WesWorld

Your chance to compete in this year's contest starts right now! This will be the last Talons until 1936 so lets make it good.

Could all contestants please supply some speed, weight, dimension and engine type data and whether or not fuel additives etc will be used so there are no mistakes or understandings. Feel free to PM if you wish your entry to be secret.

I'm holding spaces for India as Rocky wished to enter this year.

Here are the rules;

1. Any nation can enter a maximum of two fighters; they can different types or the same

2. Carrier based fighters are also welcome

3. Entries must be production machines, that is to say they must be in regular service or approaching the end of testing and entering service within six months. This does not cover any modifications to service machines

4. Engine tuning is allowed and some engine modifications, superchargers may be fitted to improve performance and fuel additives may be used.

5. No armament to be fitted, ballast to weight of guns must be added.

6. All aircraft must be fitted with at least a radio receiver for safety reasons

7. Pilots must have over three years of flying experience on single-engined types, test pilots are allowed to compete but other civilian pilots are not. Rank of the pilot is not an issue.

8. All monoplanes and biplanes will compete in separate race events, all duels will also be separate but an extra Grand Final Duel will feature both types of fighter. Bombing and altitude and cross country races will be of mixed groups. Pilots will score points and these will be tallied to declare a winner.


Argentina will enter two pilots.

No1 Major S. Castro flying a production FMA I-100A Barron

No2 as yet unchosen pilot flying a standard IMPA I-99 (Spartan F-9)

Mexico will enter:

A white C-5 Aguila flown by Capitan Valenzuela


An A-1 Mapache in desert camo flown by Teniente Cielocaminante



Lascurian will not participate this year but will be present showing off his latest planes, both of the entries will be entering service in the next 6 months.

TNCA Aircraft

Australia will not enter this year, but will send the Black Swans flight demonstartion team.

And why will they not be a Talon's Over Cardoba in 1935? Is it a once every two year event?

After his announcement of retirment from Talons after three years experience, Col. Bergamini resumed his role in the Regia Aeronautica. In December of 1933 he put forward the idea of a combat air school to train some of each year's intake. It would hopefully result in establishing a core of experienced pilot/instructors who could then gradually pass on the knowledge to the other's in their eventual squadrons. At the back of Bergamini's mind was the thought of eventually winning the Talons event after having come so close in 1933.

SuperAero agreed and let Col. Bergamini set up a school near Lake Garda with the progress being reviewed after two years to see whether the results were cost effective. In locating the school next to Lake Garda, Bergamini also hoped to integrate with RAV training there for the 1934 Schneider Trophy event.

In January 1934 he took the top ten pilots from the previous year's intake, all volunteers, for the first year. The instructors were headed by himself and Maj. de Bernardi who had persuaded Caproni to partially release him from his test pilot duties. The types of aircraft used were CH.1bis and Ca.165 biplanes. In March, the 7th and 8th prototypes of the Fiat CR.35 were delivered. This promising new monoplane was found to have superlative performance in comparison. A fatal flaw was found in the end of March when one of the aircraft stalled in a low speed turning battle resulting in the death of one of the promising trainees. Fiat was under fire from other directions at the time and quickly sought to rectify the situation by grounding the remaining aircraft and developing a new model that would hopefully take on board some the criticisms.

In May, the pre-production prototypes of the modified CR.35, the bis version, were wheeled out of the Fiat factory. It included leading edge slats for better control at low speeds. The major change was the new engine and forward fuselage. The limits of the previous IF Semi-Asso engine had been reached and a new IF Asso XI engine was housed in the enlarged forward fuselage. The increased power necessitated an increase in area for the chin radiator and the location of the supercharger air intake in front of the canopy. As a result the all-up weight increased by some 300kg. The effect on handling wasn't as bad as first thought as the slats helped to reduce the turning radius. The extra power resulted in increased climb rate and acceleration. On balance, the maneuverability was thought to increase.

