The differnece between a machinegun and a cannon is the amount of energy generated by their firing. Additionally the projectiles of a cannon are designed to carry an explosive payload as their primary purpose. Machingun ammunition is primarily of ball configuration (i.e. it’s inert). Obviously there are exceptions to the rule. As technology has progressed the use of explosive fillers in small arms ammunition (especially the 12.7X99 or .50 cal) has increased. Raufoss ammunition from Sweden for instance has an explosive filler of a gram of RDX HE.

Rate of fire was never considered as a determiner of MG or cannon. The M2 Browning in air mode (AN-M2) has a ROF of 750 to 850 rounds per minute. The M24A1 20mm cannon (as used in aircraft) has a ROF 750 to 800 rounds per minute. Not so much of a difference. The big difference is in projectile weight. A .50 cal has a projectile weight of approx 46.49 grams and the average 20mm projectile weighs in at 103.47 grams. Muzzle velocities for both weapons is about the same and the chamber pressures is likewise about the same at around 58,000psi. But the recoil force of the two weapons is vastly different. I don’t remember the exact amount but the 20mm has a recoil energy approximately 4-5 times that of a .50 calber MG.

Below is a collection of the rounds in question plus soem German rounds for comparison. From left to right is the American 20mm then the .50 cal then the venerable .303 British rifle round followed by the German 20mm and the 13mm from the MG 131. As you can see the German rounds are much shorter overall so had a much shorter effective range than their American counterpart.

First off you need to disabuse yourself that these people are Nazi lovers. They are not. They do however love money and stealing it from the ignorant and uneducated (I know I am being superfluously redundant but I wanted to make a point!) and neo Nazis fit the bill. Ergo they present a front that draws in the unwashed and they steal from them. Unfortunately there are also non neo nazis who also fall prey to these vermin.

I can’t quite work out who’d buy it. Any aviation memorabilia collector would spot the fake immediately, just from the photos. Who else would be interested?

However, I do think there should be more noise made by the historic aviation community about these Nazi worshipping idiots who hang about on the fringes.

There was a bloke strolling about Duxford’s end-of-season show with some Nazi dress uniform or other on. My friends – including one Jewish bloke – took me there as a surprise for my birthday. No-one took offence – he looked too ridiculous – but some DID look at me funny after that (“..is THIS what you’re into”?)

Ausgezeichnet!! Danke!

Great clip. That is the Valley of Speed where they attain max speed before the turn in to the Home Pylon.

Isnt capitalism based on the person next to me having more than me, thus making me want more than him? You see this effect everyday on peoples driveways. But, when the base model we all own suffices our needs (using cars here as an example thinking back to the low spec models of 20 years ago) that desire diminishes. So where is the competition?

No, capitalism is based on recognising people want stuff and working to get it to them in the cheapest most efficient manner possible. Those who are successful at that prosper, those who don’t try something different. When mankind is unable to buy things he will resort to barter or theft to obtain what he wants.

Read some history.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18992243

We are in a recession which is teaching us to be thrifty. If we look at our own lives, garages, lofts, kitchen cupboards, i’m sure we can all find stuff we don’t need, don’t know why we bought it and is just plain wasteful.
But the problem is this. Once our Capatalist society reaches saturation point. When we all decide we have enougth. What then?
Also, no one spending means no one manufacturing. No manuafacturing means no growth. So do we have to create recession to fuel capatalism?

Mankind is naturally acquisitive, just as he is addictive by nature. Take away money and he will still figure out a way to acquire. Flea markets have gone berserk in my area as people shop for the inexpensive things they want.

Capitalism feeds on a natural desire. Communism, no matter how idyllic it would be if it were to actually be implemented as its designers envisioned, is antithetical to mans nature, that’s why it allways fails.

Sean Penn is an insult to intelligent people everywhere.

Just saw a overhead view and she is burnt pretty badly. Very sad.

http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/5935944-417/world-war-ii-plane-goes-down-in-oswego.html