The Airplane Thread

[Llarry]

Tomcat Thursday!

This is a shot of an F-14D of Fighter Squadron Two firing an AIM-54 Phoenix missile. A thousand pounds of bad-ass long range missile. There was even consideration given back in the bad old days of putting a nuclear warhead in the Phoenix. The missile ended up being retired slightly before the airplane.

[Llarry]

When the AIM-54 Phoenix was retired in 2004, the USN no longer had a long-range air-to-air missile. But there have been two developments since then:
1) Advanced versions of the AIM-120 AMRAAM keep getting longer legs; I suspect the latest versions come close to the 100-mile range of the Phoenix.
2) Just this year, an air-launched variant of the Standard SM-6 missile has become operational. The range of this AIM-174B missile is probably far greater than that of the Phoenix. It's carried by the F-18.

[Llarry]

E-2 Hawkeyes have four vertical tail surfaces and this 2015 photo of an E-2C of Airborne Warning and Control Squadron 115 shows all of them being used -- that's a lot of paint! The Japan-based squadron shows both U.S. and Japanese flags, a rising sun insignia, a tail code (NF) that is mostly obscured in this photo and more. Whew!

[M-technik-3]

Wow saw this on Yahoo this morning.


Quite the weapons load.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Llarry

While I knew it was a MiG-23, I did not know which specific model. I think I've got a MiG book somewhere around here where I could've looked it up.

The -23, by the way, was the airplane that killed a USAF general who went to Nevada to fly it, and the plane got away from him. Three-star, if memory serves.

We are getting ready to move from our small llama farm to a house in town, so I will be getting dumb for a while.

I went to this Canadian Air Museum during a trip last week and I did not expect to see a MiG. What a surprise. There were several other plane on static display that were important planes in Canada's military history. I love seeing them, but I love watching them fly even more!

Good luck with your move. That's a big change for you. Hopefully you stay connected to the new owner and go back and visit your llamas from time to time.

Lastly, you definitely not be getting dumb. You will remain smart and simply not sharing your smartness for awhile.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Wow saw this on Yahoo this morning.


Quite the weapons load.

While it doesn't weigh the required 300,000 pounds to meet the ATC term, I would call this aircraft "Heavy" for sure.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

While it doesn't weigh the required 300,000 pounds to meet the ATC term, I would call this aircraft "Heavy" for sure.

With that armament load, is anyone going to argue with the pilot?????

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Wow saw this on Yahoo this morning.


Quite the weapons load.

To me that looks like a public relations photo rather than anything that would typically be seen in an operational sense. It is indeed quite impressive, though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-174B

[Llarry]

The Northrop XP-79B jet fighter has to be one of worst failures ever. The twin jet flying wing fighter's pilot flew while lying down in the nose of the airplane. On the XP-79B's first flight on September 12, 1945, the pilot lost control and bailed out. He struck the aircraft and was killed. The airplane was destroyed in the crash.

[M-technik-3]

Originally Posted by Llarry

To me that looks like a public relations photo rather than anything that would typically be seen in an operational sense. It is indeed quite impressive, though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-174B

I tend to agree being this was taken in the Gulf and it proximity to Iran would be a great hey lets reach out and touch someone.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

I tend to agree being this was taken in the Gulf and it proximity to Iran would be a great hey lets reach out and touch someone.

VX-9 (tail code XE) is a test squadron that operates from China Lake and Point Mugu in S. California and does not deploy overseas. Are you sure this was taken in the Gulf?

[M-technik-3]

Interesting because the Yahoo article said it taken one place but another article says it was Point Magu. Been to China Lake more than I care to remember.

Everytime we went there it was a Diego Garcia trip. Also the photo has Captive 174's on it according to https://www.twz.com/air/f-a-18-super...r-missile-load

So I would tend to agree with this site vs Yahoo.

