When aircraft had style plus just cool aircraft

pdentrem · Post by **pdentrem** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:09 pm

Yes on the ground they waddle and bounce about but in the air it is a different story! The Mitchell at one point was about 85 degrees right bank to hit the lane on its flypast. Beautiful!

Nothing like radials and Merlins at full song! Sweet music.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:06 am

Replica WWI Fe.2b flight: http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/projects ... -masterton

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:09 am

Probably my favorite VN era jet:

September 20, 2011 - Republic F-105 Thunderchief
CREDIT
http://www.planeaday.com/

gak · Post by **gak** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:42 am

awp101 wrote:Probably my favorite VN era jet:
September 20, 2011 - Republic F-105 Thunderchief

Very impressive aircraft. We had a squadron of them in southern Japan, replaced our F-100s (another fave) in 1963, then effectively closed the base when they were sent to VN (Thailand) a year later. Somewhere in my archives I've got some 8mm footage we took of their last flight out--if I can find should have a DVD made out of. Real historical stuff. I was struck that this "fighter-bomber" was about the size of a B-17!

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:36 am

pdentrem wrote:After the crash at Reno yesterday I needed a pick me up. We had already setup this visit to the museum last week. It sure made my day. Never fails.

By gum! On Saturday, my wife and I were heading down highway 6 South to Hamilton when my wife said, 'What's that?'. Approaching us was a silhouette that grabbed my attention. It was the same Mitchell you videoed flying low overhead. What a treat!

A few years ago, I was out on my lane spraying weeds and enjoying a quiet country summer afternoon when I heard a thrumming that got my attention and fired the adrenaline. I looked up, and coming in low, not more than a few hundred feet up, was that very Lancaster, with all four V-12 Merlin engines making a powerful, soul-stirring sound. What a thrill to have a Lancaster come in low, when you are alone out in the country and not expecting it. At the same time, I wondered if there were any German immigrants from WW II that might still be alive. That sound probably had a different effect on them, bringing back memories when such aircraft flew overhead by the many hundreds and turned entire cities in to bonfires.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 12:30 pm

I was at an outdoor car show Sunday with thw wife and the Lanc flew over quite low, got goosbumps all over

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 4:51 pm

awp101 wrote:Probably my favorite VN era jet:

September 20, 2011 - Republic F-105 Thunderchief
CREDIT
http://www.planeaday.com/

They were a good airplane, "when" they could get off the ground. Had a squadron of Wild Weasles at George AFB, they had rotated back from Viet Nam. Now a couple of thousand feet ASL, a hot & dry summer day, combined with their stubby wings, and they had a hard time getting airborne. Heck, they had a rule that if a Phantom had taken off, the Thuds had to wait for the turbulence and heat of the air on the runway to subside before they would try to take off.

Heck, we chased one half way across the Mojave one day. Well, not really that far, the nose gear collapsed and it dug it, but it made a good run off the runway before it stopped. Never saw a pilot egress an aeroplane so fast in my life.

Now for a bit of the strange, the pilot was the squadron commander. He retired, and became a gunsmith. Fast forward thirty odd years, I had this old gunsmith do some work on my S&W 1917. He had a photo of a Thud on the wall, we got to talking, he was the ill fated pilot in the 105 that day. Small world some times.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 7:50 pm

gak wrote:I was struck that this "fighter-bomber" was about the size of a B-17!

I read Thud Ridge and Going Downtown around the time I was in HS. A few years later I found out a semi-local museum has one and a group of modelling/aviation buffs I had a loose association with was going to have a meeting out there. I made the trek and had the same surprise. Them things are BIG!

Marvin S · Post by **Marvin S** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:34 pm

I'm in San Antonio right now dissembling a F-105 right now to load and truck it to a museum in Topeka KS. Ther is a whole row of them being removed, will post some pics next week.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:32 pm

Marvin S wrote:I'm in San Antonio right now dissembling a F-105 right now to load and truck it to a museum in Topeka KS. Ther is a whole row of them being removed, will post some pics next week.

When you say a whole row, are you speaking of a row of static displays? Where?

gak · Post by **gak** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:40 pm

Thud Ridge was a great book.
Here are some first-hand accounts of the 105 by technicians and pilots, most of them affectionate to glowing, and comments (to further the B-17 comparison) on what a beating it could take. A long, detailed read but worth it.
http://www.aviastar.org/comments/commen ... craft=0511
There is a comment about how loud (and shaking) a pair of F-4s--with their total of four engines--was taking off with afterburners, but a pair of 105s just with their two even more so. I can attest to that having seen many take off up- close in Japan. Very impressionable on a 9-10 year old!

Marvin S · Post by **Marvin S** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 6:42 am

They used to be the training acft for the sky cops at Lackland, now moved out by the C-5 training unit. They are complete with engines in them but have to remove them.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 6:17 pm

Had an autogyro fly over the house an hour or so ago. That's the first one I've ever seen in the flesh and very cool!

