(Grumman) TBF Avenger @·AIRCRAFTUBE

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    Grumman TBF Avenger
  • TBF-1 - CVE-11 - 1942 TBF-1 - CVE-11 - 1942
    TBF-1 - CVE-11 - 1942
  • Grumman TBM-3R - VR-23 - Korea 1953 Grumman TBM-3R - VR-23 - Korea 1953
    Grumman TBM-3R - VR-23 - Korea 1953
  • Grumman TBM - CVL-26 - 1944 Grumman TBM - CVL-26 - 1944
    Grumman TBM - CVL-26 - 1944
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    Grumman TBF
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    USS Bunker Hill
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  • Grumman TBM Avenger Grumman TBM Avenger
    Grumman TBM Avenger
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    Solomons 1943
  • Grumman TBM Avenger Grumman TBM Avenger
    Grumman TBM Avenger
  • Grumman TBF-1C - 30 Sqn RNZAF - Espiritu Santo 1944 Grumman TBF-1C - 30 Sqn RNZAF - Espiritu Santo 1944
    Grumman TBF-1C - 30 Sqn RNZAF - Espiritu Santo 1944
  • Avenger AS3M - Tubular magnetic anomaly detector Avenger AS3M - Tubular magnetic anomaly detector
    Avenger AS3M - Tubular magnetic anomaly detector
  • Avenger II - HMS Victorious - c1944 Avenger II - HMS Victorious - c1944
    Avenger II - HMS Victorious - c1944
  • Grumman TBM-3W - NAS Patuxent River - c1946 Grumman TBM-3W - NAS Patuxent River - c1946
    Grumman TBM-3W - NAS Patuxent River - c1946
  • TBF Rocket-assisted take-off - c1943 TBF Rocket-assisted take-off - c1943
    TBF Rocket-assisted take-off - c1943
  • USS Card - Jan 1944 USS Card - Jan 1944
    USS Card - Jan 1944
  • Grumman TBMs & SB2Cs Grumman TBMs & SB2Cs
    Grumman TBMs & SB2Cs
  • Grumman TBM-3E - VC-22 - USS Coral Sea Grumman TBM-3E - VC-22 - USS Coral Sea
    Grumman TBM-3E - VC-22 - USS Coral Sea
  • TBM-3D<br>VT-90<br>Jan 1945 TBM-3D<br>VT-90<br>Jan 1945
    TBM-3D
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  • Grumman TBF-1 Grumman TBF-1
    Grumman TBF-1
  • Avenger AS.5 - 744 Sqn - Blackbushe - 1955 Avenger AS.5 - 744 Sqn - Blackbushe - 1955
    Avenger AS.5 - 744 Sqn - Blackbushe - 1955
  • TBF Avenger - USS Yorktown - 1943 TBF Avenger - USS Yorktown - 1943
    TBF Avenger - USS Yorktown - 1943
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    Avenger
    1942

Grumman TBF Avenger

The TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world. It entered U.S. service in 1942, and first saw action during the Battle of Midway.

Douglas' TBD Devastator, the U.S. Navy's main torpedo bomber introduced in 1935 was obsolete by 1939. Bids were accepted from several companies but Grumman's TBF design was selected as the TBD's replacement. Designed by Leroy Grumman, its first prototype was called the XTBF-1. Maiden flight took place on 7 August 1941 for this first Avenger that would eventually be followed by 9,836 more exemplars. Although one of the first two prototypes crashed near Brentwood, New York, rapid production continued.

