P-82 / F-82 Twin Mustang at RAE Farnborough ( UK ) ???

[Flat 12x2]

During a speech at the DH Heritage museum (UK)on Sat. (21st. May) Capt. Eric Brown (one of the worlds greatest test pilots) said that tests were done by RAE Farnborough to find the fastest twin engined (piston) fighter, the 3 aircraft involved, P-82 / DH Hornet / Do-335 were fitted with equipment to accurately record speeds so it was a definitive test. Capt. Eric Brown flew all the aircraft in the tests, the Hornet & Do-335 at Farnborough would be no problem, but it occurred to me later that a P-82 in the UK ? were any ever in the UK or would the tests with the P-82 have been conducted in the USA ???
Over to you guys.

Martin

[turbo_NZ]

Wow !! Could you just imagine the spectacle !!!!!!!

TNZ

[Dan K]

Is it just me, or is anyone else curious as to which craft won the contest (or at least according to what the good Captain recalls)?

[Flat 12x2]

Is it just me, or is anyone else curious as to which craft won the contest (or at least according to what the good Captain recalls)?

Dan
I should have said, shouldn't I !

P-82...........470 mph
DH Hornet...472 mph
Do-335........474 mph

The Hornet was a standard production A/C, the 335 would probably be stripped of armament, don't know about the P-82.

He did say that the Hornet was the best & the only aircraft he ever flew that was actually overpowered ! (he apparently holds the record for the most types flown by any pilot )

Martin

[Dan K]

Monday brain farts aren't a problem, Martin!

Did Capt. Brown happen to mention whether other flight parameters were explored & compared? Rate of climb? Dive? Acceleration?

Just curious.

TIA

[turbo_NZ]

I also wonder how difficult each would be to fly.

Would the P/F-82 be tricky to fly because of the perspective would be weird from sitting in the left fuselage ?

Also, the Do-335 would be tricky with landing and take-off due to the lower fin ?

Umm,...the Hornet ....it's just beautiful and can get away with any vice because of this !!!!

TNZ

[Flat 12x2]

...Did Capt. Brown happen to mention whether other flight parameters were explored & compared? Rate of climb? Dive? Acceleration?

Just curious.

TIA

No unfortunately, it was at the 50th anniversary reunion of the last flight of the Hornet & Eric 'Winkle' Brown just said a few words, he did say to the other Hornet pilots there that they were privileged (he repeated/emphasised it) to have flown the Hornet as it was the finest aircraft he ever flew. He did say it was not perfect, it could have done with 'crisper' ailerons !
He has written several books detailing the aircraft he has flown which I am now looking for !

Martin

[dhfan]

I've got a couple of "Winkle" Brown's books and throughly enjoy reading them.
He has got the record for the most aircraft types flown at just under 500, also the most deck landings, somewhere around 2,500 IIRC. First to land a twin and a jet on a carrier too.

Amazing man.

[Pete A.]

dhfan,
I cannot confirm or deny that Mr Brown flew the most types of aircraft however those RN personnel that were acquainted with him do believe that he did fly the most number of different types of axis aircraft (being fluent in German may have had something to do with it).

As to the most number of deck landings, particularly the total of 2,500 which I also have heard quoted, may I suggest that others who served at a similar time to him may have a different opinion on the subject. This is not to knock the chap's good fortune or talent at all, just that some of the exploits may have become larger than life.

Regards

[dhfan]

Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown CBE.DSC.AFC.RN has made 2407 carrier deck landings, 2,721 catapult launches and flown 487 different types of aircraft. These are all world records.

I copied that from a post I made a while ago on the FP board. In turn it came from The Society of Experimantal Test Pilots website. However, they seem to have revised their site in the last year or two and the page is no longer available. It may be to members but since I'm not one it doesn't help.

[vanguard]

He did say that the Hornet was the best & the only aircraft he ever flew that was actually overpowered ! (he apparently holds the record for the most types flown by any pilot )

Martin[/quote]

I guess he never flew a B-58 hustler

[Ollie]

He said aircraft, and not jet-powered metal coffin.