Tommy, I've been a great fan of the Spad for most of my life and am always amazed at the many variations on a theme Douglas was able to squeeze out of one airframe. Now that most are gone and we'll never again see them lined up folded-wing to folded-wing on Navy ramps and carrier decks, I wonder how many of your fans and readers are aware that the AD-4 version came in many more permutations than the AD-4W. Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't AD-4s also day attack bombers, winterized all-weather and night attack bombers, torpedo bombers, and electronic countermeasures birds? And weren't there single seaters with the usual three dive brakes, airplanes with three dive brakes AND a guy in the back, airplanes with two guys in the back and no dive brakes on the sides, airplanes with one crew door in the side, airplanes with a crew door in each side, and crew doors that weren't in the same place on both sides of the fuselage? Doubtless you can tell us about variations on the variations of which I am not aware. And they all looked the same unless you knew where look or what to look for.
Tommy, I've been a great fan of the Spad for most of my life and am always amazed at the many variations on a theme Douglas was able to squeeze out of one airframe. Now that most are gone and we'll never again see them lined up folded-wing to folded-wing on Navy ramps and carrier decks, I wonder how many of your fans and readers are aware that the AD-4 version came in many more permutations than the AD-4W. Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't AD-4s also day attack bombers, winterized all-weather and night attack bombers, torpedo bombers, and electronic countermeasures birds? And weren't there single seaters with the usual three dive brakes, airplanes with three dive brakes AND a guy in the back, airplanes with two guys in the back and no dive brakes on the sides, airplanes with one crew door in the side, airplanes with a crew door in each side, and crew doors that weren't in the same place on both sides of the fuselage? Doubtless you can tell us about variations on the variations of which I am not aware. And they all looked the same unless you knew where look or what to look for.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
The Old Bald Guy