When aircraft had style plus just cool aircraft

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:37 pm

Easily one of the coolest jet aircraft to ever fly, the iconic British Vulcan bomber!

Cheers,
Oly

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:52 pm

Oly,

That Vulcan looks more like a Manta Ray that's missing it's tail than anything else.

Pretty neat though.

Joe

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:24 am

Did somebody say "Vulcan"?

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:52 am

Friends Call Me Ji wrote:Did somebody say "Vulcan"?

A picture of Mr Spock in an airplane thread? That's just not logical Ji...

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:54 am

Friends Call Me Ji wrote:Did somebody say "Vulcan"?

As long as we have veered off a bit. Here's how Spock got his first set of ears.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 4:28 pm

Those British "V" bombers were WAY cool!

-Stretch

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 2:26 pm

jeepnik wrote:
Friends Call Me Ji wrote:Did somebody say "Vulcan"?

As long as we have veered off a bit. Here's how Spock got his first set of ears.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04

Thanks for reminding me how retarded the late 60s were pop-culturally speaking. WOW that was Nimoy's real hair!

Here's a plane I think was pretty cool the Kawanishi N1K1 Kyofu aka Rex one of a few floatplane-fighters of the Japanese Imperial Navy.

Later in the war the floats were removed and landing gears added to make one of the most capable Japanese fighters of the war the Kawanishi N1K2 Shidenkai aka George (though too little too late to prevent the inevitable).

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:04 am

If George and Frank had been in service 2 years sooner things would have been a lot tougher. Of course that assumes an adequate number of veteran pilots as well...

June 22, 2011 - Dornier Do X
Photo: January 1932
Perhaps the most dramatic flying boat ever built was the giant Dornier Do X. Conceived by Dr. Claudius Dornier, the Do X design took seven years to complete and two years to build. The giant flying boat was finally launched on July 12th, 1929.
On October 21st, the plane took off carrying 169 people consisting of 150 passengers, 10 crew and 9 stowaways, easily breaking the world record for the number of people aboard a flight. A record that would not be tested for 15 years. Weighing 48 tons, the plane taxied for 50 seconds before slowly ascending to only 650 feet. It flew for 40 minutes at a maximum speed of 105 mph finally landing on Lake Constance.

CREDIT

gak · Post by **gak** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:56 am

Someone else may have posted something similar, but I couldn't find. I thought I knew most-things B-17 'cause of my father's extensive history with it, but had forgotten the Boeing 307 Stratoliner passenger plane was basically (initially the "C's" wings, tail, Wright engines) a B-17. It also shared some of the B-17's continuing development--for instance later models incorporating the B-17 G's tail. Cool plane. I saw one of the few remaining/restored models recently at the Nat'l Air & Space Museum @ Dulles--looking brand new in gleaming aluminum.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:19 am

Gak,

I've built hundreds of model aircraft in my life. But never a Boeing 307.
Somewhere years ago I saw pics of one, but never knew it's lineage.
It sure is a short coupled bird. I like it.

Joe

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:40 pm

LOVE the B307! What a ground breaking aircraft.

Oly

txpete · Post by **txpete** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 3:37 pm

gak wrote:Anyone know the P-39? IIRC, many saw Russian duty.

get ready for info overload

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwksKXoDALI

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:13 pm

olyinaz wrote:LOVE the B307! What a ground breaking aircraft.

Oly

Guess the B-17s the 307 was based on broke a whole lot more ground! Among many other things...

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:55 am

I'll see your 307 and raise you a 377...

CREDIT

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:57 am

June 24, 2011 - Martin MB-2
Martin MB-2 in flight with a pursuit aircraft practicing an attack.

CREDIT

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 5:45 pm

Boeing P-26A "Peashooter" America's first all metal monoplane fighter. There were a few in the Philippines Army Air Corps at the time of Japan's invasion on December 8th, 1941 but they didn't do too well against the Mitsubishi Zeros.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 5:45 pm

Since Ji is a seaplane fan, I give you this...

