the reason why i gave those 5 years is because america had nuclear capabilities, whch russia didn't have until some time later, i think it
was 1947 or 48 forgot now
.
I think it was 1949 but I was talking purely about aircraft, which I thought you were.
Look at WWII. The best bomber was American as was the best fighter.
This is interesting AMM. It is true that at the end of the war the B-29 was the best, no question. Buth the bombing campaign of the war was fought
mainly with the Halifax, B-17, B-24 and Lancaster, of which the Lancaster was clearly and easily the best. ""B-29 beaters" for want of a better
term, were well advanced in design and Planning at Avro, Bristol and Vickers by 1942 but ther priority for UK industry, from Govt edict, was just to
build as many Lancasters as possible. This doesn't change the fact that the B-29
was built and was the best bomber in the world by 1945, but
it doesn't reflect the standard of technology, only a difference in circumstance.
As for best fighter, thats much more open to debate. I am presuming that you mean the P-51 Mustang, which was truly excellent but apart from range,
which was its key asset after it had been re-engined, how was it better than the Spitfire, for example?
If we are taking the stance that we did with bombers and look at what was best in 1945, the Spitfire F.21 was at least the equal of the P-51D but both
were left in the shade by the Meteor F.4, Vampire F.1, P-80A and best of all, the Me 262, my view. It has been said that an Me 262 with Rolls Royce
engines would have ruled the skies unopposed, an interesting supposition I believe.
we are the only nation to this day, 40 years later, to have gone to the moon.
No taking away from the achievement but to say "40 years later" is a bit thin as no-one has been prepared to spend the money to try, like with the
supersonic thing and the B-52, all fine achievements to be proud of to be sure, the fact that America was the only nation rich enough or willing
enough to pay for these things does not mean they were the only ones with the knowledge, as your post implies.
For instance the Vulcan and Victor were at least as advanced as the B-52, if not more so, but smaller to meet the RAF requirement and to stay within
cost constraints. So the B-52, as great as it is, is hardly a measure of how far in front American tech was/is.
I may well be shot down in flames over this but I thought the first plane to fly supersonically w/o afterburners was the Lightning? If not then yes,
it would be the the SR-71.
Any how, changing tack slightly, nothing is so straight forward as America did this, Russia did that etc etc.
Moon shots - American with massive German input, amongst others.
Supersonic flight - American with heavy influence from UK M.52 project
Aeroplanes - first practical modern
working planforms developed by Cayley and Stringfellow in 1840's, first powered flights by Ader, France -
1890's - whole thing brought together and perfected by Wrights - USA early 1900's. A superb achievement but not really 'inventing' it.
Just for a bit of balance lets not forget;
Harrier - Britain, perfected from an idea by Michel Wibault of France and then further developed by MDC in America.
MiG 15 - USSR from a Focke Wulf design and a British engine.
You see I am not Yank bashing, just trrying to keep a little perspective.
America has done many great things, these include inventing stuff, developing other peoples inventions to the point of practicality and even improving
other peoples inventions that already worked fine ie Harrier. All good stuff but I just hope to put a brake on the 'Hollywood disease' AMM as you
seem a decent type of guy, if a little misguided in matters of national pride
sustainted
than you are wrong, USSR has been always 5-10 years behind US.