Bergamini's air school received the 4th and 5th preproduction aircraft and put them to good use. By the beginning of May, the school had 7 examples and training was really taking off. The better weather meant more flying time, especially at altitude. In late June, two pilots were selected for Talons. Because of the requirement for three years flying experience only one of the trainees could be chosen. He was Lt. Ricco, the 20yr old son of a weathly count would had learnt to fly at the age of 16. His experience and natural talent gave him an additional advantage over the others. The remaining pilot was the instructor Maj. de Bernadi who returns to Talons for the 3rd time. Bergamini and the other trainees will also be attending for support and to examine the tactics and aircraft of other competitors. They will travel with 3 three CR.35bis fighters, one of them being a reserve aircraft.

Ithekro, a big stonking war between Argentina, Brazil and SAE just might interfere next year... not so much a demonstration but rather the real thing!

Nice back story RA, perhaps someday I should reveal the copius notes the Argentine Air Force has made of every fighter and pilot to attend Talons and all the secret photographs and graphs the boffins have drawn up. Nah perhaps I shouldn't!

Noooo!!!! Not foresight!

That would have been my guess, but I wanted to be sure I hadn't missed something else.

The Royal Siamese Air Force and Royal Siamese Naval Air Service tender the following entries.

NOTE: Siam is using the high-octane aviation fuel produced by the Dutch.

Aircraft One
Service: Royal Siamese Air Force
Manufacturer: FMA
Model: I-100
Pilot: Flt Lt. Phol Thongpricha
Other Crew: n/a
Powerplant: 1 x Bristol Mercury, 640hp
Armament: 2 x 13mm MG (nose), 4 x 13mm MG (wings)
Markings: Black with silver lightning bolt on fuselage side. Number "Silver 13" (aft of roundel).
Notes: Following his dissipointing performance in the 1932 competition, the Flight Lieutenant has practiced hard to avenge his sullied honour.

Aircraft Two

Service: Royal Siamese Naval Air Service
Manufacturer: Focke-Wulf
Model: Fw 42B-1
Pilot: F/O Suan Sukhserm
Other Crew: A/C Commander, Flt Lt. Chan Nuat-Kheo; Gunner, Airman Somphong Naelbanthad
Powerplant: 2 x BMW VIu (V), 750hp each
SLH 25m x 17.7m x 4.3m / area 108 sq m / MTOW 9000kg
Armament: 4 x 8mm MG (fixed nose), 2 x 20mm cannon (fixed lower nose), 1 x 8mm MG (tail turret), 500kg bombs in internal bay
Markings: Green/brown/grey camo, Red tail band w/white disc. Race number to be placed in disc. Number "White 42 (Red)", name "The Answer"
Notes: This crew voluenteered with the White Elephant Squadron. After having to substitute a "Fw 42B-0" (truthfully a only slightly modified A-1) last year the "patrol fighter" B-1 makes its appearance.

Note that as there is no bombsight in the B the crew is insistant that they be allowed to utilise their defensive stinger.


In addition, Bangkok Aero Manufacturing has its Model 112T trainer on display both static and aerial.

The Força Aérea Brasileira submits the following entries:

Aircraft One

Manufacturer: EMBRAER (FMA)
Model: F-3B (EMB-34B/I-100A)
Pilot: Capitão Nero Moura
Other Crew: n/a
Powerplant: 1 x FMA RR-14-2, 700hp
Armament: 2 x 13mm MG (nose), 4 x 13mm MG (wings)
Markings: White overall, standard FAB markings.
Notes: Capitão Moura is Brazil's first ace, with five kills in the Bolivian War and the following skirmishing with the Santa Cruz de la Sierra Republic.

