From: Michael Blair <amfortas@h...>
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 13:39:42 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: [GZG] SG-3 Technology Differences
I know this one! The Great War biplane would probably have a much bigger radar signature than you would expect. The WW II Mosquito was largely made from wood but had a RCS not much less than a metal skinned plane because of the engines. However the mozzie probably had metal airscrews which would put the signature way up compared with the biplane. There is an old SF story called 'Hawk Among the Sparrows' about a modern (apparently based on the YF-12) airplane transported back to the Great War. After much fun filtering enough paraffin for a few minutes flight he finds its AAMs useless against the Germans but the turbulence generated by his planes page is very effective which is all tickety boo until it ingests some debris and the engines eat themselves. He ends up flying for the Lafayette Escadrille I think. A good story.