Comments on: The widening margin http://airminded.org/2008/05/27/the-widening-margin/ Airpower and British society, 1908-1941 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:15:39 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: AndrewGrantham.co.uk » Blog Archive » Would the sound mirrors have been much use? http://airminded.org/2008/05/27/the-widening-margin/comment-page-1/#comment-76046 AndrewGrantham.co.uk » Blog Archive » Would the sound mirrors have been much use? Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:01:57 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=502#comment-76046 [...] not, concludes Brett Holman in a posting on his Airminded blog entitled The widening margin. It is an interesting analysis by someone doing a PhD at the University of Melbourne, examining the [...] [...] not, concludes Brett Holman in a posting on his Airminded blog entitled The widening margin. It is an interesting analysis by someone doing a PhD at the University of Melbourne, examining the [...]

]]> By: George Shaner http://airminded.org/2008/05/27/the-widening-margin/comment-page-1/#comment-75537 George Shaner Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:19:08 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=502#comment-75537 I'm pretty sure that they were horn-type detectors, but it's been about three years since I read the book and a copy is not close to hand. I’m pretty sure that they were horn-type detectors, but it’s been about three years since I read the book and a copy is not close to hand.

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/05/27/the-widening-margin/comment-page-1/#comment-75252 Brett Holman Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:10:47 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=502#comment-75252 George: Interesting! Were they acoustic mirrors, as such, or the horn type of detectors? The latter were quite common from WWI on. Don: Oh yes, the B-29! Quite ironic, as they were technological marvels, with fully-pressurised cabins and the capability of flying at the edge of the stratosphere ... just where the jet stream begins. Oops. George:

Interesting! Were they acoustic mirrors, as such, or the horn type of detectors? The latter were quite common from WWI on.

Don:

Oh yes, the B-29! Quite ironic, as they were technological marvels, with fully-pressurised cabins and the capability of flying at the edge of the stratosphere … just where the jet stream begins. Oops.

]]> By: Don Smith http://airminded.org/2008/05/27/the-widening-margin/comment-page-1/#comment-75077 Don Smith Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:00:00 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=502#comment-75077 More wind ... rainy (Queen's Birth-) day yesterday and I came across a tape I'd made off the History Channel (missing it's 1st few minutes and title unfortunately). It skimmed lightly over US strategic bombing in WWII and included the comment that the initial high-level B29 raids on Japan were brought down to low level inter-alia o/a strong jet-streams. Allegedly the B29's were making net 50mph or so westerly transits across/to Japan, providing the defense with ample time to ready themselves. More wind … rainy (Queen’s Birth-) day yesterday and I came across a tape I’d made off the History Channel (missing it’s 1st few minutes and title unfortunately). It skimmed lightly over US strategic bombing in WWII and included the comment that the initial high-level B29 raids on Japan were brought down to low level inter-alia o/a strong jet-streams. Allegedly the B29’s were making net 50mph or so westerly transits across/to Japan, providing the defense with ample time to ready themselves.

]]> By: George Shaner http://airminded.org/2008/05/27/the-widening-margin/comment-page-1/#comment-75057 George Shaner Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:08:55 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=502#comment-75057 On the acoustic mirror angle, this work on the French air arm ("The Forgotten Airforce") had several comments on how that service created an operational system based on that technology; the difference as I recall was that the French built mobile detection units. Considering the French dispersion of effort when the war actually came it's hard to reach any conclusions as to whether they got value for the money; one suspects not. On the acoustic mirror angle, this work on the French air arm (”The Forgotten Airforce”) had several comments on how that service created an operational system based on that technology; the difference as I recall was that the French built mobile detection units. Considering the French dispersion of effort when the war actually came it’s hard to reach any conclusions as to whether they got value for the money; one suspects not.

]]> By: Chris Williams http://airminded.org/2008/05/27/the-widening-margin/comment-page-1/#comment-74923 Chris Williams Fri, 30 May 2008 13:57:17 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=502#comment-74923 Yeah, that was it. Lovely pictures of sleeve valves, etc. Yeah, that was it. Lovely pictures of sleeve valves, etc.

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/05/27/the-widening-margin/comment-page-1/#comment-74895 Brett Holman Fri, 30 May 2008 05:25:53 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=502#comment-74895 That reminds me of the 'silent raid' of 19 October 1917, when high winds led to the butchering of a big Zeppelin raid ... Is <a href="http://www.jstor.org/pss/3107125" rel="nofollow">this</a> article by Andrew Nahum the one you're thinking of? That reminds me of the ’silent raid’ of 19 October 1917, when high winds led to the butchering of a big Zeppelin raid …

Is this article by Andrew Nahum the one you’re thinking of?

]]> By: Chris Williams http://airminded.org/2008/05/27/the-widening-margin/comment-page-1/#comment-74840 Chris Williams Wed, 28 May 2008 22:45:10 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=502#comment-74840 Wind. On Sept 15 1940 sez Derek Robinson, a serious headwind (90mph at altitude) slowed the Luftwaffe right down. It's reasonable to surmise that this could have worked both ways, making the potential margin that much narrower. ISTR that there's an article in _Technology and Culture_ from about 20 years ago, which looks at how the 'time to climb' problem spurred the development of the sleeve-valve engine. Wind. On Sept 15 1940 sez Derek Robinson, a serious headwind (90mph at altitude) slowed the Luftwaffe right down. It’s reasonable to surmise that this could have worked both ways, making the potential margin that much narrower.

ISTR that there’s an article in _Technology and Culture_ from about 20 years ago, which looks at how the ‘time to climb’ problem spurred the development of the sleeve-valve engine.

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/05/27/the-widening-margin/comment-page-1/#comment-74824 Brett Holman Wed, 28 May 2008 10:28:30 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=502#comment-74824 Thanks, that's the sort of thing I mean! But to be churlish for a moment it's unfortunate that it's only for WWII-period aircraft. Thanks, that’s the sort of thing I mean! But to be churlish for a moment it’s unfortunate that it’s only for WWII-period aircraft.

]]> By: Ian Evans http://airminded.org/2008/05/27/the-widening-margin/comment-page-1/#comment-74819 Ian Evans Wed, 28 May 2008 08:37:11 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=502#comment-74819 Brett, For detailed performance curves, and lots more, try this site http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/. All the original measured figures from Farnborough, Rechlin, Patuxent, etc. Can take up a serious amount of time if you're not careful. Brett,
For detailed performance curves, and lots more, try this site
http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/. All the original measured figures from Farnborough, Rechlin, Patuxent, etc. Can take up a serious amount of time if you’re not careful.

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