dyson@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (mark l dyson) (10/19/89)
From: dyson@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (mark l dyson) In the debates concerning the reletive merits of such aircraft as the Camel and the Pup, I couldn't help noticing the oft-repeated old saw about the Camel being 'very tricky to fly.' The only real problems with the Camel were its high rotary torque and tail-heaviness. True, it wasn't hands-off stable (who'd want to be in a fighter which was) but the only consistant non-combat mishap was an inclination to ground-loop if 'horsed about' by inexperienced former Pup pilots. Many former Camel pilots (Grinnel-Milne for one) have tried to mitigate the public's attitude about a plane that they claim was one of the sweetest-handling machines of the war, and not 'tricky' at all (except to hapless Albatross pilots). I will agree that the Se-5a was probably the best machine the UK produced, in spite of the over-and-under gun set-up. -Mark-