Atlantic Friend - Indeed flying boats are for me one of the quintessential inter-war aircraft, I always think they should be full of late 1920s gents getting stylishly drunk.
On shell life of seaplanes you are mostly correct, but Churchill is Air Minister. He's taken against all biplanes (not modern enough!) and will not let facts or reality deflect him. I couldn't have WSC be too rational or sensible, just wouldn't be right.
DonnieBaseball - I was worried the industrial plan was a bit too neat, but unless people get ridiculously pig headed and wilfully act stupidly it was the most likely outcome.
On the Japanese I still think they would be more worried about the US, China, looking north at the Soviet and indeed almost anyone else. It may hurt London's pride but Britain probably isn't the biggest IJN concern, I would imagine the USN still holds that crown.
In flight refuelling was indeed entirely possible at that point, the Imperial Airways trials were entirely OTL. The Short Empire lacked trans-Atlantic range so had to be refuelled every crossing by a converted Handley Page Harrow. When they entered regular mail service in late 1936 Alan Cobham had developed a fully automated probe and drouge system complete with flow control and safety cut outs. However the RAF couldn't see the need so it faltered somewhat, especially as newer aircraft capable of crossing the Atlantic without refuelling became more prevalent. TTL, well who knows?
Bafflegab - Glad you liked it! I think that's the one area I've really got better at these last few years, having the confidence to make more stuff up and being a lot less literal in conveying game events and actions.
On the Canadian Hurricanes, I couldn't possibly comment!
Vann the Red - I hoped you'd like some aircraft porn, I had to cut myself short at the end as I realised I was in danger of writing a few hundred more words on maritime patrol aircraft alone! Rest assured though, those words will appear later.
Thanks for the kind words as well.
On shell life of seaplanes you are mostly correct, but Churchill is Air Minister. He's taken against all biplanes (not modern enough!) and will not let facts or reality deflect him. I couldn't have WSC be too rational or sensible, just wouldn't be right.
DonnieBaseball - I was worried the industrial plan was a bit too neat, but unless people get ridiculously pig headed and wilfully act stupidly it was the most likely outcome.
On the Japanese I still think they would be more worried about the US, China, looking north at the Soviet and indeed almost anyone else. It may hurt London's pride but Britain probably isn't the biggest IJN concern, I would imagine the USN still holds that crown.
In flight refuelling was indeed entirely possible at that point, the Imperial Airways trials were entirely OTL. The Short Empire lacked trans-Atlantic range so had to be refuelled every crossing by a converted Handley Page Harrow. When they entered regular mail service in late 1936 Alan Cobham had developed a fully automated probe and drouge system complete with flow control and safety cut outs. However the RAF couldn't see the need so it faltered somewhat, especially as newer aircraft capable of crossing the Atlantic without refuelling became more prevalent. TTL, well who knows?
Bafflegab - Glad you liked it! I think that's the one area I've really got better at these last few years, having the confidence to make more stuff up and being a lot less literal in conveying game events and actions.
On the Canadian Hurricanes, I couldn't possibly comment!
Vann the Red - I hoped you'd like some aircraft porn, I had to cut myself short at the end as I realised I was in danger of writing a few hundred more words on maritime patrol aircraft alone! Rest assured though, those words will appear later.
Thanks for the kind words as well.
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