Grumman F4F-3S "Wild Catfish"
Due to the successful use of fighter seaplanes by Japanese forces in the Pacific, in 1942 Grumman experimented with a new development of its F4F-3 Wildcat, in the creation of a floatplane version of this fighter. The conversion of a standard production aircraft was undertaken by Edo Corporation in the space of three months from the Navy request being made; the floats themselves were specially designed for the "Wild Catfish", as this prototype became known, and the entire airframe was subjected to stress analysis and some strengthening. To compensate for the decreased yaw stability resulting from the extra side area of the floats forward of the aircraft center of gravity, additional rudder area was required, and this was provided by fitting small additional surfaces at the tips of the tailplane, with an interconnection with the main rudder. The F4F-3 floatplane, sometimes referred to as the F4F-3S, first flew on February 28, 1943 and under Navy contract Edo provided 100 sets of floats in great haste, but the changing nature of the war in the Pacific made it unnecessary to proceed with further floatplane conversions, and the project was canceled.
http://www.daveswarbirds.com/usplanes/american.htm

I find it more than a bit ironic the conversion was handled by a company using an old name for Tokyo....

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 7:24 pm

Well if you're gonna post a picture of a Strat, it needs to be this one:

Oly

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 7:28 pm

Friends Call Me Ji wrote:Boeing P-26A "Peashooter" America's first all metal monoplane fighter. There were a few in the Philippines Army Air Corps at the time of Japan's invasion on December 8th, 1941 but they didn't do too well against the Mitsubishi Zeros.

Yeah, but they looked good.

Oly

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:53 am

olyinaz wrote:
Friends Call Me Ji wrote:Boeing P-26A "Peashooter" America's first all metal monoplane fighter. There were a few in the Philippines Army Air Corps at the time of Japan's invasion on December 8th, 1941 but they didn't do too well against the Mitsubishi Zeros.

Yeah, but they looked good.

Oly

I won't argue that. Certainly not in that paint scheme...

OK, it's been too long so here's a new one:

July 12, 2011 - de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen
The prototype took to the skies on 26 September 1951 piloted by John Cunningham; the aircraft's performance exceeded expectations, and by the following year it was regularly flying faster than the speed of sound.
However, tragedy struck while the aircraft was being demonstrated at the Farnborough Airshow on 6 September 1952. Following a demonstration of its ability to break the sound barrier, the aircraft disintegrated, killing 31 people, including the crew of two: test pilot and record breaker John Derry and Tony Richards. The failure was traced to faulty design of the end sections of the main spar, which resulted in the outer ends of the wings shearing off during a high-rate turn. The subsequent shift in the DH.110's centre of gravity caused the aircraft to lurch violently, creating forces of over 12 g, resulting in the cockpit and tail sections breaking away and the engines being torn from the airframe. One of the engines hit an area crowded with spectators at the end of the runway, causing the majority of casualties. Other spectators were injured by debris from the cockpit landing close to the main spectator enclosures alongside the runway. This incident led to a major restructuring of the safety regulations for air shows in the UK and since this crash no member of the public has died as a result of an airshow accident in the UK.

CREDIT

I've always thought the Brits used some good looking early jets.

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:17 am

I did not know about that early crash. WOW! 31 dead? If that happened today it would be a major news item that we'd all remember for years. Very sad for the many families impacted.

Oly

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:38 am

I recall seeing footage in a documentary of either that crash or the one that killed DeHavilland during a record run in another a/c. I have forgotten which...

I remember when the members of Italian display team clipped each other and at least 2 birds went into the crowd. 1989-90 IIRC.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:59 am

July 20, 2011 - Lockheed P-38M Night Lightning
A number of Lightnings were modified as night fighters. There were several field or experimental modifications with different equipment fits that finally led to the "formal" P-38M night fighter, or Night Lightning. 75 P-38Ls were modified to the Night Lightning configuration, painted flat-black with conical flash hiders on the guns, an AN/APS-6 radar pod below the nose, and a second cockpit with a raised canopy behind the pilot's canopy for the radar operator. The headroom in the rear cockpit was limited, requiring radar operators who were preferably short in stature.
CREDIT
http://www.planeaday.com/

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:48 pm

Bump!

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 2:52 am

Curtiss Hawk:

Seen one up close and it's just a lovely airplane. Great lines!

