Sunday, February 01, 2009

McHistory Nuggets...

Did you know that (Vichy) France and Thailand (née Siam) had themselves a war in the early '40s? And that the last exchange of fire in said war involved the Royal Thai Air Force saddling up a squadron of Martin B-10's, escorted by Curtiss Hawks?

The B-10 is such a wonderfully steampunk-looking aeroplane and, thanks to whoever donated the big, thick, hardbound volume on the history of the Curtiss Corporation to our elementary school library, the Hawk 75 has long been one of my favorite aircraft. The things I learn from teh intertubes!
@

11 comments:

  1. Ken10:20 PM, February 01, 2009

    I am also partial to the CW-21 Demon. Deco design--cool.

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  2. Anonymous10:58 PM, February 01, 2009

    If that isn't the triumph of horsepower over aerodynamics, I don't know what is. (Ok, an F-4, perhaps)

    If it had some brass trim around the windscreen, and shiny copper nacelle rings, then it would look wicked. I don't think the wrought-iron rims would fare too well though.

    Jim

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  3. Home on the Range11:38 PM, February 01, 2009

    It's on my Christmas list. But I'll probably get a couple hours in the T-6 instead.

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  4. Anonymous11:41 PM, February 01, 2009

    Bigtime Indy connection to this. Later Hawk frames accomodated That Engine by Allison, which certainly had its moments and would have been a war-winner were it not for That Supercharger.

    I never drive by that plant without remembering what a close-run thing WWII was--and blessing the memory of the Packard Merlin.

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  5. closed1:36 AM, February 02, 2009

    Every nation on earth gets at least one opportunity to beat the French.

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  6. ibex2:59 AM, February 02, 2009

    You call a flying machine "steampunk" when it's not either a Zeppelin or a spring- or muscle-powered helicopter? The nerve! ;-)

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  7. Anonymous11:00 AM, February 02, 2009

    Don't the meth'ed hamsters powering the propellers count?

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  8. Ride Fast3:57 PM, February 02, 2009

    Only the French would think getting into another shooting match after being flat out stomped by the Nazi's is a bright idea. Who knew?

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  9. Anonymous5:40 PM, February 02, 2009

    First time I ever heard of the French-Thai war. And the B-10 was a pretty neat looking airplane.

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  10. Anonymous1:13 AM, February 03, 2009

    Next week, the Dutch U-boats?

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  11. B Smith10:26 PM, February 04, 2009

    On the B-10, was that nose turret designed to stand up inside of?

    Things that sound dirty, but aren't: "Good Lord, look at the size of the wing-roots on that thing !!"

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