Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Everything is open here inside and out, most folks prefer out because the weather is great right now.  I love okra in all its forms, but then I also like grits and sweet potatoes and black eyed peas and fresh green beans and tomatoes, etc.

For those on Twitter, this college football account posts Sportscenter briefs of old games, mostly from the 90s & 2000s:


https://twitter.com/ClassicsCFB/status/1381004921747632128

F-4U Corsair

Yep, that is my #1. The Mustang was a great plane but the Corsair was arguably better AND could take off from and land on carriers. 

I like the Mustang better, because the original Ford Mustang was (at least partially) named after it.

All three of my kids ran HS track with my oldest being all Ohio her Junior and Senior year. She would also run at the Mehock relays every year in Mansfield. It used to be one of the largest HS track meets in the country pulling in over 350 teams from six states and Canada. I only ask because you mentioned going to a really large track meet.

Heh no not nearly that big. She's a freshman so more or less just starting out. She ran the 100 and 200 the other night, and the 100 is close to beginning of the meet and the 200 near the end. So entertaining my 6 and 8 year olds is...

Both were designed for different purposes

Corsair was a carrier fighter with shorter range requirements in the Pacific

P51 was a long range bomber escort in Europe

Both had 3 guns on each wing

Corsair was slightly larger and about 10mph faster 440mph vs 450mph

We had a lot of differently designed fighters used late in WW 2.  The Navy (and Marine Corps) had a critical need for carrier landings for obvious reasons.  The Corsair initially had problems landing, but the British sorted it out, and it was a rare situation where the Marines got a front line fighter early because the Navy didn't think they could use it.

The Marines often flew off island bases.  The P51 used an Allison built (under license) version of the famous Merlin V-12 engine.  That and it's wing design gave it long range (and drop tanks).  The P47 was an interesting fighter as well, enormous, and the P38 is a favorite of mine also, very unusual layout.

Then there is the F6F Hellcat that the Navy did like.

If I'd been a naval aviator, I'd want an F6F.

The Germans built some capable fights also, the FW-190D comes to mind.  The Me-262 was ultra fast but limited in range.  Many shot down were coming in for a landing, and many crashed on landing.  The Soviet Yak-9 was credible.  The Brit Spitfire was very maneuverable and lasted the entire war in various marks.

Early in the war, I probably would have chosen the Zero Sen, long range, good firepower, and very nimble, but no armor or self sealing tanks.