http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/history/q0198c.shtml

For those who havent read this account of Hans Guido Mutke’s flight on 9th April 1945 flying an Me 262 it may throw a spanner in this debate. Further referencing can be found on the net including information released by the Americans on this and other debriefed pilots of the German jet. It pre dates the bell aircraft and one has to ask if the Americans knew this why did they continue telling the world that they got a first?

For anyone interested in the Me 262 claim/story, it was discussed ad nausea on the ww2aircraft forum:

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/aviation/sound-barrier-10422.html

Have a read, its quite entertaining at times….

Oh and here are my top five:

Hawker Hurricane – for its historic impact during BoB.

de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide – most commercially succesfull British airliner in terms of numbers build. Also played a significant part in the evolution of civilian air trafic.

Avro Anson – for training a significant part of the WWII multiengine crews.

English Electric Canberra – for most successful British military jet (production numbers and service life) and for allround awesomeness.

Westland-Hill Pterodactyl V – for the best use of the word Pterodactyl and generally discouraging the use of Lysergic acid diethylamide while designing aircraft.

Nice idea, what a shame the interest evaporated…….

The warbird marked is one of the many areas of aviation, where its possible to make a small fortune.

The only prerequisite is that you start out with a BIG FORTUNE!

😀

There are a few people, who are able to carve out a business of the scene, but its my understanding that everyone else are in the warbird “market” as a labour of love.

I don’t think many warbird operators considers it a financial investment. Even if some might have made a small profit over the years (my bet is that its very few).

The article is pure guesswork, they know absolutly nothing about those drawings.

But for the sake of it, lets consider the problems an escaped baloon passenger would face…………DOH!

The British answer would be gigantic windmills to blow the baloon far out over the atlantic, resulting in a drowning death, which is more aryan than getting…..you guessed it.

a 700mph wooden glider?

And gently drift away in a baloon………