Oly

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:43 am

Unsung as nobody dared mess with us while she was in the air. My Dad started his Air Force career with these:

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:01 am

My favourite WW1 fighter is the S.E.5 .....

and my favourite double seater from WW1 is the DeHaviland DH-4 ......

and my favourite bomber from WW2 is the Short Stirling .....

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:11 pm

KirkD,
I find the Short Sterling very interesting as they have radial engines whereas the Lancaster had in-lines.
Another thing about the UK bombers of WW II is they didn't have belly turrets like the American bombers did. Always thought that was kind of strange.

C. Cash,
When the B-36 Peacemaker was flying we not only had a stronger military but a stronger more American oriented government.
Times sure have changed.

Joe

gak · Post by **gak** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:41 pm

My father flew the B-36 a bit and I got to tour one at Kelly AFB in San Antonio when we were stationed there. Big! Some very good footage of the 36 (and 47) can be seen in "Strategic Air Command" with James Stewart, who of course had been a "real" bomber pilot in WWII.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:45 pm

gak wrote:My father flew the B-36 a bit and I got to tour one at Kelly AFB in San Antonio when we were stationed there. Big! Some very good footage of the 36 (and 47) can be seen in "Strategic Air Command" with James Stewart, who of course had been a "real" bomber pilot in WWII.

I've been trying to find a CD version of that movie every since someone posted a video clip from it last year.

I just love the sound those big engines make.

Joe

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 2:14 pm

J Miller wrote:
gak wrote:My father flew the B-36 a bit and I got to tour one at Kelly AFB in San Antonio when we were stationed there. Big! Some very good footage of the 36 (and 47) can be seen in "Strategic Air Command" with James Stewart, who of course had been a "real" bomber pilot in WWII.
I've been trying to find a CD version of that movie every since someone posted a video clip from it last year.

I just love the sound those big engines make.

Joe

Some beautiful footage in that film for sure....would be neat to have in HD. I think there still may be one there in Texas, though not flyable. Dad said they did a flyby for an airman who was killed and they broke out alot of windows near Travis, AFB. They have an engine or a B-36 on display at the Falcon Field museum. Has to be seen to be believed.....they are monstrous.

gak · Post by **gak** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 2:33 pm

C. Cash wrote:
J Miller wrote:
gak wrote:My father flew the B-36 a bit and I got to tour one at Kelly AFB in San Antonio when we were stationed there. Big! Some very good footage of the 36 (and 47) can be seen in "Strategic Air Command" with James Stewart, who of course had been a "real" bomber pilot in WWII.
I've been trying to find a CD version of that movie every since someone posted a video clip from it last year.

I just love the sound those big engines make.

Joe
Some beautiful footage in that film for sure....would be neat to have in HD. I think there still may be one there in Texas, though not flyable. Dad said they did a flyby for an airman who was killed and they broke out alot of windows near Travis, AFB. They have an engine or a B-36 on display at the Falcon Field museum. Has to be seen to be believed.....they are monstrous.

I'm only a half hour out of Falcon...somehow missed that engine (though I do remember a ME-109's a few years back--impressive by itself)...I'll have to check it out. Overdue a visit anyway. Maybe I'll luck out and Sentimental Journey will be there too!

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 3:57 pm

gak wrote:
C. Cash wrote:
J Miller wrote:
gak wrote:My father flew the B-36 a bit and I got to tour one at Kelly AFB in San Antonio when we were stationed there. Big! Some very good footage of the 36 (and 47) can be seen in "Strategic Air Command" with James Stewart, who of course had been a "real" bomber pilot in WWII.
I've been trying to find a CD version of that movie every since someone posted a video clip from it last year.

I just love the sound those big engines make.

Joe
Some beautiful footage in that film for sure....would be neat to have in HD. I think there still may be one there in Texas, though not flyable. Dad said they did a flyby for an airman who was killed and they broke out alot of windows near Travis, AFB. They have an engine or a B-36 on display at the Falcon Field museum. Has to be seen to be believed.....they are monstrous.
I'm only a half hour out of Falcon...somehow missed that engine (though I do remember a ME-109's a few years back--impressive by itself)...I'll have to check it out. Overdue a visit anyway. Maybe I'll luck out and Sentimental Journey will be there too!

