The Airplane Thread

[3.0L]

Qualifications started yesterday, I think. This is the last year the races will be held at Stead Field, just north of Reno. Not sure why, but rumors indicate that housing has crept in closer to the airport over the years.

I've been to the races 3 times, all back in the early 1990's. The sounds are beyond incredible. The weather is unpredictable. Hot, cold, windy or not.

Anyway, if I was following the YouTube streaming video correctly, it seems the Gold Sportman's Class (Lancairs, Glasairs, etc.) are faster (400+ MPH) than the Bronze Unlimited class (P-51 Mustangs, Yak-3, P-40).

Also, the fairly new STOL Drag Race event is simply amazing - incredible pilot skill. The aircraft in this event include Cub-like aircraft, usually with huge tires (the event is held on dirt) and hopped up Rotax engines, plus some old standards like the J-3 Cub and Cessna C-180 bush plane.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

...
Anyway, if I was following the YouTube streaming video correctly, it seems the Gold Sportman's Class (Lancairs, Glasairs, etc.) are faster (400+ MPH) than the Bronze Unlimited class (P-51 Mustangs, Yak-3, P-40)....

Saw a Mustang going 440 GS over the Salt Lake back in the mid-80's. He also did a low approach that I thought was going to cost me my (at the time) short career!

[3798j]

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[Llarry]

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps training aircraft development -- The Navy has announced a new paint scheme for training aircraft.

Primary trainers (the Hawker Beech T-6B Texan II derived from the Swiss Pilatus PC-9 turboprop trainer) will be repainted from their current white and orange high-visibility scheme to a dark blue color reminiscent of the 1940-50s Sea Blue scheme. A sizeable percentage of student naval aviators are Marines and an according percentage of training aircraft are marked 'MARINES' instead of 'NAVY'. The dark blue aircraft with Marine markings, as a further distinction, will carry checkerboard markings in homage to Marine Fighter Squadron 312, which has used checkerboard markings from the 1940s to the present.

Advanced trainers, such as the Boeing-BAE T-45C Goshawk jet trainer, the TH-73A Thrasher helicopter trainer and the Textron (Beechcraft) T-54A (King Air 260) due to first fly in early 2024, will use a glossy grey paint scheme. Older aircraft, such as the TH-73A's predecessor (Bell TH-57B/C) and the T-54A's predecessor (Textron T-44C King Air) are nearing the end of their service lives and will probably not be repainted from the old white and orange scheme.

The color changeover will take years, as the aircraft will only be repainted when undergoing depot-level maintenance.

[Llarry]

Having mentioned the Checkboards of Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 312, let me present a capsule history of the squadron:
-- Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312) was formed in 1943. They used the checkerboard markings from the first. They saw combat in World War II in the Pacific flying F4U-1D Corsairs.
-- After the war, they briefly flew the Grumman F7F Tigercat, but soon transitioned to the improved F4U-4 Corsair (PHOTO). They took their F4Us to war in Korea in 1950-53.
-- After the Korean war, they again switched to a Grumman fighter, the F9F Panther, for a brief period before transitioning to the North Amercian FJ-2 Fury (PHOTO) and later the improved FJ-3 model.
-- In 1959 they started flying the supersonic Vought F8U-1 (F-8) Crusader and later transitioned to the improved F-8E model (PHOTO).
-- In 1965, as VMF(AW)-312, the squadron deployed to Vietnam for a combat tour.
-- Upon returning the U.S. the squadron relinquished their F-8s, was redesignated VMFA-312 and started flying the F-4B Phantom. They continued to fly various models of the F-4 for over 20 years (PHOTO).
-- In 1987, the F-4s were replaced by FA-18 Hornets, which VMFA-312 continues to fly today. (PHOTO) They are currently scheduled to transition to the F-35B in 2027.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Having mentioned the Checkboards of Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 312, let me present a capsule history of the squadron:

I believe I've shared this before but it's been awhile so it may have been somewhere else. My dad was a Marine fighter pilot with the VMF-312 Checkerboard Squadron from '44 to '56 and he flew the F4U Corsair in Korea. He loved that plane. Llarry, I know you care about the history. If you want more, I've got log books, articles, and many photos of the other Checkerboard F4U fighter pilots. Message me if you are interested.

[Artemis]

Sad news from Italy.

Earlier today a 'Frecce Tricolori' stunt plane crashed in San Francesco al Campo (Torino).