Aircraft Two
Manufacturer: EMBRAER
Model: PU-43 (EMB-28) (*Seversky SEV-3XP*)
Pilot: Baron Soontir Fel
Other Crew: Radio Operator, Taifeiro de Primeira-Classe Geff Blim; Gunner, Segundo-Tenente Iella Wessiri
Powerplant: 1 x Wright R-1830 radial, 900hp
Armament: 1 x 7.7mm MG (nose), 1 x 7.7mm MG (gunner), 2 x 50kg bombs
Markings: Overall silver, standard FAB markings.
Notes: (classified)

Brazil's aero-manufacturers put on the full-court press at the show; EMBRAER has examples of the EMB-34 bomber (LACAB GR.8), EMB-35 attacker (Bellanca Flash), and models of the EMB-36 fighter (Seversky P-35) and "future four-engined bomber" (Sikorsky XBLR-3). Sienar has V-15 (licensed Grumman Duck), V-23 (licensed Grumman G-23), and V-19 (Brewster SBA) aircraft present, with a model of the V-25 (Hall XPTBH-2).

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In addition there are two (NPC) entries that are "Brazilian associated"...

Following the sale of EMB-32 aircraft to Eire, the Irish Air Corps despatched a number of pilots to Brazil for training on the type. As it is/will be just wrapping up at the time ToC rolls around, it was decided to make an entry.

Nationality: Republic of Ireland
Manufacturer: EMBRAER
Model: EMB-32 (*Renaud R.32*)
Pilot: Lieutenant Patrick Ryan O'Connell
Other Crew: Gunner, Corporal Adam Pierson
Powerplant: 1 x Rolls-Royce Kestrel V, 695hp
Armament: 2 x 7.7mm MG (nose), 1 x 7.7mm MG (gunner)
Markings: Olive drab/brown camo topsides, sky blue undersurfaces. Normal IAC roundels.

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Meanwhile, in what can only be considered a cheeky move, the Santa Cruz de la Sierra Republc sends one of the aircraft that were purchased (clandestinley) from Peru (using Brazilian ISB funds) at the start of their exsistance.

Nationality: Santa Cruz de la Sierra Republc
Manufacturer: Arado
Model: Ar 65
Pilot: Lt. Diego Alessandro
Other Crew: n/a
Powerplant: 1 x BMW VI, 750hp
Armament: 2 x 7.9mm MG (nose)
Markings:

The Dutch entries will be a pair of carrier planes from CV Hund , consisting of a Fokker XIXb monoplane , and a Fokker XVIIc biplane.

The pilots will again feature be Navy Flight Lieutenant Jacob Huyrluyt flying the D.XVII, but this year Navy Flight Lieutenant G.F. Jongbloed will be the D.XIXb pilot.

The planes are slightly different than last years versions, when a XIX prototype and production XVIIbis flew. The XIXb is merely a slight redesign for carrier service with reinforced landing gear and a tailhook. The XVIIc is simply a reengined XVIIbis with the XIX's -12Y-21 engine (better compression, 100 octane) substituted for the basic -12Y. CV Hund will provide the necessary fuel and supporting mechanics.

===D.XIXb===

Name : Fokker D.XIXb
Type : Carrier capable fighter
Undercarriage : Carrier or Rough Field
Crew : 1

Weight (max) : 4,625lbs (half) : 4,466 (empty) 4,311
Dimensions : Length : 25.9 ft. Wingspan : 35.3 ft., 18 degree sweep Wing Area : 226sq. ft.
Wingloading : 20.46 lb/sq. ft.

Powerplant : 1 x Hispano-Suiza 12Y-21 867 hp inline, supercharged 12,000 ft.
Powerplant weight: 1x 1,036lbs
Power/weight ratio : 0.186hp/lb

Armament : 2x 7.92mm, 2x 13.2mm
Armor : 10mm disk behind pilot.
Range : 405nm (466mile) at 150kts

Rate of climb from sea level : 2,460 fpm @ max weight, 2,578 fpm @ half
Max speed : 281kts (323 mph)
Ceiling : 37,950 ft.
radius : 1,556 ft.
Loaded Stall speed : 60 knts (69mph)

Limiting Airspeed : 375kts
Wing Ultimate g Load : 15G
Structural Factor : 1.0
Cleanness : 79%
Unstreamlined section : 1.6 sq. ft

===D.XVIIc===

Name : Fokker D.XVIIc
Type : Carrier capable biplane fighter
Undercarriage : Carrier or Rough Field
Crew : 1

Weight (max) : 4,500lbs (half) : 4,466 (empty) 4,359
Dimensions : Length : 26.5 ft. Wingspan : 34 ft. Wing Area : 232sq. ft.
Wingloading : 19.4 lb/sq. ft.

