Grumman F5F-3 Skyrocket

Driftless

Donor
Sorry. I'm Canadian. I didn't know you could get drunk on American beer.

It depends...

If it's from a Malt Beverage Producer Conglomerate and their marketing model is: "Tastes flabby - Spend more!" it probably ain't going to get the job done.....:rolleyes:

If the beer is from a real Brewery, then it's all good. ;)
 
arrogant.jpg
 
You need to try Arrogant Bastard Ale from Stone Brewing Company in San Diego.
Sorry, this isn't a fantasy but rather a light-to-moderately researched AH timeline. Your company did not exist at the time. While I have sat around the back-yard fire with my neighbor and swilled a vintage called Fat Bastard, a not untenable French vintage, your "American beer" leaves me flat, urinating repeatedly, and unimpressed. The beer preferred by Kartveli was Utica Club, but Rex Beisel opted for Blatz on draft. In deference, Alex ordered the Blatz.
 
Thought I'd kick this one with a alternative to the USN/USMC buying it. The RAF or the Fleet Air Arm are looking about & see possibilities in F5F variants. Obviously this 1940 selection is too late for the early war battles. The Brits would be aiming for the air war of 1942 & beyond. So what difference does this aircraft make in RAF hands from early 1942 & beyond.
 
Thought I'd kick this one with a alternative to the USN/USMC buying it. The RAF or the Fleet Air Arm are looking about & see possibilities in F5F variants. Obviously this 1940 selection is too late for the early war battles. The Brits would be aiming for the air war of 1942 & beyond. So what difference does this aircraft make in RAF hands from early 1942 & beyond.

RAF needs would have been the same as those served by the P-38 Lightning, and sought with equal fervor. The FAA would be envious of the performance, and regretful that their carriers weren't more readily adaptable to twins. There is a war on and the F5F is in only limited production, as are the engines. It's hard enough getting a sufficient supply of turbos from GE. Despite what you may have read, the Skyrocket is an exclusive Marine machine, with production limited to 200 units, until alternative production facilities are found for airframes, engines and turbos.
 
The engine shortage became very acute once Lockheed starting producing the P-49 in quantity in 1943. USAAC was able to pull rank, as the USAAC had funded the development of the Continental I-1430. So the USAAC claimed priority on the Continental for its P-49 Super Lightning even though the USMC/Grumnan team had worked out most of the bugs, getting the Military output up to over 1700 hp and the WEP to 2150 hp, as well as working out the turbo-supercharger issues.

The only thing that kept the Continental from being the most important Allied liquid cooled engine of the war was the even more amazing performance of Ford's V-1650 GAA engine, which made the Mustang the fighter of the European front.

RAF needs would have been the same as those served by the P-38 Lightning, and sought with equal fervor. The FAA would be envious of the performance, and regretful that their carriers weren't more readily adaptable to twins. There is a war on and the F5F is in only limited production, as are the engines. It's hard enough getting a sufficient supply of turbos from GE. Despite what you may have read, the Skyrocket is an exclusive Marine machine, with production limited to 200 units, until alternative production facilities are found for airframes, engines and turbos.
 
.... Despite what you may have read, the Skyrocket is an exclusive Marine machine, with production limited to 200 units, until alternative production facilities are found for airframes, engines and turbos.

I was thinking a enamored RAF adapts the design to production in the UK, dropping part of all the production of some other type. Perhaps have Hawker drop Typhoon development entirely & reduce late Hurricane output in favor of the Skyrocket. Main danger may be choosing the wrong engine.
 
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I was thinking a enamored RAF adapts the design to production in the UK, dropping part of all the production of some other type. Perhaps have Hawker drop Typhoon development entirely & reduce late Hurricane output in favor of the Skyrocket. Main danger may be choosing the wrong engine.

I feel that the Hawker fighter project was cast in stone, and the Gloster and Westland twins were missed opportunities not really wanted, ending in the DH Hornet just in time for wacking away at restless Malayan rebels, just like the old days.
 
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