Quote:
Originally Posted by Kutscha
Do you have a reading comprehension problem?
"Richard Hallion in 'Strike from the Sky' state the Pe-2 was used as a 70degree dive-bomber"
When did 70* become vertical? Is this the 'new math'?
It doesn't take a genious to understand that the dive limit angle is 70*. If the limit was more it would have been stated.
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No it wouldn't.
But at least you've cleared the air. We're arguing semantics.
It's true both Shores and Hallion say the Pe-2 attacked in a 70 degree dive.
You interpret this as a design restriction.
I interpret it as a operational decision.
Hallion explains what he means by "70 degrees". He says the Ju87 attacked at a "very steep angle" of 60 to 80 degrees. But you would be wrong to conclude the Ju87 was restricted to a dive angle of 80 degrees. It wasn't. The Ju87 could and did attack at 90 degrees whenever pinpoint accuracy was required. Ditto the Pe-2.
Everybody including Hallion calls the Pe-2 a dive bomber, which means it had dive brakes, and a system for automatic pullout (which the Russians would have copied from Vultee who built them a factory), and bombs released from outside the propeller arcs. The Pe-2 must have had all these to qualify as a dive bomber.
But it had more. According to Hallion; "Designed to an ultimate safety factor of 11g, the Pe-2 obviously had the ruggedness to be operated with abandon by its crews". That is inconsistent with a restricted dive angle of 70 degrees
For myself I will not believe the Pe-2 was restricted to a dive angle of 70 degrees.
But Franek is right; such a restriction if it existed would be included in the Pilot's Notes, which no one has.
Tony