Peanuts by Charles Schulz for January 07, 2014

Does Snoppy’s doghouse often get infested with termites?

He may have to learn how to fly it full of holes.

Why fly a propeller plane when you can fly one of these…

When I was a supply sergeant, they told me to never run out of toilet paper!

Your commanding officer probably isn’t too fond of you, either, Snoopy.

I suspect that a cloth covered wood airframe would be somewhat difficult for a modern air to air targeting system to engage. Not to mention the problems of engaging something flying at less than half of you minimum air speed. Remember that the Camel could fly as slow as 48 mph, and its maximum speed was something like 115 mph. What is a raptors stall speed anyway?

There is a whole list of pilot write-ups and mechanic sign offs. Three of my favorites are:

Pilot: “Number 3 engine missing.”Mechanic:”Found number 3 engine after a brief search”

Pilot: “Engine making unfamiliar noise.”Mechanic: “Ran engine for 15 minutes. Noise is now familiar.”

Pilot: Left main tire almost needs replacing.Mechanic: Almost replaced left main tire.

This must be getting C.B. steamed. Haha

I think the Camel came along about mid-War, circa 1916. What amazes me is how quickly the airplane went from a scientific prototype (December 1903) to warfighting machine (Summer 1914).

Snoopy as the Red Baron always puts a big smile on my face.

xxx

Darn that Red Baron!

Repairing the World War I flying ace’s plane would probably not be that hard, at least not the body of the plane. They were fabric over a wooden frame, the fabric being coated in aircraft dope to tauten the skin. Skin damage wasn’t too much of a problem. Damage to the spars in the body was a bit more serious but the big problems were the spars and struts in the wings, and of course the engine compartment. having the oil or fuel line hit could really mess up your day.

In terms of “stealth” capability, most World War I fighters would been quite good. They had minimal radar reflective surfaces; the engine, the fuel tank, the guns, and some of the instruments. And because the aircraft and their engines were small, the radar reflection wouldn’t have been that great from the metal parts.

I like most of the peanuts comics, but don’t care for snoopy fighting the red baron. It may be because I had a game on my first computer where I could fight the red baron, and I could never get him in my sights. Very discouraging. The only thing I could do was dive and outrun him, but that wasn’t any fun.

Alas we cannot ask the artist – unless you want to hold a seance.