Places and Planes - Photos from Romania

[chukw]

This a fantastic thread! The landscapes and castles amazing- and that dogfight pic is wonderful example of photo-collage used to illustrate a scene. I wouldn't call it a fake- just a way to illustrate an event.

Now- I guess I could have a vampire helper in my IAR post? Oh, the possibilities! B) Actually, Laurence, any help with period uniforms, crew gear and the like would be very helpful, if it's not asking too much. Cheers! :drinks

 

[Sharkmouth]

Laurence, remember that I mention it was made (not taken) to document an actual event.

Chukw may not ask for any but could you provide some inspiration for Marina's outfits?

that dogfight pic is wonderful example of photo-collage used to illustrate a scene. I wouldn't call it a fake- just a way to illustrate an event.

Actually, Laurence, any help with period uniforms, crew gear and the like would be very helpful, if it's not asking too much.

My thoughts exactly!

Regards,

 

[White_Wolf]

This a fantastic thread! The landscapes and castles amazing- and that dogfight pic is wonderful example of photo-collage used to illustrate a scene. I wouldn't call it a fake- just a way to illustrate an event.

Now- I guess I could have a vampire helper in my IAR post? Oh, the possibilities! B) Actually, Laurence, any help with period uniforms, crew gear and the like would be very helpful, if it's not asking too much. Cheers! :drinks

I'd be more than happy to help

Transylvania is a province of Romania, that castle is right on the historical border between Transylvania and Wallachia. Spectacular place, I have visited it a few times way back then. Vlad the Impaler was held prisoner there so not quite happy days for him.

I'll see what I can find and post it here about the uniforms and gear. When I go back for a visit this year I will scan my grandad's photos too

 

[White_Wolf]

Found a few photos - Chuck, hope these help, more on the way.

These guys had all received Romania's highest medal - ORder of Michael The Brave, names at the bottom, left to right.

This is Elena Caragiani, she obtained her pilot licence in France, in 1914, not a bad outfit either

This lady is Smaranda Braescu, born not too far from where I was born. In 1931 she held the European record for parachute jump (6,000m), later on she set the world record with a jump fom 24,000ft in Sacramento, California in 1932. She also set a new record for crossing the Mediterranean sea (Rome to Tripoli) 1,100km in bit over 6 hours. In this pic she is wearing a very traditional romanian costume and is in the cockpit of her own plane.

A He 114 in Romanian colors WW2. Rumour is they found one He114 sunk in a lake in Romania, close to there the base used to be and work is in progress to bring it out, restore it and put it in the Museum of Aviation. Pretty neat

 

[Rhino]

I enjoyed your posting of pictures. I believe the much discussed IAR 80/ P-38L picture is a picture of a painting. One cannot see the elevator on the P-38, so it's hard to determine his intentions. A tactic in common use by Lightning drivers, under attack from above & astern, at that time was a high speed climbing turn. this angle of attack would be consistent with that maneuver.
If, perhaps the 80 driver hit him in the portside supercharger, the port engine would slow, inducing a yaw to port, and the escape of "magic smoke" from the portside boom. (U never want to let the magic smoke out! ever!) the absence of aileron action suggests the slowing of airflow over the portside wing is causing a roll to the left as well. This Lightning Pilot may not have been able to recover at this altitude. I've never flown a P-38, (or wrecked a P-38) but I understand the aerodynamic forces at work.
Just my two bits.

 

[White_Wolf]

Sounds like a thorough aviation forensic investigation to me, thanks for the insight

 

[alcm_b]

I think it would be nearly impossible to get a actual photo of a shoot down like this. Gun camera angle sure, we've seen hundreds. This looks more like a Flight Sim screenshot that's been photoshopped. Just my humble opinion.

Agree, especially regarding the camera angle. I'd say, this is a screenshot from 'Il-2 Shturmovik'. Flames look pretty much the same.

[attachment=3465]he32a5b5.jpg[/attachment]

 

[Barney]

You absolutely have to love Smaranda Braescu!

Any woman who jumps out of perfectly good airplanes is fine with me.

Just a history check here... wasn't Romania one of the leaders in aviation in Europe prior to WW2?

 

[White_Wolf]

You absolutely have to love Smaranda Braescu!

Any woman who jumps out of perfectly good airplanes is fine with me.

Just a history check here... wasn't Romania one of the leaders in aviation in Europe prior to WW2?

Yes it was. It was the second country in the world to have employed flying machines for military purposes. In 1912 Aurel Vlaicu built a machine of his own design, totally different to anything that had been built before and delivered orders from point A to point B as an assignment, sort of courier job

His plane below

During WW1 airplanes had been involved in military operations, there is an interesting story where a sergeant and his observer flew over german and bulgarian positions, saw the heavy artillery, flew back to the base and found the best possible substitute for bombs, have a guess ...BRICKS so they threw bricks and caused panic amongst the gunners and the guns fell silent for a while.

 

[Barney]

Brick! I love it! Low cost and recyclable!

 

[White_Wolf]

Still in between the WW's - but on the ground this time.

This car was patented in 1924 by a Romanian engineer who did his studies in Germany. Patent request was in 1922 though, officially granted in 1924. 4 cyl engine, 5 litres / 100 km. The car did over 120,000 km before he donated it to the museum where it is displayed today.

First car to have the wheels within the body, contributing massively to a drag coefficient of 0.28.

Lamborghini Murcielago = 0.33
Ferrari California = 0.32
Porsche 997 Carrera = 0.28

And the car on the street

 

[SA Dave]

Damn trhat is ugly in a special kind of way :geek

 

[moon puppy]

That's cool!

 

[maus]

Laurence

Thanks for the photo's my mother-in-law's parents are Romanian, my wife and I enjoyed looking at the photo's

James

 

[Barney]

Too many people are of the opinion that only the "Major powers" (between the wars) had anything to contribute... However, when you look at designers in the smaller countries you find amazing things!

 

[White_Wolf]

Laurence

Thanks for the photo's my mother-in-law's parents are Romanian, my wife and I enjoyed looking at the photo's

James

You are very welcome James & MIssus

 

[White_Wolf]

Too many people are of the opinion that only the "Major powers" (between the wars) had anything to contribute... However, when you look at designers in the smaller countries you find amazing things!

That is true and I am sure that many other countries, other than the Great Powers as they were called had amazing things to give to the world.
I'll keep digging and adding to the thread, thanks everyone for all the comments