweepback at the front corners of the cockpit opening. And, while not seen in the picture posted in the set, the 'I' also has a wire trailing edge on the wings and horizontal stab which gives it a scalloped look rather than the straight edge found on the 'N'. Here is a drawing, courtesy of Windsock Data File #58 that helps to show the profile differences. It is also interesting that only about 49 'N's were built and about 24 'I's, with four of the latter going to the RFC and the remaining 20 to the Russian Air Service, as you mentioned Dej. Seems like there should have been more of those flying about. BTW, the pilot in the photo is none other than Ivan Smirnov, Russia's fourth highest-scoring ace of the Great War. He had a total of 11 victories, two of those whilst flying his Morane-Saulnier I and going up against armed enemy two-seaters. Another brace of points for you Dej. Well done Sir. Cheers! Lou

Very good Olham, #19 is indeed a Snipe. To be precise, it is a 7F.1 Snipe, number E6938 (RAF), and currently resides in the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa, Ontario. Two more points to you Sir. Cheers! Lou

Rickitycrate, sorry to you as well on your M-S 'N' guess, but it is not. Although both you and Bullet gave excellent info and noted the lack of the bullet guard on the prop. Sharps eyes there Gents. Duce Lewis, the second point for #18 is your Sir. It is indeed Anthony Fokker. Well done. Check Six, no Sir, sorry. It is not a Camel cockpit. Cheers! Lou

Red-Dog, it is the Fokker E.V, also known by the German Air Service designation as the D.VIII. One point for you Sir, and well done, (remember you will now have to wait 36 hours before going for any other points left in this group). For the second point someone will have to name the individual standing to the right in the photo, (which would be to the airplane's left). Also, perhaps who ever does go for the second point can mention why the people are sitting on the wing. Bullethead, sorry again Sir but it is not the Morane-Saulnier 'N'. 36 hours for you too I'm afraid. Cheers! Lou

Here we go folks, the fifth set of photos is ready. Again I will remind everyone to please follow the rules, (found in the first post of this thread), and be sure to write at least a 150-word description about features shown in the photo and/or about the plane itself when going for that second point. Also, just a couple of items on this set. In photo #18 when you are going for the second point I want you to name the individual of note found standing to the right of the aircraft in the picture. Also, a hint for #20; the engine in this plane is NOT the 80hp Le Rhone; and look closely for a feature that is decidedly absent from planes of this type. And finally, on #17, it would be best if you though outside the range of WW1 combat aircraft that you might normally be used to seeing. Good luck all. Round 5 begins now. Let's play What's My Plane! Cheers! Lou

I'm always open to suggestions, in particular if they are good ones. A heads-up to all contestants. In a little less than 2 hours from now, at 3:00pm GMT, I will be posting photo set #5. Just like a good scout, be prepared. Cheers! Lou

Hi Ya Duce, Glad you are enjoying it Sir, and I am learning a ton of new info as I prepare each set. I agree entirely with your suggestion about giving hints. From this point forward I will either give a hint at the initial posting of the photos, (if I feel one might be needed), or I will wait 42 hours after posting a set before giving any clues. Thanks for the input Duce. Cheers! Lou

Luftace wrote: Outstanding, Luftace! That's exactly what it is. The Sélecteur Magnétos, or magnetos selector switch has been sitting in front of us all for years in our WW1 flight sims, and if you jump into your OFF Spad XIII and watch that little switch when you fire up the engine you will see both of those little push buttons slide from off to on, (a neat little touch I am betting a lot of people have missed, but not those ever diligent OFF devs). I believe the body of the switch and the slide rods were built from teak, which is a stable wood and has a natural oil in it that prevents rotting. The rods are each wrapped with a strip of brass tubing that acts as the contact when slid into place, with the wires running out from the bottom of the switch body and down to both magnetos. Two more points to you Luftace. Also, JimAttrill, I had no idea that is where the term "to the bitter end" came from. Thanks for sharing Sir, I love that kind of tidbit. The standings now after Wild Card #3: Olham, 9 points Dej, 7 points Rickitycrate, 6 points Bullethead, 5 points Luftace, 4 points Duce Lewis, 2 points rhythalion, 2 points JohnGresham, 1 point Red-Dog, 1 point Shrikehawk, 1 point TonyO, 1 point Well done all. Cheers! Lou

Here are the current standings after the fourth round: Olham, 9 points Dej, 7 points Rickitycrate, 6 points Bullethead, 5 points Duce Lewis, 2 points Luftace, 2 points rhythalion, 2 points JohnGresham, 1 point Red-Dog, 1 point Shrikehawk, 1 point TonyO, 1 point While Olham is currenlty in the lead, with eight more photo sets to come as well as numerous additional Wild Card phots it's still anyone's game at this point, and anyone's Blue Max. Cheers! Lou

Sorry Olham, you're even farther off than Bullethead was. But great info on the Hansa-Brandenburg W.12. You and BH can now go sit and relax together in the pub and enjoy some brew whilst the rest try and sort this one out. Cheers! Lou

Well Bullethead, Luck is NOT being a Lady to you tonight, I'm afraid. While your reasoning is excellent it is none-the-less completely incorrect. Sorry Sir, better luck next time. Cheers! Lou

There ya' go Olham. It is indeed an LVG C-type, and I would have accepted either a C.V or a C.VI. Personally I think it is a C.V based on how horizontal-looking the lower edge of the engine cowling is, but I am not 100% sure of that myself. The final two points in this set are yours Olham. Also, yes you are free to go for the Wild Card as they are separate from the photo sets. However, if you answer incorrectly you would still have to wait 36 hours before trying again on the same Wild Card photo. Cheers! Lou

Good luck Bullethead, I hope you have the chance to put in your answer on the bird. Meanwhile, as we are waiting anyway... DING DING DING !!! WILD CARD PHOTO ! The first to correctly identify the item in the photo, what it's purpose is, and the aircraft it is fitted to will be awarded 2 bonus points. You must be precisely correct on all fronts to be awarded the points. Cheers! Lou