Most definitely! It would pay to call ahead there to see whats home and whats gone. There's also a B-36 at Wright Patterson in Ohio and I think one in CA. None that fly, if I'm not mistaken.

quietman · Post by **quietman** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:47 pm

My favorite P-40's are the B & C. The larger air scoops on the later models ruined the looks.

Thunder50 · Post by **Thunder50** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:41 pm

IIRC, there were only two air bases that were capable of handling the B-36, because of its weight and TO and Landing distance. I have some home movies that my Father took, flying in a B-36, in formation with other B-36's

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 9:23 am

My favourite WW2 fighter was the Hawker Hurricane, with a major contribution in the Battle of Britain. Here's a photo ....

damienph · Post by **damienph** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 9:49 am

Thunder50 wrote:IIRC, there were only two air bases that were capable of handling the B-36, because of its weight and TO and Landing distance. I have some home movies that my Father took, flying in a B-36, in formation with other B-36's

I think that there were at seven or eight air bases that operated B36 Heavy Bombardment Wings, including one in Puerto Rico.

I think that only 4 or 5 B36s still exist.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:27 am

Thunder50 wrote:IIRC, there were only two air bases that were capable of handling the B-36, because of its weight and TO and Landing distance. I have some home movies that my Father took, flying in a B-36, in formation with other B-36's

I would imagine that is rare footage. I have one grainy photo from the one othe side window camera/gun turrets. Dad said that after they encountered Migs up near Alaska, the cameras got changed out to guns real quick!

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 4:33 pm

quietman wrote:My favorite P-40's are the B & C. The larger air scoops on the later models ruined the looks.

Those larger scoops may have detracted from their looks, but the engines had more horsepower, the canopy was improved, and the armament increased.

quietman · Post by **quietman** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 5:35 pm

jeepnik wrote:Those larger scoops may have detracted from their looks, but the engines had more horsepower, the canopy was improved, and the armament increased.

I know, but to me, we're talking looks in this thread, not functionality

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 7:43 pm

Here's one beautiful aircraft. There are a number of jet jockeys who would agree.

I spent a "few" hours in one.

a357lever · Post by **a357lever** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:59 pm

A COMPOSITE PICTURE OF MY DAD ON THE GROUND CREW OF A GREAT P51D FIGHTER.
I CAN"T BELIVE IT'S BEEN IGNORED!

a357lever · Post by **a357lever** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:19 pm

P51 I guess I need permission to post pics sorry please delete if possible

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:42 am

I see your pics 357.......you probably have to be signed in to see it. Very nicely done picture of your Dad. When you get right down to it, the P-51 will always be the King of the Jungle among WWII aircraft, IMO.

gak · Post by **gak** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:01 pm

Yes, 357, very cool picture of your dad. Nothing beats a Mustang, unless it's two of 'em

P-82 (F-82)

Though mostly a bomber pilot, my father had a chance to fly this a bit. Loved it. The 82 scored the first MiG "kill" over Korea, and operated its missions as a specialized "all weather" fighter out of our base in southern Japan--long before our days there.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:28 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys7QqNTA ... re=related

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:04 pm

Looking at the wings on that P-82 reminded me of the final version of the P-51 - the H model. Larger wings and tail kind of ruined the looks to me even if it was a better airplane at high altitudes.

F-51H, not many made:

Regards,
Oly

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:13 pm

Earliest and second best looking "P-51", the A-36 Apache. (I think the P-51B was the best looking.)

Allison engine could have been great, but they put a lousy version in it.

Oly

pdentrem · Post by **pdentrem** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:08 pm

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.

I just uploaded a short video taken this morning (Sat 17 Sept 2011). I have 3 more to work through. I hope you like it. This was NOT shot with a phone! A real camera with shake compensation.

Please go to pierresplace.ca and select Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and select the videos. I do not have a picture for the video files just yet so it may look like a broken picture icon. I just converted the files from AVI to FLV to use less space. Should be easier to watch now.

Enjoy, I know that I did today!

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:56 pm

pdentrem,

The Lancaster and the B-17 share a common trait. On the ground they look ungainly and awkward. But once airborne they are graceful and coordinated.

Joe