Grumman's first torpedo bomber was the heaviest single-engine plane of World War II, and it was the first design to feature a new wing-folding mechanism created by Grumman, intended to maximize storage space on an aircraft carrier; the F4F-4 and later models of Wildcat received a similar folding wing and the F6F Hellcat (both designed by Grumman) would employ this mechanism as well. The engine used was the Wright R-2600-20 (which produced 1,900 horsepower). There were three crew members-pilot, turret gunner, and radioman-bombardier-ventral gunner. A .50-caliber machine gun was mounted in each wing, and one more .50 gun was mounted right next to the turret gunner's head in a rear-facing electrically powered turret. There was a single .30 hand-fired machine gun mounted ventrally (under the tail), which was used to defend against enemy fighters attacking from below and to the rear. This gun was fired by the radioman-bombardier while standing up and bending over in the belly of the tail section, though he usually sat on a folding bench facing forward to operate the radio and to sight in bombing runs. There was only one set of controls on the aircraft, and no access to the pilot's position from the rest of the aircraft. The radio equipment was massive, especially by today's standards, and filled the whole glass canopy to the rear of the pilot. The radios were accessible for repair through a "tunnel" along the right hand side. Any Avengers that are still flying today usually have an additional rear-mounted seat in place of the radios, which increases crew to four.

During the Battle of Midway, all of the three aircraft carriers' torpedo groups (from the USS Hornet (CV-8), USS Enterprise (CV-6), and USS Yorktown (CV-5)) had taken horrendous casualties; one group had a single survivor (Ensign George Gay). This was partly due to the slow speed of the Devastator (less than 200 mph during glide-bombing) and its weak defensive armament. Ironically, the first shipment of TBFs had arrived only a few hours after the three carriers quickly departed from Pearl Harbor (although a few eventually participated launched from Midway Island).

The Avenger had a large bomb bay, allowing for one Bliss-Leavitt Mark 13 torpedo, a single 2000 lb (900 kg) bomb, or up to four 500 lb (or 230 kg) bombs. The plane had overall ruggedness and stability, and pilots say it flew like a truck, for better or worse. With its good radio facilities, docile handling, and long range, the Grumman Avenger also made an ideal command aircraft for Commanders, Air Group (CAGs). With a 30,000 foot (or 10,000 m) ceiling and a fully-loaded range of 1,000 miles (or 1,600 km), it was better than any previous American torpedo plane, and better than its chief opponent, the then obsolete Japanese Nakajima B5N "Kate". Later Avenger models carried radar equipment for the ASW and AEW roles. Although improvements in new types of aviation radar were soon forthcoming from the engineers at MIT and the electronic industry, the available radars in 1943 were very bulky, because they contained vacuum tube technology. Because of this, radar was at first carried only on the roomy TBF Avengers, but not on the smaller and faster fighters.

Operational history

On the afternoon of 7 December 1941, Grumman held a ceremony to open a new manufacturing plant and display the new TBF to the public. Ironically, on that day, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, as Grumman soon found out. After the ceremony was over, the plant was quickly sealed off to ward against possible enemy action. By early June 1942, a shipment of more than 100 planes was sent to the Navy (although, as mentioned before, most were too late to participate in the fateful Battle of Midway).

However, six TBF-1s were present on Midway Island, as part of VT-8 (Torpedo Squadron 8), while the rest of the squadron flew Devastators from the Hornet. Unfortunately, most of the pilots had very little previous experience, and only one TBF survived (with heavy damage and casualties). As author Gordon Prange mentions in Miracle at Midway, the outdated Devastators (and lack of new planes) contributed somewhat to the lack of a complete victory (and the loss of the Yorktown); bravery was no equal to superior planes.

On 24 August 1942, the next major naval battle occurred at the Eastern Solomons. With only the carriers USS Saratoga (CV-3) and Enterprise, the 24 TBFs present were able to sink the Japanese aircraft carrier Ryūjō and claim one dive bomber, at the cost of seven planes.

The first major "prize" for the TBFs (which had been assigned the name "Avenger" in October 1941, before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) was at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942, when Marine Corps and Navy Avengers helped sink the battleship Hiei.

After hundreds of the original TBF-1 models were built, the TBF-1C began production. The allotment of space for specialized internal and wing-mounted fuel tanks doubled the Avenger's range. By 1943, Grumman began to slowly phase out production of the Avenger to produce F6F Hellcat fighters, and the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors took over, with these aircraft being designated TBM. Starting in mid-1944, the TBM-3 began production (with a more powerful powerplant and wing hardpoints for drop tanks and rockets). The dash-3 was the most numerous of the Avengers (with about 4,600 produced). However, most of the Avengers in service were dash-1s until near the end of the war (in 1945).