Looked a lot like this only the shape was more rounded overall and the sides came further up the cockpit:

Speaking of autogyros, here's a couple of speedy gyroplanes:

Sikorsky X2 - 250kts

Eurocopter X3 - 220kts

And just for Ji...

Marvin S · Post by **Marvin S** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:26 pm

Tops for style plus performance for me would be the B-58 Hustler

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 3:52 pm

Marvin S wrote:They used to be the training acft for the sky cops at Lackland, now moved out by the C-5 training unit. They are complete with engines in them but have to remove them.

I thought Skycops trained at Medina?

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:57 pm

Fw 190 clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3tS7w_0 ... redirect=1

Me 262 clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9MA4PRs ... re=related

Oly

Marvin S · Post by **Marvin S** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:53 pm

Some 105 pics. Going back soon to remove the wings and load on trucks to haul back home.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:28 pm

Cool Thud pics. Always thought the F-4 was all business as well. My Dad's Fighter Wing mounted the gun pods underneath and were known as the 366th TFW aka"The Gunfighters." He was a mechanic on these in Danang, Vietnam 72-73, got out that year and became a commercial pilot:

A shot of him today(on right) with the Beech Baron that he flies for Safford Aviation/US Forest Service, directing the fire fighting planes:

Some of the firefighting planes at Alamogordo, NM.

gak · Post by **gak** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:15 pm

Both the F-105 and F-4 were unique craft...I'm not sure we've seen the likes before or after. The 105s really take me back to southern Japan ca '63-64 as a kid standing in awe on the tarmac.

Interesting write-up on the 105: http://www.airspacemag.com/military-avi ... =bbery&c=y

cpt Dan Blodgett · Post by **cpt Dan Blodgett** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 11:59 pm

Friends Call Me Ji wrote:My two favorite American WWII radial engined fighters:

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

Grumman F6F Hellcat

What is kinda amazing depending on the model the P47, P-38 and Corsair could go almost as fast as the P51.
Always wondered what a P-38 could do with merlin engines and a 4 bladed prop.
Grew up on B-17 stories Dad's 56th overall mission 4th mission second tour completed 52 from England and North Africa while with the 301st
http://www.301bg.com/Varner_Lee_A.cfm

gak · Post by **gak** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 1:43 pm

cpt Dan, good stuff!

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:39 pm

cpt Dan Blodgett... Great read about your Dad..Glad he made it, cause he sure had it hung way out there...

Cruise · Post by **Cruise** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:44 am

Halfbreed wrote:One of my favorite Vietnam war era planes the OV-1 Mohawk.

Many hours this ac as well as the O-1xx Bird Dog.

Triggernosis · Post by **Triggernosis** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 1:48 pm

My family MD owns an original restored-to-perfection O-1 Bird Dog.

What was the OV-1 Mohawk used for?

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 7:03 pm

Triggernosis wrote:My family MD owns an original restored-to-perfection O-1 Bird Dog.

What was the OV-1 Mohawk used for?

FAC, and sometimes the search portion of search and rescue. I always thought they were kinda ugly. But I imagine when they were directing air or arty, the ground guys thought they were beautiful.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:32 am

October 6, 2011 - Republic RC-3 Seabee

CREDIT
http://www.planeaday.com/

damienph · Post by **damienph** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:15 am

awp101, What vintage would that be? It reminds me of an early '60s VW bus that I saw years ago that was made into a houseboat, except with wings.

You come up with some of the best aircraft pictures!

Thanks!!

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:16 pm

I love the cabin on those Seabees.

Oly

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 4:46 pm

damienph wrote:awp101, What vintage would that be? It reminds me of an early '60s VW bus that I saw years ago that was made into a houseboat, except with wings.

You come up with some of the best aircraft pictures!

Thanks!!

1946-47 according to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_RC-3_Seabee

One benefit of being a wingnut is having a bunch of aircraft websites bookmarked.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 4:53 pm

Airco DH.2 replica:

http://wickenbydh2.wordpress.com/

MrMurphy · Post by **MrMurphy** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 2:45 pm

Marvin S,

I'm betting that's the flight or so (8?) of 105s sitting on a junior-sized strip surrounded by a restricted area, out in TA-1.

If so, many thousands of Security Forces troops, me included, pulled guard duty out there our last few days in training while playing wargames.

Marvin S · Post by **Marvin S** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:37 pm

That would be them, they have been moved a couple months ago to where they are now, but still inside semi restricted area. Should be going back pretty soon to load on trailer and remove wings.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:26 am

October 8, 2011 - Sopwith Camels

Photo: August 6, 1918 - Sopwith Camels of the U.S. 148th American Aero Squadron at Petite Sythe, France.
The Sopwith Camel had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult to handle, to an experienced pilot it provided unmatched maneuverability. A superlative fighter, the Camel was credited with shooting down 1,294 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied fighter of the war. It also served as a ground-attack aircraft, especially near the end of the conflict, when it was outclassed in the air-to-air role by newer fighters. First flight 1916.
CREDIT
http://www.planeaday.com/

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 10:12 am

October 9, 2011 - Sopwith Camel (2 of 2)

CREDIT
http://www.planeaday.com/

gak · Post by **gak** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 1:55 pm

More on the F-105. I believe this plane on display at McClellan Air Force Base "originated" at our base in southern Japan, where they replaced our F-100s, ca 1963. We got some of the very first 105s from the states.

I also just dug up an old email from another airman stationed there when we were who was a tech on the 105, said was his his baby, "sweetheart, absolutely loved the plane " - which seems to corroborate much of the views in my links earlier in this thread. Sure was a sight to see (and hear!) a whole squadron of these take off "all at once."A most impressive craft.

Another gent saw a entry I contributed in an Air Force blog and chimed in that he knew my Dad and flew with him many times as his flight engineer, flying General Olds' VC-97 like this one in the late 50s, early 60s. IIRC, the military variant on the Boeing Stratocruiser.
Small internet world! .

damienph · Post by **damienph** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:09 pm

The Air national Guard was still flying these in and out of Rhein-Main AB in Frankfurt as late as 1969. My Dad was Chief Weather Officer there from 67-69, and we used to see them from several different state Air Guard units.

gak · Post by **gak** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 5:25 pm

Look at the upper fuselage and tail of that C-97 and you can see its direct B-29 lineage.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 6:17 pm

I've always liked the lines of the SPAD VIII. It is the cowling that makes this aircraft look a little more aggressive.

damienph · Post by **damienph** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 6:33 pm

gak wrote:Look at the upper fuselage and tail of that C-97 and you can see its direct B-29 lineage.

And same engines as B50, an improved version of the B29.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:07 am

I'll see Kirk's SPAD and raise him a DH.2 on take-off:

http://www.earlyaeroplanes.com/archive1.htm

It's not often you can "see" the rotary engine turning.

damienph · Post by **damienph** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:21 am

Eight engine C54... for those really long flights.

gak · Post by **gak** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:44 am

damienph wrote:Eight engine C54... for those really long flights.

Was that photoshop'd?

we had some "regular" 54s in Japan.

damienph · Post by **damienph** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:26 pm

gak wrote:
damienph wrote:Eight engine C54... for those really long flights.

Was that photoshop'd? we had some "regular" 54s in Japan.

Not by me; I don't remember who sent me that picture but it has to be photoshop. I flew in a C118 / DC6 (similar to C54/DC4) in 1972 when our AFROTC unit flew from Forbes AFB, KS to Laredo AFB, TX. A "field trip" for those of us who thought that we were going to be pilots.

Boy, alot of water has passed under THAT bridge!

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:51 pm

Here's another of my favourite WWII Bombers, the Vickers Wellington. I'm currently building a 1/48 scale model of this aircraft .... been working on it off and on for a couple years. Hope to finish it this winter.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:04 am

Scooter!

October 17, 2011 - Douglas A-4E Skyhawk
A U.S. Navy Douglas A-4E Skyhawk en route to a target in North Vietnam

CREDIT
http://www.planeaday.com/

Larkbill · Post by **Larkbill** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:44 am

I can't believe no one has come up with the thoroughbred of the VietNam era:

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:57 pm

awp101 wrote:Scooter!

October 17, 2011 - Douglas A-4E Skyhawk
A U.S. Navy Douglas A-4E Skyhawk en route to a target in North Vietnam

CREDIT
http://www.planeaday.com/

I was sitting out on the lawn at the fire house at George one nice spring day, and a twin seat version was putting on a nice little airshow. Then all of a sudden it noses over. Oops, flame out, going for air start. No go. Pop, Pop, two nice canopies.

The A4 nosed into the desert floor, and a pretty single column of smoke rose straight up, not a breeze to disturb it. A quick trip down the flightline in a Scat truck, jump in the Huskie, as away we go. Both ***'s (that's Souls On Board, get your mind out of the toilet) made it down okay. Only injury was a twisted up ankle on one. Well other than the cost of a somewhat expensive airplane.

Darn that stuff was fun, what I wouldn't give to be young and too dumb to be scared again. You know, kids with their video games have no idea just how much fun is waiting out there if they just get up off the couch.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:29 am

The B-24 Liberator my father flew in as a navigator for RAF Coastal Command during WW2 also a picture of a U-Boat they forced to surface after damaging it with depth charges.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:15 am

jeepnik wrote:Darn that stuff was fun, what I wouldn't give to be young and too dumb to be scared again. You know, kids with their video games have no idea just how much fun is waiting out there if they just get up off the couch.

As a wingnut, there's been a number of times I've wondered why I went Army instead of AF.

October 18, 2011 - General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark

CREDIT
http://www.planeaday.com/

gak · Post by **gak** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 3:22 pm

That B-24's another one of those ungainly ones that looked like it shouldn't get off the ground, but sure did yeoman's duty in the war. My dad put a lot of hours in the Liberator as a pilot instructor.