to good to be forgotten

Botha
Indeed, ‘allegedly’. It’s one of those quotes that’s been attributed to a number of similar aircraft over the years. A dreadful aircraft anyway one cuts it.

Interestingly, Putnam’s ‘Blackburn Aircraft Since 1919’ makes no reference of the dreadful nature of the Botha, but devotes considerable space to the controversy over the pronounciation of the name and mutters darkly about how Blackburn’s could not get hold of any Bristol Taurus engines because Bristol nicked them all for the Beaufort.

Is it time for a ‘too bad to be forgotten’ thread? Or perhaps a ‘really bad Blackburn aircraft’ thread?

Botha

Is that not the type in which a report from a Test Pilot at A&AEE noted. ‘Ingress into this aircraft is difficult. It should be made impossible.’

Indeed, ‘allegedly’. It’s one of those quotes that’s been attributed to a number of similar aircraft over the years. A dreadful aircraft anyway one cuts it.

how about the old whitley a bomber i have always liked but always overshadowed by the wimpey. i admit they was a bit obsolete as a bomber but they did do exellent work with coastal command and later with transport command. another of my long forgotten faves is the bristol bombay, they did sterling work overseas as transports and bombers !!!!. what about the vickers wellesley, in my opinion one of the strangest looking aircraft the RAF has had….

Botha

Is that not the type in which a report from a Test Pilot at A&AEE noted. ‘Ingress into this aircraft is difficult. It should be made impossible.’

Oooo. Really?

That’s a wide open topic. How about the DH-9A or Brisfit for two earlier ‘multi-role combat aircraft’?

Or indeed, Martinsyde Elephant (I didn’t say effective MRCA…)

For overlooked and unloved (but where would we have been without them?) types I would say Blackburn Skua (James wouldn’t be at all surprised to hear me say that), Fairey Barracuda, Gloster Gladiator…

Typos. I remember reading about “mental fittings” in one AP from the 20’s.

…the RAF’s first MRCA.

Oooo. Really?

That’s a wide open topic. How about the DH-9A or Brisfit for two earlier ‘multi-role combat aircraft’? Certainly the Brisfit had ‘Fighter’ as part of it’s title, and activities and it’s got a better combat record both wartime and ‘peacetime’ than the MRCA itself, for my money – it faced both serious enemy a/c as well as ground fire, unlike the MRCA, to date…

The Anson, was, indeed a good aircraft. Pity Avro ‘copied’ Fokker direct rather than Fokker’s licencee Douglas who punted out the DC-2, an infinitely better aircraft a year earlier…*

(DC-2 – 1934, Anson, 1935. – compare and contrast…)

As to the original question, there were a load of aircraft best not built – Botha, Warwick, Battle, Lerwick, Firebrand, and on. Interesting ideas, but hardly effective combat aircraft.

And a huge number of types overlooked for the ‘glamour planes’; hence my (low) interest in Spitfires and no-interest in the P-51D in favour of everything else. To mangle another quote: “When you are out of Mustangs, things start to get interesting.”

Cheers

*Yes, I’m being provocative; still it’s better than arguing about spelling.

The request for typos reminded me of the bit in an accident report I came across at Middle Wallop. Basically the Driver Airframe of a Chipmunk got it wrong and took a wing off his innocent airframe by hitting the runway control vehicle. The report then said “the aircraft became inverted and slid for a further 100 years”.
After drying my eyes from laughing so much I noticed the vehicle’s registration in the report’s photograph – the vehicle still exists and is part of the Museums collection. Now where’s that Chipmunk shaped stencil and the black paint there’s a Commer’s door that needs it’s kill marking applied.
As to forgotten aircraft heros my vote would go for the AVRO Anson the RAF’s first MRCA.

RAF’s first Electronic Warfare aircraft for sure

The request for typos reminded me of the bit in an accident report I came across at Middle Wallop. Basically the Driver Airframe of a Chipmunk got it wrong and took a wing off his innocent airframe by hitting the runway control vehicle. The report then said “the aircraft became inverted and slid for a further 100 years”.
After drying my eyes from laughing so much I noticed the vehicle’s registration in the report’s photograph – the vehicle still exists and is part of the Museums collection. Now where’s that Chipmunk shaped stencil and the black paint there’s a Commer’s door that needs it’s kill marking applied.
As to forgotten aircraft heros my vote would go for the AVRO Anson the RAF’s first MRCA.

The Westland Whirlwind; so much potential unrealised, with a little more development it could have been amongst the best.

I think there are many types that have been almost completely forgotten from WW2 , the Albermarle , and the Maryland bombers?
I don’t think the Albermarle ever really saw much action before being relegated to glider tug type duties (i think ?)

sorry i mean TECHNICIAN 😮 😮 😮

enyway back to the subject..the bristol beaufort should get a mention as well, they done sterling work protecting our coasts. the boulton paul defiant was pretty effective as a night fighter too. if only they put some guns in the wing as well. i would have loved to see them poor me-109 pilots faces 😮 attacking the defiant from the rear thinking it was a hurricane, mind you they wasnt fooled for long…… 🙂

During my service as a Junior, Corporal, Sergeant and Chief TECHNICIAN, the tool I used most was a soldering iron! Of course we had valves in those days, instead of transistors and microchips.

thank you denis. there is nothing wrong HEREFORDSHIRE schools, its just some pupils are TOO busy looking out of the window, watching the aircraft flying over !!!!!!!!!. i may be crap at spelling. but i am **** hot with a spanner. to all them pen pushers out there, A SPANNER IS A TOOL MECHANICS AND TECHNITIONS USE. 😉

I too admire the Beaufighter, but the Lysander is another favourite type in my mind.

Are the schools in Hertfordshire really that bad at English, I mean they were not that great when I went to School there.

I think Scimitar hails from Herefordshire And I for one think the spelling police should take a day off 😉 .

Hawker Typhoon. Despite its teething troubles, it gave superb service during its day.

And from it, the Tempest

Hawker Typhoon. Despite its teething troubles, it gave superb service during its day.

To those who cannot, tell us, is it Javeline or Javelin?.

John.

Javelin, Quite 😀

This one must be transgender as both were used in the same sentance.

John.

It depends upon whether it was male or female.