Besides the traditional surface role (torpedoing surface ships), Avengers claimed about 30 submarine kills, including the cargo submarine I-52. They were one of the most effective sub-killers in the Pacific theatre, as well as in the Atlantic, when escort carriers were finally available to escort Allied convoys. There, the Avengers contributed in warding off German U-Boats while providing air cover for the convoys.

After the "Marianas Turkey Shoot", in which more than 250 Japanese aircraft were downed, Admiral Marc Mitscher ordered a 220-aircraft mission to find the Japanese task force. At the extreme end of their range (300 nautical miles out), the group of Hellcats, TBF/TBMs, and dive bombers took many casualties. However, Avengers from USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) torpedoed the light carrier Hiyō as their only major prize. Mitscher's gamble did not pay off as well as he had hoped.

In June 1943, future-President George H.W. Bush became the youngest naval aviator at the time. While flying a TBM with VT-51 (from the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30)), his plane was shot down on September 2, 1944 over the Pacific island of Chichi Jima. Both of his crewmates died; however, because he released his payload and hit the target before being forced to bail out, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Another famous Avenger aviator is Paul Newman, who flew as a rear gunner. He had hoped to be accepted for pilot training, but did not qualify because of being color blind. Newman was onboard the escort carrier USS Hollandia (CVE-97) roughly 500 miles from Japan when the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

TBF/TBMs sank the two Japanese "super battleships" : the Musashi and the Yamato (which was Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's flagship for most of the war). The Avengers played a major role in the Allied victory during World War II, although torpedoes had become largely outdated (replaced by the faster and more effective dive bombers) by then.

The Avenger was also used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm where it was initially known as the "Tarpon" however this name was later discontinued and the Avenger name used instead. The first 402 aircraft were known as Avenger Mk.1, 334 TBM-1s from Grumman were the Avenger Mk.II and 334 TBM-3 the Mark.III. Post war the antisubmarine version was the "Avenger AS Mk.IV" in RN service.

The only other operator in World War II was the Royal New Zealand Air Force which used the type primarily as a bomber, operating from South Pacific Island bases. Some of these were transferred to the British Pacific Fleet.

During World War II, the US aeronautical research arm NACA used a complete Avenger in a comprehensive drag-reduction study in their large Langley wind tunnel. The resulting NACA Technical Report shows the impressive results available if practical aircraft did not have to be "practical".

In 1945, Avengers were involved in pioneering trials of aerial topdressing in New Zealand that led to the establishment of an industry which markedly increased food production and efficiency in farming worldwide. Pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's 42 Squadron spread fertilizer from Avengers beside runways at Ohakea air base.

The postwar disappearance of a flight of American Avengers, known as Flight 19, began the Bermuda Triangle legend.

One of the primary postwar users of the plane was the Royal Canadian Navy, which obtained 125 former US Navy TBM-3E Avengers from 1950 to 1952 to replace their venerable Fairey Fireflies. By the time the Avengers were delivered, the RCN was shifting its primary focus to anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and the plane was rapidly becoming obsolete as an attack platform. Consequently, 98 of the RCN Avengers were fitted with an extensive number of novel ASW modifications, including radar, electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment, and sonobuoys, and the upper ball turret was replaced with a sloping glass canopy that was better suited for observation duties. The modified Avengers were designated AS 3. A number of these aircraft were later fitted with a large magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) boom on the rear left side of the fuselage and were redesignated AS 3M. However, RCN leaders soon realized the Avenger's shortcomings as an ASW aircraft, and in 1954 they elected to replace the AS 3 with the S-2 Tracker, which offered longer range, greater load-carrying capacity for electronics and armament, and a second engine- a great safety benefit when flying long-range ASW patrols over frigid North Atlantic waters. As delivery of the new license-built CS2F Trackers began in 1957, the Avengers were shifted to training duties, and were officially retired in July 1960.

Civilian use

Many Avengers have survived into the 21st century working as spray-applicators and water-bombers throughout North America, particularly in the Canadian province of New Brunswick.

