>> It may be a few weeks more
>> before it comes. I think they must use Fairy Swordfish as mail
>> carriers when you choose the cheap rate.

> Is the reference to Fairy Swordfish related to the low stall speed of
> the torpedo bomber?  I had never heard the expression.  "Pony Express"
> might be more common around here.

Yes. Similar to Pony Express in concept, but Pony's don't swim well
over 12,000 miles.

Alas, that's not a regional reference - I made it up on the spot :-)
AFAIR the FS had a torpedo launch approach run speed of about 80 mph.
This is alleged by some to have been the Bismark's downfall and what
may have saved  them from destruction. It's claimed that they flew so
slowly that the gun-predictors could not be set slow enough to track
them. This seems unlikely as, AFAIK,  the speed limitation was set by
the survivable dropping speed of the torpedos used, and this would
have applied to any aircraft used. I'd guess that an enthusiastically
flown and lucky Fairy Swordfish could do UK-NZ in about 2 weeks.
Maybe a bit faster than my books.

> My speculation makes me wonder whether what I appreciate more about
> piclist:  technical content or regional references.

Go with the technical - I try to not make that up on the spot. Mostly.


          Russell
--=20
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