Is it just me or where these Germans the worse pilots in the world at the time? Triplanes are slower, but I was of the mind that a biplane had to be very careful chasing a triplane or a jink could turn into a kill before the biplane knew what hit it. It seems that the Germans didn't take advantage of this.
shareManeuverable it certainly was but so also were some allied planes like the Sopwith Camel or the Nieuports used in the film.
Its biggest advantage was its rate of climb as much as its turning ability and a pilot who knew how to take advantage of this could be pretty deadly.
On the other hand it was SLOW so a decent pilot in a less maneuverable but faster plane like an SE5a or SPAD could often manage to `boom and zoom` it.
"Any plan that involves losing your hat is a BAD plan.""
Yup, both planes had different fighting styles and I was surprised that a biplane went into a turning engagement with a triplane. I think the only rule of dogfighting that was showcased was fight with the sun behind you. There were many times where a wingman should've helped out.
>>>Only he is lost who gives himself up for lost.
I haven't watched this film yet but I did once look through a list of ace pilots and their 'kills' in a book about the 'Great War' and the Germans far outstripped the allies in the number of ace pilots that they had and the number of planes that they shot down, (as far as I can recall).
"Which it will be ready when it's READY!" Preserved Killick, Master and Commander
From what I have read/seen, the triplanes were extremely stable in flight and therefore less maneuverable. Planes that are less stable are difficult to fly but are more acrobatic.
shareThe Fokker triplanes were as maneuverable as anything in the sky, could outclimb all the competition, and didn't get invented until after the Escadrille Lafayette got disbanded.
Any history you think you learned from this movie beyond Frank Luke and the lion cubs Whiskey and Soda is wrong. All of it. It's unapologetically and unrepentantly only a movie. They didn't even try to be accurate.
If you love this movie and really don't want to see it contradicted, that's a pity. Because the first ever air war is VERY interesting--a damned sight more interesting than this movie--but I guess you'll just have to skip learning about it.