Forest Protection Limited (FPL) of Fredericton, NB once owned and operated the largest civilian fleet of Avengers in the world. FPL began operating Avengers in 1958 after purchasing 12 surplus TBM-3E aircraft from the Royal Canadian Navy. Use of the Avenger fleet at FPL peaked in 1971 when 43 aircraft were in use as both water bombers and spray planes. FPL was still operating 3 Avengers in 2007 configured as water-bombers. The company sold three Avengers in 2004 to museums or private collectors. The Central New Brunswick Woodsmen's Museum has a former FPL Avenger on static display. An FPL Avenger that crashed in 1975 in southwestern New Brunswick was recovered and restored by the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum and is currently on display.

There are several Avengers in private collections around the world.

Variants

Grumman built

  • XTBF-1 : Two prototypes each powered by a 1,700hp R-2600-8 engine, second aircraft introduced the large dorsal fin.
  • TBF-1 : Initial production model based on the second prototype, 2,291 built (some as TBF-1Cs).
  • TBF-1C : TBF-1 with provision for two .5 in wing guns and fuel capacity increased to 726 gallons.
  • TBF-1B : Paper designation for the Avenger I for the Royal Navy.
  • TBF-1D : Conversions of the TBF-1 with centimetric radar in radome on starboard wing leading edge.
  • TBF-1CD : Conversion of TBF-1Cs with centimetric radar in radome on starboard wing leading edge.
  • TBF-1E : TBF-1 conversions with additional electronic equipment.
  • TBF-1J : TBF-1 equipped for bad weather operations.
  • TBF-1L : TBF-1 equipped with retractable searchlight in bomb bay.
  • TBF-1P : TBF-1 conversion for photo-reconnaissance.
  • TBF-1CP : TBF-1C conversion for photo-reconnaissance.
  • XTBF-2 : One TBF-1 re-engined with a 1,900 hp XR-2600-10 engine.
  • XTBF-3 : Two TBF-1 aircraft with 1,900 hp R-2600-20 engines.
  • TBF-3 : Planned production version of the XTBF-3, cancelled.

General Motors (TBM-1 as TBF-1, 550 built.)

  • TBM-1C : as TBF-1C, 2336 built.
  • TBM-1D : Conversions of the TBM-1 with centimetric radar in radome on starboard wing leading edge.
  • TBM-1E : TBM-1 conversions with additional electronic equipment.
  • TBM-1J : TBM-1 equipped for all weather operations
  • TBM-1L : TBM-1 equipped with retractable searachlight in bomb bay.
  • TBM-1P : TBM-1 conversion for photo-reconnaissance
  • TBM-1CP : TBM-1C conversion for photo-reconnaissance
  • TBM-2 : One TBM-1 re-engined with a 1,900hp XR-2600-10 engine.
  • XTBM-3 : Four TBM-1C aircraft with 1,900hp R-2600-20 engines.
  • TBM-3D : TBM-3 conversion with centimetric radar in radome on starboard wing leading edge.
  • TBM-3E : TBM-3 conversion with centimetric radar in radome on starboard wing leading edge and strengthened airframe.
  • TBM-3H : TBM-3 conversion with surface search radar.
  • TBM-3J : TBM-3 equipped for all weather operations
  • TBM-3L : TBM-3 equipped with retractable searchlight in bomb bay.
  • TBM-3M : TBM-3 conversion as a missile launcher.
  • TBM-3N : TBM-3 conversion for night attack.
  • TBM-3P : TBM-3 conversion for photo-reconnaissance.
  • TBM-3Q : TBM-3 conversion for electronic countermeasures with large ventral radome.
  • TBM-3R : TBM-3 conversions as seven-passenger, ship-to-shore transport.
  • TBM-3S : Anti-submarine strike version converted from TBM-3.
  • TBM-3U : General utility and target towing conversion of TBM-3.
  • TBM-3W : Anti-Submarine search conversion of TBM-3 with APS-20 radar in ventral radome.
  • XTBM-4 : Three prototypes based on TBM-3E with modified wing incorporating a reinforced center section and a different folding mechanism.
  • TBM-4 : Production version of XTBM-4, 2,141 on order were canceled.
  • Avenger (Royal Navy designation for the TBF/TBM - Tarpon
  • Original Royal Navy name, changed to Avenger)
  • Avenger I : RN designation of the TBF-1, 400 delivered.
  • Avenger II : RN designation of the TBM-1 and TBM-1C, 334 delivered.
  • Avenger III : RN designation of the TBM-3, 222 delivered.
  • Avenger IV : RN designation of the TBM-3S, 70 cancelled.
  • Avenger AS4 : RN designation of the TBM-3S, 100 delivered postwar.
  • Royal Canadian Navy designations for TBM-3E conversions
  • Avenger AS 3 : Modified by RCN for anti-submarine duty, dorsal gun turret removed, 98 built.
  • Avenger AS 3M : AS 3 with magnetic anomaly detector boom added to rear fuselage.

