[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

So by Oct of 1944 what was the actual experience level of the average TA 152 pilot compared to his Allied rival.

Lets see, in the begining of 1944 new German pilots probably had around 160 hours of pilot training flying before posting to front line unit. By Spring of 1944 they would be arriving at front line posting with probably only around 15 hours pilot training flying. With the exceptions of the veterans, have to think experience level was quite low.

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

So by Oct of 1944 what was the actual experience level of the average TA 152 pilot compared to his Allied rival.

The TA-152 only appeared in action to any meaningful degree in the Spring of 1945 and even then in groups of three or four at a time. According to published reports, TA-152 pilots were often aces with more combat experience than their US British or Russian opponents, although flying time on the TA-152, itself, was extremely limited. The handful of reports on actual TA-152 confrontations with Tempests, P-51s and Yak-9s indicate that it was a formidable opponent when not hopelessly outnumbered---in which case the German pilots merely accelerated out of harm's way.

[mikeb1958]

Hey! I didn't see a P-26 Peashooter on that list. All those fancy colors would scare anything off!

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by mikeb1958

Hey! I didn't see a P-26 Peashooter on that list. All those fancy colors would scare anything off!

Yeah, nothing like the roar of the P-26s 600hp SR-1340-33 Pratt & Whitney radial engine. Oh and the mighty twin 0.30 machine guns armament. It might even be able to squeak out 180mph and 20,000 feet. Only problem would be how long it would take to get to 20,000 feet, shoot the speedometer in a P-26 is probably a calendar.

[mikeb1958]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

Yeah, nothing like the roar of the P-26s 600hp SR-1340-33 Pratt & Whitney radial engine. Oh and the mighty twin 0.30 machine guns armament. It might even be able to squeak out 180mph and 20,000 feet. Only problem would be how long it would take to get to 20,000 feet, shoot the speedometer in a P-26 is probably a calendar.

And with that open-type windshield like that little Russian I-16....getting to 20,000 feet could be dangerous.