The Airplane Thread

[Llarry]

How would you like to be standing on the open ramp of your C-130 and see this come up real close?

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Llarry

How would you like to be standing on the open ramp of your C-130 and see this come up real close?

Probably just trying to reach the loadmaster about his extended warranty.

[Lady Jane]

[vreihen16]

About time this bozo paid the consequences for his reckless stunt.....

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...says-rcna25316


.

[Llarry]

An older photo showing three Jolly Rogers F-14As with three different loadouts. From front to back:
1) Four (thousand-pound?) bombs on belly, 2 Sparrow missiles, 2 Sidewinder missiles
2) Two Phoenix missiles on belly, 2 Sparrows, 2 Sidewinders
3) TARPS photo pod on belly, 2 Sparrows (and something I can't identify on the belly forward)

[snowbimmer]

National Museum of Nuclear Science, Albuquerque. Cool place.

[snowbimmer]

More....

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

National Museum of Nuclear Science, Albuquerque. Cool place.

In 2016 upon my return to Oregon from Spartanburg, I stayed in the Air Force Inn or whatever it's called on Kirtland AFB, right next to that museum. We were in high-speed cross-country mode and it killed me to be unable to visit; I could see the cool exhibits from our room.

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by Llarry

In 2016 upon my return to Oregon from Spartanburg, I stayed in the Air Force Inn or whatever it's called on Kirtland AFB, right next to that museum. We were in high-speed cross-country mode and it killed me to be unable to visit; I could see the cool exhibits from our room.

Inside is pretty good, too.

The wide angle distorts, but, the B-29 still has a big ass tail section. Fat Man underneath. Trinity tower in back.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Llarry

The other bomber that did not drop a bomb in anger was the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, a medium bomber with six J47 jets, Over 2,000 were built.

Speaking of B-47s, here's a photo of some rare aircraft: In the 1970s the Navy pulled two B-47Es out of storage and modified them into EB-47Es to provide electronic warfare training to the fleet. They were flown by contractors rather than Navy crews. I think they flew out of Point Mugu in California.

[Llarry]

To follow-up on the EB-47Es flown by the Navy, that led to the establishment of the Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group in the 1970s, which ultimately had two squadrons, VAQ-33 and VAQ-34, attached. They played the "bad guys" in fleet exercises. They were not very large squadrons and flew a variety of aircraft: EC-121s (not pictured), ERA-3B Skywarriors, EF-4B Phantoms, EA-4F Skyhawks, EA-7L Corsairs, and EA-6A Intruders.

One of the interesting aspects of those two squadrons was that, since they did not deploy, they offered opportunities for women aviators to fly tactical aircraft before that became routine. In fact, the first woman to command a U.S. Navy aviation squadron, CDR Rosemary Mariner, commanded one of the VAQs; she retired as a Captain. (Photo as a Lieutenant.)

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Llarry

CDR Rosemary Mariner, commanded one of the VAQs; she retired as a Captain.

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

[Lady Jane]

Cessna Skyhook at Toronto Malton airport c1965.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_CH-1_Skyhook

[diirk]

Just to buck the trend a little, although I'm a big fan of various aircraft...

[Llarry]

After months of disarray, my aviation book collection is finally organized and shelved.

The aircraft type that I own the most books on is the McDonnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk - 9 volumes.

Second is a tie between the Grumman F-14 Tomcat and the Vought F-8 Crusader -- 8 volumes each.

Honorable mentions go the Lockheed U-2 and the Lockheed A-12/SR-71 -- 5 volumes each.

First photo: Top shelf WW2 Japanese aircraft (many in Japanese); second shelf U.S. Air Force (most of shelf) and then Chinese/Russian.

Second photo: Top shelf U.S. Navy aircraft 1920s to date; bottom shelf various Jane's All the World's Aircraft, Fighting Ships, etc. (none up to date; a current Jane's volume lists for over $2,000 these days!)

Lots of magazines not pictured. Helicopters, WWI and German WW2 also not pictured (just a few books.)

[Lady Jane]

Antonov An-2F. Developed concurrently with the An-2 prototype, 'Izdeliye F' was an experimental artillery-observation aircraft with a twin-tail, ventral observer's position and dorsal defensive machine-gun position.

[Lady Jane]

The Orion 25 Ekranoplan.

https://en.topwar.ru/211038-na-onezh...-orion-25.html

[Llarry]

An F-15D of the 173rd Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard, suffered a mishap recently. No tail markings, leading to speculation that it had been recently repainted, possibly due to being transferred in from the base in Kadena, Okinawa, Japan. Given the state of the force of F-15Cs and F-15Ds -- old and tired -- I suspect it's a total loss. Bummer.

Hopefully the 173rd will start getting factory-fresh F-15EXs soon.

[M-technik-3]

Barnes ANG was told last month that they are getting F-35A to replace their F-15C/D's. Not looking forward to the noise levels.

The 15's were loud but in comparison not too loud. And with my old unit now having M's I don't even hear when a Galaxy fly's overhead.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Barnes ANG was told last month that they are getting F-35A to replace their F-15C/D's. Not looking forward to the noise levels.

The 15's were loud but in comparison not too loud. And with my old unit now having M's I don't even hear when a Galaxy fly's overhead.

I'm thinking nothing is as loud as an F-35 -- related to having 42,000 lbs of thrust in afterburner -- and there are many communities that are discovering that or will discover that.

I'm reminded of the old joke:
A: These damn planes are so loud!
B: Well, did you see the plane making all the noise?
A: Yeah, I saw it.
B: Did it have red stars on the wings?
A: No, it had red, white and blue stars and bars.
B: Well then shut up already; what you're hearing is the sound of freedom!

[Lady Jane]

Hawker P.1072 Snarler.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_P.1072

[3798j]

when there's talk of the ANG replacing planes, this photo comes to mind...