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Significant versus Footnote

Posted by Joe Scheil on Mon Jan 26, 2004 12:07:15 AM

In reply top Re: Same question, different spin posted by Olivier Lacombe on Sun Jan 25, 2004 07:14:53 PM

While it is neat to see the one offs, the rarities and the oddities, its important that they remain in context. While a Tempest is rare and desirable, it does not connotate RAF history the way a Hurricane does. While this arguement is one held on the net and nowhere else, its important to remember your roots. You all fell in love with the headliners before you went out through the books in search of exotica. Airshow crowds are not simply unknowing masses without care for the oddities in barns. They are the citizenry that made up the majority of the warfighters in those days, and they are there to see the aircraft that have transcended the Aviation barriers to become common words. Spitfire, DC-3, Flying Fortress and Mustang are more than just common restored aircraft. They are the best of their generation. Other aircraft may be fractionally better in categories, but not in summation. I applaud TFC and the many collections scouring the earth for rarities, they truly enrich the canvas of our appreciation. Just remember there is a reason the P-51D is so "common".

Of course the Blenhiem book has many valid points to modify the above, and all of the significant aircraft of 1942 were generally scrapped by the end of 45. However, just a counterpoint view to enrich the thread...

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