[Skidz]

Found this very interesting series on the development of tactical fighters and the Sukhoi Su-27. Worth a view if you have the time. It is a Russian documentary (in English including the Russian guy narrating with a US accent) which I found different from the US made docos which tend to put "USA all the way" and the rest, runners up. Good to see a different viewpoint. It is well made, very detailed and very watchable.

This is the first of four parts each 40 min.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD5VXttYF1A&feature=relmfu

Second part:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVZbHYDX6ZY

Third part:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccTJrxVqw9g

Final part:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kk9UxB7eLE

[ConcreteTurtle]

Thanks Dave, that was great. Loads of great footage.

Here's hoping that my English language is, let's say, not bad getting from all the Russian translated commentary.

[Skidz]

IMAX Fighter Pilot. Spectacular cinematography! It's high definition so go full screen and crank up the volume.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V30f88a8OTA

[Skidz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3kECIH-UwU&feature=g-vrec

[gbanger]

Just finished watching ALL your doco's Dave. Thanks! they were really terriffic

[Skidz]

Mig 29 documentary from Wings of Russia. 2 parts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXYevIHV5a0&feature=g-vrec

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SokBfoIOiFg&feature=relmfu

[Skidz]

Sit in on a restored military pilot training film for the B-24D bomber. Approx 60 mins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO0iSx-ZCAQ&feature=related

[rustty1]

Great stuff,thanks Dave

[Stuka]

Good and very instructive Dave. Enjoyed all 58 minutes 10 seconds of it!!
Things have certainly moved on since those days!!

[Skidz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmG5uTVvS2c

[Skidz]

For those who may have not seen the Four Corners documentary on the near miss with the Qantas A380.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hsegYjqX2U

[Skidz]

An interesting documentary on the beginnings of Clarence "Kelly" Johnson with Lockheed. It covers the development of the P38 and on into the "first" jet engined aircraft by the Americans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3viiJ4g5G8

[chrism]

A documentary on the RFC aces James McCudden and Edward Mannock and the SE5a.
Some interesting facts as to how McCudden got his kills and the fatality rate of student pilots of that era.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T6QldD9Ogw

[smuzz]

This is very interesting viewing. I saw a similar (but not the same) one many years ago. It dispells several myths that were born out of wartime misinformation - both of the intentional kind (propaganda) and unintentional kind (lack of intelligence ... itself of course also coming in two kinds).
Anyway - 51 minutes of compelling viewing for anyone interested in aviation and history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla...d8bF6Xgb_Y

[wingtipper]

Thanks for that SMUZZ . i really enjoyed that .

[Skidz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgLSCGaf1uw

[wingtipper]

AWESOME Dave . thanks .

[secant0give]

You'll enjoy this one it's a real adventure Incredible stuff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u4YBwjQTds

[Skidz]

Model gliding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k41z_ujop4

[chrism]

Model gliding

Thanks Skidz another great doco, I should have gone to bed an hour ago but couldn't stop watching.
Chris M

[gbanger]

Thanks Dave... what a great video, I had better get back to work now!!!

[secant0give]

Yes me too

Top video Thanks Dave I r4eally enjoyed that !!

[Claudius]

Same autopilot hardware I've been playing around with - good stuff!

[wingtipper]

well that was simply awesome . thanks dave .
NOW ! I THINK WITH CLAUDIOS ELECTRICAL EXPERTESE ! JASONS AERO BUILDING SKILLS !! WAYNES PERSISTANCE OF THE WALLET ! AND MY ENTHUSIASM , we could give this a fair challange !!!

[secant0give]

We could fly accross to Neu zollund

[brotherblonde]

Awesome stuff Dave. Thanks for posting.

[gbanger]

This is a P-51 lovers delight, it tells the story of the development of the Mustang throughout the war.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VuvbYfQawY

[wingtipper]

that was awesome gbanger. thanks

[smuzz]

Yes - the Mustang video was interesting. A couple of things that are perhaps relevant ...

1. North American produced 9000+ Mustangs in 1944 alone! This is incredible and a testament to the absolutely overwhelming manufacturing capacity of US industry. To compare, the Messerschmitt Bf-109 is the third most produced aircraft of all time (according to Wikipedia) at 34,852 ... however that includes all the years from 1936 until 1958, that is, 22 years (they were produced after WWII by countries such as Spain, Romania, Switzerland ..). So, in a single year, North American was able to make over a quarter of this figure! Amazing.

2. I think that the first design should have had a bubble canopy. The British Westland Whirlwind, the Japanese A6M Zero and the German FW-190 already had all-round views for the pilots from their canopies in 1941. I don't know why they didn't have the P-51D style canopies from the start.

3. It was good to see RAAF Mustangs being mentioned

[secant0give]

Yes increadable stuff
from a sketch to the production of a first class fighter aircraft, cutting edge stuff and a very complex machine, in just 122 days. An outstanding and increadable achievement even if you had CNCs and CAD CAM. But to think that a pocket calculator was a fantasy in those days makes it even more remarkable. All worked out with pencil and paper !!