The Hurricane and The Inner Storm

Someone once told me "Life is the longest stress test on the consistency of one's character."

For the most part, the guy you see in my videos is the same guy who walks, talks and exists in the real world too. My outward emotional display is influenced by events, interactions and circumstances that either I can direct and control, participate or merely attend and observe. My inner storm builds when the outward emotions seep in and make a serious attempt to change my core at the time.

Video games seem to have a strong, magnification effect on this, since all of my senses are attuned to what is going on a few feet in front of my face, while attempting to take a semblance of control, or exerting some influence through my fingertips. Not to say I am caught up in the moment, more like being trapped.

Too deep? Watch the video....

Flight of the Fury

After a long wait time in queue, I take a crack at the Wild Blue in my tier IX North American FJ-1 Fury in World of Warplanes.

Random Raider

 The usual plan when I make a video is have a particular aircraft ready to go, talk about it briefly, including upgrades I have done and then queue up for a battle.

But, what about those times I skip a step or two?

Babbling About Bristols

I am willing to wager that most players in World of Warplanes have a daily "go to" plane.

There are a variety of reasons to have one; token missions, childhood favorite, personal experience with a real version, a "just can't lose" plane and so on. For me, it should be somewhat obvious to those who have followed me since returning in 2.0 that one particular aircraft has not only grown on me, but I have made a real concerted effort to improve my skills with it.

In fact, I will just have a quick chat with the lads and take off for a sortie....

Granted, it's not a real brag worthy battle on my part, but I don't really care.

There is something about flying the Bristol Blenheim that I just can't put my finger on. In the real world, I had the privilege to see (and touch) Canadian built examples named Bolingbrokes, one complete, another needing extensive restoration. Ingame, I used the Heavy Fighter Blenheim F (long ago) and the premium bomber IV variant. I have even offered up the suggestion of introducing a premium version of a Bolingbroke, which is a mute point to pursue now.

So, what is it with this plane? It's not what some would consider a "handsome" design, nor was it "state of the art" when the war broke out. It was also rather large, not very maneuverable, poorly armed and wasn't as fast as it's evolving contemporaries. Despite all of that and more, the Blenheim was a highly versatile aircraft, able to perform tasks beyond it's original airframe design, from reconnaissance, bombing, ground attack, anti-shipping (taken over by the ever improving Bristol Beaufort), night-fighter operations (later to be replaced by the Bristol Beaufighter) and so on.

Perhaps, it's this level of flexibility that has made it into the game, from high altitude bombing, to chasing other bombers/fighters/heavy fighters around and shooting them up, to low level attacks that trim the tops of tall trees and turn buildings into rubble, that I find appealing, win, lose or draw.

Do you have have a "go to" plane too?

Hurricane Under Glass

Although the main objective for my visit to the Canadian Museum of Flight, in Langley B.C. was to make a video tour with my own personal commentary, I also took a number of pictures of other exhibits that interested me.

Among all the displays between the small, cramped and crowded outdoor area and the size restrictive indoor Quonset Hut aircraft hangar, I managed to locate another goal of my journey. Despite my best efforts to reduce, or even eliminate the reflections on the glass case that housed it, this would be the best shot of the Hawker Hurricane exhibit I could take. I spent quite a few minutes taking in the effort and results of what was in front of me.

The model of IIC LF686 was well done, but I could tell it was completed a very long time ago.

Interesting tidbit to pass along, there is a real IIC LF686 still around. I am not sure if it's one in the same aircraft as the model depicts, but the real one is now part of the the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum collection.

So, how would brand new Hawker Hurricane IIC perform in World of Warplanes, flown by me?

C-C-C-Cobra!

British Airacobras? For a short time, yes!

In late September 1941, No.601 “City of London” RAF Squadron swapped their Hawker Hurricane IIC's for Bell Airacobra Mk.I's (known Stateside as the P-39F) and became the only operational British unit to fly them. 

However, after experiencing a long list of problems, including compass failures, shortcomings with flying at higher operational altitudes, incompatibility issues with the tricycle undercarriage and grass airstrips, the Airacobra was removed from service after only two fighter sweeps into France.

By March 1942 and after losing five aircraft to accidents, they were replaced with the Supermarine Spitfire V. Some Airacobras would be transferred to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease, others would find their way to the Pacific Campaign, re-designated as P-400's.

Although not a Airacobra the flew in the King's Service, I took to the skies in my premium, tier VI P-39N-1 for a "clean off the rust" flight, after my short, real life break from World of Warplanes....

A Side Adventure

For the latter part of January and the first bit of February, I was away on a work project, unable to play or comment on World of Warplanes (among other recreational activities).

Despite putting in some long, odd hours with even stranger start and finish times, I managed to sneak away one day to check out a local aircraft museum and it's exhibits.

Here's how that turned out (with some editing, or course)....