The Ruptured Duck wrote on Nov 19^th, 2009 at 11:34pm:


My point is that they couldn't just slap two Mustang fuselages together and call it an F-82. It may have looked like one to the untrained observer, but it wouldn't be one. The -H model mustangs are much harder to find, and the tail is completely different. There is also the problem of the odd-turning engine and prop, which are very rare.

I was gonna say it looked a lot like 2 Mustang fuselages put together...

I remember a funny story about Bob Hoover flying the P-82 from his book:


"On another occasion, I flew the plane a while, then said, "Dick, you've got it," at about thirty thousand feet.

I let loose of the controls and sat back to relax.  The F-82 flew without a hitch, sailing comfortably across the sky.  At one point, I did have some concern because the plane was flying treetop high over downtown Dayton.  We were perilously close to many of the office buildings.

Of course, I thought Dick was just trying to show off.  To make him see how relaxed I was, I leaned back and put both of my hands behind my head.  I looked over at him in his cockpit with a great big who-cares smile.

It was then that I noticed that Dick's face was as white as a sheet as he grappled with the controls.  Quickly he steadied the F-82 and then yelled over to me "For Christ's sake, Hoover, I thought you were flying.""


Clearly before positive transfer of control was an established practice