The plane ("Pony 4" - Aermacchi MB.339 A/PAN MLU) lost height after take-off. Pilot Oscar Del Dò ejected just before impact. Tragically, the plane hit a car with a family, killing a 5-yr old girl and injuring others who were on board. The pilot reportedly sustained burn injuries.

Cause of the crash has not been disclosed yet, but some eye-witnesses speak about a flock of birds nearby (possibly a bird strike).

The 'Frecce Tricolori' stunt team were scheduled to be the highlight of an air show tomorrow (festival weekend celebrating 100 years Italian Air Force). All events are canceled: https://www.turismotorino.org/en/exp...ento-annullato

Video of the bail-out and crash:

Aftermath:

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Sad news from Italy.

So sad to hear...Poor little girl...

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

So sad to hear...Poor little girl...

Her 9-yr old brother is in critical condition with severe burns.

Parents also hospitalized with burn injuries.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Her 9-yr old brother is in critical condition with severe burns.

Parents also hospitalized with burn injuries.

Airshows are notorious to inflict collateral deaths and injuries to spectators.

Probably the worst ones: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramste..._show_disaster..........................https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sknyliv_air_show_disaster

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Airshows are notorious to inflict collateral deaths and injuries to spectators.

Probably the worst ones: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramste..._show_disaster..........................https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sknyliv_air_show_disaster

The accident did not happen during an airshow. The 'Frecce Tricolori' stunt team had just taken off heading for Vercelli, where it was to perform an air show. The team was also supposed to perform at the (now canceled) air show of Sunday. The fire that developed following the impact of the aircraft on the ground unfortunately involved a car in transit on the airport perimeter with four people on board, causing the death of a child and injuring the other three occupants of the vehicle.

Tragic coincidence. Unfathomable that you drive your car and during your journey you get hit by an army plane.

Reminds of the following tragic coincidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Belgium_MiG-23_crash
July 4, 1989: a Russian MiG-23M encountered an issue shortly after take-off in Poland (afterburner failure causing a partial loss of power). The Russian pilot bailed out ...but the plane continued to fly for approx. 900 km / 560 miles: Poland, East Germany, West Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. NATO took action: two USAF F-15 fighter jets scrambled and intercepted the plane above Hopsten (West Germany). Pilots reported almost with disbelief: "We are shadowing now a MiG-23. 'Zero One' is tally on the MiG-23. I'm flying alongside. There appears to be no pilot. No pilot, the canopy is missing. The plane is flying autonomously, no pilot, no canopy." The USAF pilots were authorized to down the MiG. The plan was to take it down above the North Sea. But the Russian fighter plane didn't make it that far: 35 minutes after interception above West Germany the MiG ran out of fuel and crashed on a house in Belgium. A 19-year old student was killed in his sleep. In November 1989 the Soviet Union paid ± 25 million Belgian francs in damages (€625K). The Russians were also blamed for their total lack to inform NATO or national authorities that one of their planes had gone astray and to inform whether the phantom plane was carrying any peculiar weapons.

Unfathomable: you're asleep at home in a safe region and out of the blue a stray MiG - after a pilotless flight of about an hour - kills you.

Belgium - July 4, 1989:

[Llarry]

The Fleetwings Sea Bird was a single-engine 5-seat 1930s seaplane. Unusually, it was constructed of spot-welded stainless steel. Just six were built.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleetwings_Sea_Bird

[Lady Jane]

The Republic Seabee and United Consultant Twin Bee.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_RC-3_Seabee

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United...tants_Twin_Bee






Bonus question:

Which James Bond flew the Seabee in the movies?

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Which James Bond flew the Seabee in the movies?

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Bonus question:

Which James Bond flew the Seabee in the movies?

Here's a harder one: A TV show from the 50's, the character had a young male servant and a pet ape and flew his Seabee.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Here's a harder one: A TV show from the 50's, the character had a young male servant and a pet ape and flew his Seabee.

Jungle Jim.

02:32 - 02:59:

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Jungle Jim.

I'm impressed...!

[chassis]

F-35 incident in SC?

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by chassis

F-35 incident in SC?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...e%20ended%20up.

[vreihen16]

The local TV news talking heads reported a 2-plane crash at the Reno Air Races this weekend that stopped the event.....

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...e%20ended%20up.

Can't see the report on the missing F-35 with the pilot ejecting for an unknown reason there JJ, so posting this, should be complete report without registering etc. There is some poor grammar in the report.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...t-crashed.html

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Sad news from Italy.
Earlier today a 'Frecce Tricolori' stunt plane crashed in San Francesco al Campo (Torino).
Attachment 3278658

Aerial footage - tragic coincidence: