World war 2 aircraft.

 

Stressed skin monoplanes and all metal monoplanes were replaced over most of fabric skinned biplanes by air force at the beginning of world war 2 in 1939. During world war 2, in military operation aircraft played greater role than ever before. Pressure on aircraft designers was increased to improve aircraft performance due wide range of aircraft duties and introduction of radar tacking and guidance system. Engine power, range, and speed were the main area for improvement. In order to carry a havier bomb load, bombers become larger and more powerful converting front two to four engines. The US B-17 flying fortress could carry up to 6.2 tonnes of bombs over a distance of 3200 km (2000 miles). By using drop tanks, some aircraft increased their range. Drop tanks are fuel tanks that were jettisoned when empty to reduce drag. Speed and manoeuvrability are needed for fighters aircraft: one of the few allied aircraft capable of catching the German jet powered V1 "flying bomb" was Hawker tempest which had maximum speed of 700 kph (435 mph). Britan had introduced it's first turbojet powered aircraft, the gloster meteor fighter by 1944. At same time the fastest fighter in world the turbojet powered Me 262 which has a maximum speed of 868kph (540 mph) was introduced by Germany.