Why aren't many people into warbirds?

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Dogsbody55
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Re: Why aren't many people into warbirds?

Post by Dogsbody55 »

Ron Attwood wrote: 28 Nov 2019, 16:32 There are thousands, well hundreds then, of 'warbirds' being flown all over the world just for the heck of it. Surprisingly, none of them are shooting anybody.
This is just as well, considering the large numbers of people who attend air shows. :lol: On a more serious note, that attendance just goes to prove how popular vintage planes and warbirds are, because they're the main attraction.

I love my warbirds because of the speed, the way they fly and the sound. It's such an engrossing experience. Pity A2A hasn't released another in such a long time.


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Mike
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norfolkmike
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Re: Why aren't many people into warbirds?

Post by norfolkmike »

I love the warbirds, the P:51 being my favourite! Much of that comes down to the fact I live near Bodney, home of 'The Blue Nosed Bastards' circa WW2. Had there been a B:24 (A2A) then that might pipped the 51 as I can see the old airfield of North Pickenham from my bedroom window, but sadly...there isn't. The B:17 is great though, and I still have a lot of fun in that.

Anyway. My problem is (and always has been) the visual contradiction of flying retro iron over a simulated modern landscape (if trying to fly in a historical context).

I've always reluctantly reverted back to simulating 'air show' flights and 'tours' :( . That can be fun of course, especially with FS Flight Recorder that allows you to do formations and routines, but those guys flying in DCS seem to have things sorted!

I've noticed that DCS have a P:47 due for release, and although I've never flown in DCS, its looking more and more like it will satisfy my yearning to couple the warbirds with VR, over scenery that reflects the era! I need to replace my antiquated PC, and with 'that new sim' on the horizon, it looks like 2020 might be a good time to explore a few things in the simming world I've been missing out on! That DCS Stang and Spitfire aren't going to compare favorably against the A2A versions I guess, but hopefully the incoming 47 might not be too shabby.

A P:47, in VR with all the noisy toys, escorting B:17 formations over the French coast and strafing enemy airfields!! Is that even medically safe at my age? :D I've seen a few of those VR 'reaction' videos on YouTube, and I'm beginning to wonder :D

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Dominique
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Re: Why aren't many people into warbirds?

Post by Dominique »

You try to takeoff with a 172 then you try to takeoff with a P51. Have I answered your question ?

Flying warbirds is an acquired taste, it is not easy even discouraging at the very beginning of a flight. You have to stick to it to discover the great feeling of accomplishment in taking a Mustang off the ground without having the bystanders burst in laughing at best or killing yourself at worst. Or keeping a T-6 straight on runway after touchdown. They don't forgive much. Sloppiness is not an option. This is what I like. Tastes vary from one simmer to another though.
Dominique
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Proud ownerin FS9 of the P-47 and P-51, in FSX/P3D of the Piper Cub, Cherokee, Comanche, P-40, P-51 civ., Texan, Boeing Stratocruiser, Cessna Skylane and in MSFS of the Comanche

HE11DUDE04
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Re: Why aren't many people into warbirds?

Post by HE11DUDE04 »

Because some people can't handle the epicness :lol:
AKA "Memey"
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mglan80
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Re: Why aren't many people into warbirds?

Post by mglan80 »

Funny, I was just having this debate with myself while looking at all of the sales going on now. I have a few warbirds in the hangar, but I just don't fly them much. I guess I prefer to go from A to B and show miles and destinations reached versus just flying. Really like the vintage cargos (C-46, C-47, C-64 - Connie), but I just don't fly the fighters (still waiting on the B-17 for P3D v4).

I love the look, sound and feel of the warbirds, but just don't find myself flying 'em much. Now, with all that said, do I buy the Spitfire or Texan??!!
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n421nj
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Re: Why aren't many people into warbirds?

Post by n421nj »

mglan80 wrote: 29 Nov 2019, 22:20 Funny, I was just having this debate with myself while looking at all of the sales going on now. I have a few warbirds in the hangar, but I just don't fly them much. I guess I prefer to go from A to B and show miles and destinations reached versus just flying. Really like the vintage cargos (C-46, C-47, C-64 - Connie), but I just don't fly the fighters (still waiting on the B-17 for P3D v4).

I love the look, sound and feel of the warbirds, but just don't find myself flying 'em much. Now, with all that said, do I buy the Spitfire or Texan??!!

T6 all the way. It has everything you would want and you can fly it in VFR or IFR day or night. The spit is VFR only with only a compass for navigation. Fun to fly but only under certain conditions. I’m not a fan of the long cross country flights in any of the military war birds.
Andrew

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MkIV Hvd
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Re: Why aren't many people into warbirds?

Post by MkIV Hvd »

mglan80 wrote: 29 Nov 2019, 22:20 Funny, I was just having this debate with myself while looking at all of the sales going on now. I have a few warbirds in the hangar, but I just don't fly them much. I guess I prefer to go from A to B and show miles and destinations reached versus just flying. Really like the vintage cargos (C-46, C-47, C-64 - Connie), but I just don't fly the fighters (still waiting on the B-17 for P3D v4).

I love the look, sound and feel of the warbirds, but just don't find myself flying 'em much. Now, with all that said, do I buy the Spitfire or Texan??!!
Like you, I do a lot of cross country flying and enjoy the process of getting there. When I first got the Harvard I flew it from High River, AB to Nome, AK and back, mostly VFR but some IFR and will say that although the Harvard is a wonderful instrument platform, this one is poorly equipped for hard IFR. With a single VOR/ILS and no DME or ADF I can't think of many approaches that can be done legally. Of course, you can use the non-IFR rated GPS to fill in the blanks and get the job done, but not legally. Now that wouldn't stop me from filing and flying IFR on VATSIM, but I don't think I'd try that without the GPS.

HOWEVER!! There is another option that may be right up your alley! The Civilian Mustang gives the Merlin experience in a package that's an extremely good cross country machine. It's a great sightseeing airplane and if the need arises it's a great IFR platform as well. It's a handful to hand fly IFR and you'll see right away why they put the big yellow square around the primary flight instruments to get your attention...a second and a half's inattention and you could be upside down :shock: :lol: That aside, when I'm flying it cross country on an IFR flight plan, I fly it to the Cessna Citation single pilot operational standards to which I was trained a long time ago. The Mustang is significantly more difficult to handle properly in an IFR environment than the Citation is and I use the auto pilot as a programmable "pilot flying" in my CRM procedures :wink:
Rob Wilkinson
A2A: Civilian Mustang, T-6, Bonanza, Comanche, Cub, C182, Spitfire, P-40, Cherokee, P-51 - VATSIM P4 and some other stuff...

Alfredson007
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Re: Why aren't many people into warbirds?

Post by Alfredson007 »

I love both, but if i'd have to choose only one, i'd choose the "Taurus".

Why? Because for me realism is the key. I think the well-behaving Cessna that can be extensively test-flown to comply flight data for a simulation, and that also is the plane you actually can fly in real life. They work better on simulator enviroment (lack of feel, poor controllers vs real life etc).

I do enjoy warbirds and modern jets in a flight sims, but they serve another purpose than regular GA planes.

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mglan80
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Re: Why aren't many people into warbirds?

Post by mglan80 »

All good advice, gentlemen. Thanks! Just have to make up my mind or maybe I'll put off a decision again 'til next year.
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