...., I have noticed over the past years that German engineering has gone mad, over-engineered overly complicated brakes more often and way overpriced.
I visited a high-performance aircraft engine shop in Tehachapi, CA where they build/re-build World War Two aircraft engines for Reno Race planes, etc., ... and while there viewed some RR Merlins, Packard Merlins, Allisons, BMW, and others.
It was pointed out that the Rolls Royce-built Merlins had sophisticated silver-plated bearings for longevity. But the American-built (Packard) Merlins did not have some of the finer-points of construction and were not expected to have the same durability of the RR product. The German-built BMW engines however were the most-engineered of all with roller-bearings and needle-bearings on small mechanisms such as rocker-arms, etc. which showed how highly the Germans held engineering and manufacturing processes.
However, it was the American-produced equipment which prevailed because the expensive silver plating and refined needle-bearings were not respected by the Americans who understood that the average combat aircraft-engine would not survive more than a few dozen missions ... so dispensed with expensive and complicated processes in-favor of faster and larger numbers of production.
One of the biggest problems for the Germans was the expensive and time-consuming production of over-engineered equipment while suffering facilities and manpower shortages caused by overwhelming numbers of Allied men and machines.
It’s a lesson I worry we may have forgotten.... while we are spending what the Air Force considers a “low of only” $80 Million for each F-35 fighter.... it costs over $36,000 additional for each hour it flies...and the pilot and support crews required are extensive and hard to replace.
It is projected that five F-5s (an armed T38 trainer) that all-together cost less, will shoot-down an F35. The advantage of that comparison is that 3 of the F-5 pilots will survive while the F35 pilot has only a 50% chance of survival of the projected fight. This means the more plentiful and cheaper Sukhois and Migs and the more numerous surviving Russian pilots who will re-enter the conflict will likely enjoy the same success they had overwhelming Germany in WW2.
Expensive high-tech may be superior to cheaper opponents one-on-one... but sheer numbers of simpler, expendable equipment and sufficient numbers of men to operate them will most likely win-out a full blown conflict.