Powerplant : 1 x Hispano-Suiza 12Y-21 867 hp inline, supercharged 12,000 ft.
Powerplant weight: 1x 1,036lbs
Power/weight ratio : 0.193hp/lb

Armament : 2x 7.92mm, 2x 13.2mm
Armor : 10mm disk behind pilot.
Range : 405nm (466mile) at 133kts

Rate of climb from sea level : 2,679 fpm @ max weight, 2,778 fpm @ half
Max speed : 268kts (308 mph)
Ceiling : 41,250 ft.
radius : 1,292 ft.
Loaded Stall speed : 55 knts (63mph)

Limiting Airspeed : 325kts
Wing Ultimate g Load : 17G
Structural Factor : 0.9
Cleanness : 61%
Unstreamlined section : 2.4 sq. ft

The RAF will enter two Hurricanes, with pilots' names a bit later.

Using 100-oct fuel will only make a difference if the engine is redesigned to have a bigger compression ratio. In which case you'll get more power, but it might also mean more weight as the cylinders might have to be strengthened to cope with the increased pressure.

I forgot the picture of the CR.35bis last time around. The insets are for a ventral 25mm gun pack, underwing bomblett racks and larger tyres for rough field work.

Germany will, for the first time, be sending a team to compete at the 1934 Talons contest. The team will be composed of General Ernst Udet, flying the gloss-white painted Bf-019 V13, and Lieutenant Werner Moelders flying the gloss-black painted Bf-109 V12. Both aircraft will be fitted with ballast for the 15mm wing guns and cameras and ballast for the nose 7.92mm guns.

In South Africa a spokesman of the Air Ministry states that the SAE may send a DeBroek F-3C "Buzzard" (a modified F-3 with a LMF750 of 750PS increasing her capabilities) and a new JFM F-6B "Swollow". A final decision has yet to be made...

Quoted

Originally posted by Red Admiral
Using 100-oct fuel will only make a difference if the engine is redesigned to have a bigger compression ratio. In which case you'll get more power, but it might also mean more weight as the cylinders might have to be strengthened to cope with the increased pressure.

The Hispano-Suiza 12Y-21 engine is the historical engine that used 100 octane fuel and had better compression. I only have one weight for 12Y engines, so I'm probably slightly overwieght in early versions and will be slightly underweight in the later 1,084hp version. The later 12Z runs 50% more weight for about 50% more power on 100/130, so it seems reasonable.

Edit : The 12Ydrs listed in wiki is at .90hp/lb and the 12Z-17 is at .99hp/lb.
I am using 0.84 hp/lb. I wasn't planning on moving to the 940hp (0.907hp/lb) version until 1935, with the 1084 version in 1936, and the 12Z in 1937.

Philippines submits the same two pilots and aircraft.. although we really need to get something better than a biplane for our carrier pilots..

Well, Heinkel IS working on a carrier-launched version of the He-112, and Heinkel DOES have a factory in the Phillipines....

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
Well, Heinkel IS working on a carrier-launched version of the He-112, and Heinkel DOES have a factory in the Phillipines....

Well.. I think I might start a production line when development is done.

If the PAF started using He-112s for it's land-based fighters, and then added He-112Ts for its carrier(s), then you could benefit from commonality in training, spare parts, manufacturing, etc. Just a thought.....

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
If the PAF started using He-112s for it's land-based fighters, and then added He-112Ts for its carrier(s), then you could benefit from commonality in training, spare parts, manufacturing, etc. Just a thought.....

A good thought.. the FAF and the Navy are seperate services though, and the FAF just got a new fighter from Nakajima a couple of years ago.. although things have moved rather quickly in those two years. Probably the Navy will get the fighter first, and depending on performance, it could replace the Ki-12.