Operators

  • Brazilian Navy operated Avengers in 1950s.
  • Royal Canadian Navy operated Avengers until 1960, when replaced by the S-2 Tracker.
  • France : Aéronavale operated Avengers in 1950s.
  • Japan Air Self-Defense Force operated Avengers in 1950s.
  • Royal Netherlands Navy operated Avengers in 1950s.
  • Royal New Zealand Air Force.
  • United Kingdom : Fleet Air Arm.
  • United States Navy.
  • United States Marine Corps.
  • Uruguayan Navy operated Avengers in 1950s.

Famous incidents

Flight 19

Flight 19 disappeared on December 5, 1945 while on a training mission over the Atlantic. According to the popular Bermuda Triangle stories, the flight leader reported a number of odd visual effects while lost; i.e. mentions of "white water", the ocean "not looking as it should", and his compass spinning out of control, before simply disappearing. Furthermore, Berlitz in his book claimed that because the TBM Avenger bombers were built to float for long periods, they should have been found the next day considering what were reported as calm seas and a clear sky. However, not only were the planes never found, a Navy search and rescue seaplane that went after them was also lost and never found. Adding to the intrigue is that the Navy's report of the accident was ascribed to "causes or reasons unknown".

While the basic facts of the Triangle version of the story are essentially accurate, some important details are missing. The popular image of a squadron of seasoned combat aviators disappearing on a sunny afternoon did not happen. By the time the last radio transmission was received from Flight 19, stormy weather had moved in. Only the Flight Leader, Lt. Charles Carroll Taylor, had combat experience and any significant flying time, but at the same time he had less than six months of flight experience in the south Florida area, less than the trainees serving under him, and a history of getting lost in flight, having done so three times previously in the Pacific theater during World War II and being forced to ditch his planes twice into the water. Lt. Taylor also has since been depicted as a cool, calm and confident leader. Instead, radio transmissions from Flight 19 revealed Taylor to be disoriented, lacking confidence in his decisions, and completely lost.

Exaggerated claims also often stated that all the planes were having compass problems, however later naval reports and written recordings of the conversations between Lt. Taylor and the other pilots of Flight 19 do not indicate this. As for the Navy's report, it is stated that blame for the loss of the aircraft and men rest upon the flight leader's confusion. However the wording was changed from blaming Taylor to "cause unknown" in a second official report in deference to the wishes of his family. It was this incident as stated in the second, altered report, plus the later losses of the airliners Star Tiger and Star Ariel, which began the legend of the Bermuda Triangle.

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This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Grumman TBF Avenger of Wikipedia ( authors )

Specifications (TBF Avenger)

  • Crew : 3.
  • Length : 40 ft 11.5 in (or 12.48 m).
  • Height : 15 ft 5 in (or 4.70 m).
  • Wingspan : 54 ft 2 in (or 16.51 m).
  • Wing area : 490 ft² (or 45.52 m²).
  • Wing loading : 36.5 ft·lbf² (or 178 kg/m²).
  • Empty weight : 10,545 lb (or 4,780 kg).
  • Loaded weight : 17,893 lb (or 8,115 kg).
  • Maximum speed : 276 mph (or 444 km/h).
  • Range : 1,000 miles (or 1,610 km).
  • Service ceiling 30,100 ft (or 9,200 m).
  • Rate of climb : 2,060 ft/min (or 10.5 m/s).
  • Power/mass : 0.0094 hp/lb (or 0.17 kW/kg).
  • Powerplant : One Wright R-2600-20 radial engine.
  • Power : 1,900 hp (or 1,420 kW).
  • Armament : One .30 cal (or 7.62 mm) nose-mounted M1919 Browning machine gun(on early models), two .50 cal (or 12.7 mm) wing-mounted M2 Browning machine guns, one .50 cal (or 12.7 mm) dorsal-mounted M2 Browning machine gun and one .30 cal (or 7.62 mm) ventral-mounted M1919 Browning machine gun. Up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) of bombs or one 2,000 lb (907 kg) Mark 13 torpedo.

