J. Richard Smith (1)
Author of German Aircraft of the Second World War
For other authors named J. Richard Smith, see the disambiguation page.
Series
Works by J. Richard Smith
Kampfflieger -Bombers of the Luftwaffe July 1940-December 1941,Volume 2 (Luftwaffe Colours) (2004) 29 copies
Jagdwaffe V5 Sec 4- Jet Fighters and Rocket Interceptors 1944-1945 (Luftwaffe Colours) (2005) 28 copies
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Smith, John Richard
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
Members
Reviews
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 45
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 828
- Popularity
- #30,825
- Rating
- 4.3
- Reviews
- 10
- ISBNs
- 64
- Languages
- 2
As for the dual-coupled engines, and the attempt to make the 177 a dive bomber, one does get the clearest explanation of how these features became the foundation of the design. It turns out that Heinkel's designers had something of a fixation on duel-coupled engines from the perspective of drag reduction, whereas the initial main mission for this plane was going to be maritime patrol and attack, so dive bombing was desired as a feature. Though there is no denying Ernst Udet's obsession with that mode of attack.
It always amazes me that there was no more than a month between when the "Greif" and the Consolidated "Liberator" flew in late 1939, but that the American machine was entering operational service by the end of 1941, whereas it was almost the end of 1943 before the "Greif" was massaged to the point where flying it was not like playing Russian Roulette. Call this a great example of the military-industrial complex syndrome in action, where corporate reaping of income from "development" becomes more important than actual implementation.… (more)