…an aircraft like a Ju88 that has circular cowlings with annular radiators could effectively use any engine that would fit inside.

That’s a very good point. The Ju88 was actually designed to take either V12 or radial (BMW801) engines so could relatively easily be converted to take the Chinese ASh-82 as in the Fw190 replicas.

One problem with operating German engines may be that most were direct-injection which sets them apart from almost every other engine of the same vintage running today. Does the knowledge still exist to make these direct-injection engines viable for flight?

The Last of the Mohicans (Daniel Day-Lewis 1992)

Didn’t Lord Chelmsford display gross ineptitude by splitting his force at Isandlwhana?

That, and the underestimation of the Zulus, certainly seem to be the common criticism of Chelmsford and blame him primarily for the massacre at Isandlwana.

I think that is a little unfair to the Zulu nation. In my opinion Isandlwana was the result of a brilliant piece of tactical manoeuvring resulting in a surprise attack against a wrong-footed and unprepared enemy. Plus the fact that the camp at Isandlwana held only about 800 front-line troops against a Zulu force of well over 20,000 warriors!

The military or political career of Chelmsford didn’t seem to suffer that much, apart from him being relieved of command after Isandlwana, but that was after he had comprehensively defeated the Zulu at Ulundi, a victory that he snatched from under the nose of his successor with a good display of subterfuge.

It has been said the film ‘Zulu’ is a British ‘western’ and I suppose if you think back to when we had a film industry (and an empire) there were many of these ‘boys own’ type of adventure film.

Mind you, if the historic events of empire were the subject of a film today it would be the imperialists wearing the ‘black hats’!

Shut up.

While the motives of most on these UE seem to be in the right place some of the terminology used on the site is a little worrying.

I wish they wouldn’t refer to every aircraft that hasn’t actually got its engines running as ‘abandoned’! 😡

I just gives the wrong impression to other, less conscientious, elements who can visit their site.

Even if they just said the aircraft were ‘parked’ it sounds better.

Another western worth watching is ‘The Culpepper Cattle Company’ which is on BBC2 at 23:35 on Thursday 25th January.

I’m not questioning his bravery for a second and can only quote what I’ve read about his abilities as a commander.

Wouldn’t an officer of the infantry have taken command (of his own men) rather than an engineering officer of equal rank, but greater seniority?