Specification GB

[tc2324]

Been reading about the various Martin Baker fighter specifications in this months Flypast mag and I thought it a good idea to propose it to you guys.

Was thinking along the lines that I`ll pretend I`m working at the air ministry(UK), DoD(US),Reichsluftfahrtministerium(Germany) or Japanese Air Ministry in 1941 and I`ll come up with three specifications. A fighter, a medium bomber and a heavy.

Pick a type you want to do and obviously this would be more a kit bash rather than an OOB build

I need to give this idea a little more thought and write the specifications down and post a bit later, but wondered if there was an interest?

[Slerski]

That's a weird idea but I like this  But maybe some doesn't like cause it's restrain the imagination

[pyro-manic]

Does it have to be 1941? What about a less well-covered period, say 1931?

[jcf]

A few points, there was no DoD in 1941, rather it was the Department of War (Army) and the Department of the Navy.
The two departments issued their own aircraft specifications. The fact the Army and the Navy both used versions of
the same basic Curtiss and Boeing fighters in the 1920s-30s has more to do with limited resources and production
capability than any element of central control.

The situation was similar in Japan, the IJA and IJN being not only independent but actually in competition for power and
resources, they did not play well together. 

So rather than four military bureaucracies to play with, we have six. 

Wiki has a fairly good, although incomplete, list of Air Ministry specs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_Of_Air_Ministry_Specifications

[tc2324]

That's a weird idea but I like this   But maybe some doesn't like cause it's restrain the imagination

You may be right. Think this appeal more to budding aircraft designers rather than the straight A model builders.

Does it have to be 1941? What about a less well-covered period, say 1931?

Felt WW2 would be more open to the masses as it could also involve jet aircraft from that era.

Don`t get me wrong, like the inter war years myself but like I said, that era may limit the number of members that might want a crack at this.

[tc2324]

A few points, there was no DoD in 1941, rather it was the Department of War (Army) and the Department of the Navy.
The two departments issued their own aircraft specifications. The fact the Army and the Navy both used versions of
the same basic Curtiss and Boeing fighters in the 1920s-30s has more to do with limited resources and production
capability than any element of central control.

The situation was similar in Japan, the IJA and IJN being not only independent but actually in competition for power and
resources, they did not play well together. 

So rather than four military bureaucracies to play with, we have six. 

Wiki has a fairly good, although incomplete, list of Air Ministry specs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_Of_Air_Ministry_Specifications

Thanks for the clarification and wiki link. Will help me while I`m sorting out what now looks to be around 10 specifications..

[jcf]

The variety of aircraft entered to Specification F.7/30 gives a good idea of how widely one can interpret a given
set of requirements.

RR Goshawk engined per the requirement:

http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/hawker_pv-3.php


http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/black_f7-30.php


http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/west_f7-30.php


http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/bristol_123.php


http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/supermarine_224.php

Non Goshawk :

http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/bristol_133.php

The ultimate "winner", and designed years after the spec was issued, was the Gloster SS.37 which became the Gladiator.

[puddingwrestler]

I think this idea's been proposed before (Design a Fighter or something) in a slighlty different form.
I was on board for that. I am onboard for this.
Especially if I can enter as Harumph Aviation.

[tc2324]

Soory, been a tad busy but going to resurrect this idea very shortly with a few specifacation ideas. 

Please feel free to `chip in`. 

[tigercat]

looks interesting what about a strike aircraft spec to cover ground attack, dive bomber and naval enthusiasts

[Weaver]

You could make it a rolling theme with deadlines every x months, the winner of the latest one getting to write the spec for the next one.....

[tc2324]

You could make it a rolling theme with deadlines every x months, the winner of the latest one getting to write the spec for the next one.....

Now thats not a bad idea. 

I`d say every 3 months so it gives everyone enough time.

looks interesting what about a strike aircraft spec to cover ground attack, dive bomber and naval enthusiasts

If the above idea takes off so to speak,  then I think this would be covered. 

[tc2324]

Ok, here`s my attempt at writing a aircraft specification requirement for tc2324`s air arm....

Specification F/1/40A/B   (F = Fighter, 1 = First Specification, 40 = 1940, A/B = Two Requirements)

F/1/40A

High performance low level fighter with ground attack capabilities. Able to carry 2000lbs weapons load over a minimum range 900 miles.

F/1/40/B

Navalised version of the F/1/40A specification.

As simple as it gets and I know that the Typhoon will instantly come to a lot of minds. However, look at the minimum range, well outside the Tiffies range. Some of you may be thinking Mosquito? Well thats a bit closer, but lets start thinking outside the box. Perhaps Mr Whittle may be involved? Perhaps I might be German or American and not British?

Over to you lot for the C+C....

[sideshowbob9]

^ Interesting. I'm thinking of something with a Fairey Monarch style H-24 engine arrangement (where you can shut half of the "H" down to increase range) and jettisonable slipper tanks.....

[tc2324]

^ Interesting. I'm thinking of something with a Fairey Monarch style H-24 engine arrangement (where you can shut half of the "H" down to increase range) and jettisonable slipper tanks.....

Sounds interesting, although would a pilot want to shut down an engine of a high performance fighter?