Zero vs. Hellcat

[evanflys]

Here are CAF Pilots Jason Somes and Ken Gotshall comparing the Hellcat and Zero they flew to the Pacific Coast Dream Machines show

http://evanflys.com/zero_vs_hellcat

you can also listen to it on my audio clip page
http://evanflys.com/audio_clips

Evan

[Holedigger]

Nice interview. The comparisons between aircraft, is often a difficult thing to nail down. These pilots, flying valuable relics, do NOT push them like the pilots back in WW2. So today's pilots, though giving good insights into the performance characteristics, might not give a fully accurate picture. Pilot training and individual pilot skill had a LOT to do with who won. As one of the pilots stated, early in the war, the Japanese pilots were superb. They were well trained and battle hardened. Up against mostly inferior aircraft and undertrained, "green" pilots, they indeed swept the skies clear for the most part. The situation of a dogfight also plays a big part in who wins. Rarely were encounters just a one-on-one engagement. Many of the Japanese AC did not have radios and this played a part in teamwork and coordination of tactics. Many factors go into it, but who sees who first gets the starting advantage.
Thanks for the interview. Keep up the good work