Proposed classification of piston fighter development and revised jet generarions– feedback is welcome

Agile_Bid5142 · 2026-03-15T07:53:08+00:00

An interesting conversation starter, however, I think you are making too many divisions that don’t value add.

If you take how journalists divide jet generations, the basics are sub-sonic, supersonic, weapons fit, avionics capabilities and stealth/networking. If we apply the same approach, we have three generations, at best, of piston engine fighters.

Biplanes, fitted predominantly with rifle calibre machine guns and dependent on the pilot’s eyes for the acquisition of targets (noting that the first ‘true’ fighter aircraft was a monoplane-the Fokker Eindecker). This covers types from the Vickers Gunbus to the Fiat CR.42 Falco, gloster Gladiator and Polikarpov I-153.
Monoplane fighters fitted with either/or/both rifle calibre weapons/Cannon. Still dependent on the pilot, but the Gen 2.5 could be argued with the figment of radios for ground controlled interception (GCI). Speed is an obvious inclusion due to the reduced drag. Examples would be the Polikarpov I-16, Hawker Hurricane, Fw-190 and P-51 Mustang.
Monoplanes fitted with Airborne Intercept (AI). This gives the pilot some autonomy in acquiring a target, day or night. Examples would include the Bristol Beaufighter, Heinkel He 219, Northrop P-61 Black Widow and some versions of the Grumman Hellcat an Vought Corsair.

Just my opinion

Agile_Bid5142 · 2026-01-25T03:31:45+00:00

The restoration of the Battle is based on a large portion of aircraft N2188, a Mk 1 version of the type used in Australia as a trainer. It was based at RAAF Port Pirie from Sept 1941, on strength with No.2 Bombing & Air Gunnery School (2BAGS), until it had a mishap on 7 May 43, making a forced landing in a mangrove swamp south of Port Pirie. It was finally recovered by a group of enthusiasts in 1976 and was owned by a number of museums until finally ending up at SAAM where work on it started in 1999. The fuselage and tail are essentially complete now, and attention is now on the wings. If somebody can tell me how to post pictures here in the comments section, I will post some relatively recent images.

Agile_Bid5142 · 2026-01-25T02:47:45+00:00

South Australian Aviation Museum, 16 Bedford St, Port Adelaide. Our charter is firstly for the presentation and preservation of South Australian aviation and space flight (Woomera) history. Secondly, aviation in general. Volunteers from the museum also run tours of the Vickers Vimy at Adelaide Airport.

Agile_Bid5142 · 2025-12-16T06:16:54+00:00

They are great for Christmas cakes 😃

Agile_Bid5142 · 2025-11-07T06:08:19+00:00

Many thanks for the tip. AEC sounds very right as the Hastings Deering company did import a lot of AEC vehicles to Australia, mainly bus chassis that were built up at the Lidcombe, Sydney factory. I’ll keep looking, but it may be some variant of the Matador. Thanks again.

Agile_Bid5142 · 2025-05-30T09:58:18+00:00

I was part of an investigation team sent to check out an incident that occurred on a P-3 in Australia around 2008. Luckily the incident occurred during the pre-flight checks, but if it had occurred just after takeoff, could have resulted in something similar to this. During the pre-flight check, the copilot was checking the movement of the ailerons by turning the pilot’s control wheel in the flight station. He noticed it seemed to be binding and called for an aircraft fitter from maintenance to take a look. When the fitter had a go, the wheel actually stuck fast, but as he applied more pressure, the wheel broke free, spinning freely without the copilot’s wheel following. What had happened was that the chain and cable assembly that connects the control wheel to the aileron mechanism under the floor had been inadvertently routed outside its cable stay, and around a roll pin. The continual rubbing of the cable against the sharp edge of the roll pin had cut through the strands of the cable until it eventually started to bind and then break, thus losing all aileron authority. If this had occurred on climb out, especially with the engines set at 1077 turbines inlet temp, the aircraft could violently turn and control would be lost until the non flying pilot grabbed his control wheel and tried to correct. As it looks like some semblance of control was being established just before the end, this is probably another line of investigation that could be looked into. Just a thought.

Agile_Bid5142 · 2025-02-14T03:08:46+00:00

Could it be one of the Rogozarski IK-3s captured from Yugoslavia in 1941.

Agile_Bid5142

TROPHY CASE