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This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Grumman TBF Avenger of Wikipedia ( authors )
Grumman TBF Avenger : Your comments on this subject
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    Centralisation

    Internet is full of websites dedicated to aviation, but most are dedicated to subjects or periods that are very limited in space or time. The purpose of this site is to be as general as possible and thus treats all events as well as characters of all stripes and times while putting much emphasis on the most significant achievements.

    The same years saw birth of technologies like photography and cinema, thus permitting illustration of a large part of important aeronautical events from the start. Countless (and sometimes rare) media recently put online by enthousiasts finally give us access to these treasures, but the huge amount of information often makes things a little messy. A centralization effort is obviously most needed at this level.

    All persons who directly or indirectly contributed to the achievement or posting of such documents are here gratefully acknowledged.

    General

    Fluid website

    This site automatically fits the dimensions of your screen, whether you are on a desktop computer, a tablet or a smartphone.

    Bilingual website

    You can change the language by clicking on the flag in the upper left or via "Options" in the central menu. Of course, the videos remain in the language in which they were posted ...

    Browser compatibility

    The site is not optimized, or even designed to run on older browsers or those deliberately deviating from standards. You will most probably encounter display issues with Internet Explorer. In this case, it is strongly recommended installing a modern (and free!) browser that's respecting the standards, like Firefox, Opera, Chrome or Safari.

    Cookies and Javascript

    This site uses cookies and JavaScript to function properly. Please ensure that your browser is configured accordingly. Neither of these technologies, or other means shall in no case be used on the Site for the retention or disclosure of personal information about its Visitors. See the "Legal" page for more on this subject.

    Website layout

    Left menus

    Because of the lack of space on smartphones and small tablets, these menus are hidden. Everything is nevertheless accessible via the main menu option, located between the video and photo sections. This menu is placed there for compatibility reasons with some browsers, which play the videos over the menus.

    "Search" and "Latest" :
    The link "In Titles" restricts the search to the titles of different forms. Use this option if you are looking for a plane, a constructor, a pilot or a particular event that could have been treated as a subject.

    The link "In Stories" will bring you to a search in all texts (the "Story" tab) and will take more time. The search term will appear highlighted in green when opening the corresponding story.

    Would you believe, "Timeline" will show all subjects in chronological order.

    "Random" will reload the entire page with a new random topic.

    The bottom section keeps you abreast of the latest five entries. New topics are added regularly. Don't hesitate to come visit us often : add bookmark.

    Blogs and Comments central section

    Under the photos section comes the comments tabs window :

    You can enter general comments in your own language via one of the two buttons on the left (BLOG EN and BLOG FR). Note that these buttons are accessible regardless of the language to allow some participation in the other language.

    All comments are subject to moderation and will be published only if they comply with the basic rules of decorum, while remaining relevant to the purpose of this site.

    The third tab allows you to enter comments on the shown topic and is bilingual. Personal anecdotes, supplements and other information questions will take place here.

    The "Story" tab shows the explanatory texts. They are most often taken from Wikipedia, a site where we participate regularly.

    The "Data" tab is reserved for list of features and specifications.

    Right menus

    On a smartphone, the lack of space is growing and this menu is moved to the bottom of the page to give priority to videos and pictures.

    The top right icons are links to videos posted by third parties (on their own responsabilities) or by ourselves. The link below these icons will take you to the channel of the one who posted the video. Feel free to suggest other videos if you think they are of some interest (Use the BLOG button or the "Contact" link).