The Last Piston Powered Dogfight

[Deleted]

I was surprised to learn recently that the last known dogfight in the world between 2 fighter aircraft powered by reciprocating engines took place between 2 foreign countries who were both flying WWII American aircraft!

Anybody wanna guess who was involved, what aircraft were flown, and when it happened?

[daleko]

Dec 29, 2018 0:07:37 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

I was surprised to learn recently that the last known dogfight in the world between 2 fighter aircraft powered by reciprocating engines took place between 2 foreign countries who were both flying WWII American aircraft!

Anybody wanna guess who was involved, what aircraft were flown, and when it happened?

I'd guess Latin America (Central or Nothern S). Between a cpl of tier III countries. Probably late 60s. A lot of those aircraft were being sold to citizens in this country for air racing/general aviation and through agents to small foreign actors. Along w some of those sales "arranged " by State and its various "tools". All available w/o a lot of Qs being asked. Perhaps earlier, also in Latin America and Africa. P51s, F4Us, F8s, P47s, in this hemisphere. Maybe modified B26s.

[Deleted]

Dec 29, 2018 1:16:27 GMT -5 daleko said:

Dec 29, 2018 0:07:37 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

I was surprised to learn recently that the last known dogfight in the world between 2 fighter aircraft powered by reciprocating engines took place between 2 foreign countries who were both flying WWII American aircraft!

Anybody wanna guess who was involved, what aircraft were flown, and when it happened?

I'd guess Latin America (Central or Nothern S). Between a cpl of tier III countries. Probably late 60s. A lot of those aircraft were being sold to citizens in this country for air racing/general aviation and through agents to small foreign actors. Along w some of those sales "arranged " by State and its various "tools". All available w/o a lot of Qs being asked. Perhaps earlier, also in Latin America and Africa. P51s, F4Us, F8s, P47s, in this hemisphere. Maybe modified B26s.

You are in the ballpark, Dale.

Good job! 

We'll rule out B-26's (A-26) since they weren't technically fighters designed for air-to-air combat.

I'm keeping quiet a bit longer, in case anyone wants to win the grand prize (which is nothing  LOL).

[daleko]

Dec 29, 2018 1:21:56 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

Dec 29, 2018 1:16:27 GMT -5 daleko said:

I'd guess Latin America (Central or Nothern S). Between a cpl of tier III countries. Probably late 60s. A lot of those aircraft were being sold to citizens in this country for air racing/general aviation and through agents to small foreign actors. Along w some of those sales "arranged " by State and its various "tools". All available w/o a lot of Qs being asked. Perhaps earlier, also in Latin America and Africa. P51s, F4Us, F8s, P47s, in this hemisphere. Maybe modified B26s.

You are in the ballpark, Dale.

Good job! 

We'll rule out B-26's (A-26) since they weren't technically fighters designed for air-to-air combat.

I'm keeping quiet a bit longer, in case anyone wants to win the grand prize (which is nothing  LOL).

Well, I'll now have to look it up. I had a friend who was doing some work in CA back in the day, around then. All kinds of stuff happened.

You know they still make single prop "fighters" that are used around the globe. Brazil's Embraer makes a pretty good one along w the Czechs. Though mostly light ground attack, they do have mounted guns so I guess that might have been an option. Low maintenance/operating costs.

[Deleted]

Dec 29, 2018 1:41:15 GMT -5 daleko said:

Dec 29, 2018 1:21:56 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

You are in the ballpark, Dale.

Good job! 

We'll rule out B-26's (A-26) since they weren't technically fighters designed for air-to-air combat.

I'm keeping quiet a bit longer, in case anyone wants to win the grand prize (which is nothing  LOL).

Well, I'll now have to look it up. I had a friend who was doing some work in CA back in the day, around then. All kinds of stuff happened.

You know they still make single prop "fighters" that are used around the globe. Brazil's Embraer makes a pretty good one along w the Czechs. Though mostly light ground attack, they do have mounted guns so I guess that might have been an option. Low maintenance/operating costs.

Yes, but those have turboprop engines, IIRC.   This is about good old avgas burners, not flying kerosene lamps.

The new T-6 "Texan II" would make a good low tech ground attack aircraft, just like T-37's were transformed into A-37's in Vietnam.

Nevermind ....................   they are already doing it!