WARPLANES EAST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 107, 8 May 1941, Page 5

WARPLANES EAST

FIGHTERS FROM ILS.

THE "PEANUT SPECIALS"

With Royal Australian Air Force Wirraways—built in the country from modified American, designs— and Lockheed Hudsons known to| have been stationed in Malaya forj some months, and giant Consolidated] Liberator bombers reported to be flying the Pacific to Singapore, that gives the United States aircraft industry a big share of the defences of Britain's Pacific fortress, says the "Melbourne Herald." Buffaloes are already officially credited with having shot down Germans over England, and fighters that can deal with the Luftwaffe are more than capable of looking after any other potentially hostile air force. They were among the first of the American fighters delivered to England, and many scores have been shipped. Fast and Handy In appearance they are unlike any warplane seen here, and are strikingly dissimilar to such lean, rakish craft as Spitfires or the "American Curtiss Tomahawk. In outline, they are true descendants of the Gee Bee racers which broke all speed records in America a few years ago. and earned the nickname of Bumblebees. The R.A.F. has another name for them. The Buffaloes and the somewhat similar Grumman Martlet are known in England as the "Peanut Specials"—a reference to their odd-shaped fuselages. In the nose of the stout fuselage is a 1200 horsepower Wright Cyolone engme which gives the Buffalo as much speed as many a slicker-look-ing plane develops—33o miles an flour at 16,000 ft. In a recent demonstration in England a Buffalo proved "self slightly faster than a Hurribattl WUh which il f ought a mock

. Also, it was almost as handy to manoeuvre—and the Hurricane has the reputation of being the most agile warplane in the world to-day. Long Patrol Capacity The Americans developed this type for use as a Fleet fighter, which means that it must have a good takeoff and a reasonably low landing speed, so that it is particularly useful in a country where not all landing grounds may be first class. ■ ; Because it might be called on to! make long ocean patrols, it was also adapted to take extra fuel tanks I which would give it astonishing range, for a fighter, of 2500 miles. I It is unlikely that the R.A.F. would I want to fly it such distance, but it could, if necessary, be used as an escort for long-range bombers.