[Llarry]

The F-15EX's official name is the Eagle II, but some have taken to calling it the Phoenix, as it has arisen from the ashes of the aging F-15 Eagle. Here's one of the test aircraft from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

[E92_William]

Old 727 thrown in a corner of MIA

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by E92_William

Old 727 thrown in a corner of MIA

Western had just received their 737-300's when the tower launched one 4 miles behind a 727 and I had 30 miles to build that 4 miles into 8+, Turns weren't an option as I was in the SLC valley with cumulogranite on either side, so my only option was speed. I told the 72 I needed fast as a 73 was catching him (yes, I baited him a little ) and restricted the 73's speed. His response was a sarcastic "Oh yeah?" Took about 15 miles before the 72 was 10+ miles ahead of the 73, though the 73 was MUCH higher. About that time the 72 asks, again sarcastically, "How's it look now approach?" I said no contest! I knew he'd take the bait and he was around 400 over the ground.

[Llarry]

In the hectic days of early World War II, everybody needed airplanes and needed them by yesterday. One of the smaller American aircraft manufacturers, Brewster, designed the F2A Buffalo monoplane fighter that reached Navy fighting squadrons in 1940, replacing biplanes. The F2A had reasonably good flying qualities, the major flaw being weak landing gear that occasionally collapsed during landing. While the F2A was a step forward for carrier and Marine aviation, it was not really ready for the rigors of combat in the coming war.

Nevertheless, Brewster Buffalos were used by the Finnish Air Force, the UK's RAF and RN, the RAAF, and RNZAF, and RNLAF and of course the Navy and Marine Corps.

The most successful nation to use the F2A was Finland in battles with Soviet fighters; the Buffalo stayed in service with Finland until 1945.

Other users did not fare so well. Commonwealth and Dutch Buffalos fought the Japanese in the dark early days of the Pacific War in 1941-42 with poor results.

In the U.S. sea services, the F2A had largely been replaced by the time the war started by the Grumman F4F Wildcat, although a few Marine F2As took part in the Battle of Midway in June of 1942 (and took major losses.)

Brewster's next aircraft was a scout bomber, the SB2A Buccaneer. The SB2A was a theoretically a big step up from the then-standard Douglas SBD Dauntless scout (dive) bomber, with more power and an internal bomb bay. The SB2A first flew in June of 1941. Brewster produced 771 SB2As during the frantic early war period for the Navy and Marines, the U.S. Army Air Forces (as the A-34) and for the Commonwealth (as the Bermuda). The Netherlands and France also ordered the aircraft, but were overrun by Germany before any could be delivered.

If the F2A could be said to have a lackluster record, the SB2A was worse -- much worse. None ever saw combat with any service. The only service that Buccaneers and Bermudas saw was as stopgap trainers and target tugs. It might be said that the 771 airplanes built were a waste of valuable resources such as engines and aluminum. (An interesting footnote: Some SB2As, originally destined for the RNLAF, had instrument panel markings in Dutch, which befuddled the American pilots at first.)

The final chapter in the Brewster story was the selection of Brewster as an additional source of manufacture for the excellent Vought F4U Corsair fighter. There again Brewster came up sadly short, producing only about 300 F3A-1 Corsairs before the Navy pulled the plug for good. By comparison, the other alternate manufacturer of the Corsair, Goodyear, managed to build over 3,000 Corsairs for the war effort.

[Llarry]

An F-15C Eagle of the 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard, Fresno, California. Note the serial number: 84-009. This airplane was purchased by the U.S. Air Force using 1984 funds. This F-15C has no doubt lived a hard life of high-G maneuvers and is ready for the boneyard but has to hold on until the 144th gets their F-15EXs.

[Llarry]

Tomcat Thursday!

[JJ 911SC]

LJ, you should get a few...

[Llarry]

In the 1930s, Douglas Aircraft was on a roll with the very successful DC-3 twin-engine airliner. Douglas decided to take a chance with an airliner twice the size of the DC-3 with four engines, tricycle landing gear and many advanced features, calling it the DC-4. The airlines were enthusiastic and chipped in part of the development cost. The result was a single prototype airliner. But then the project ran into a brick wall: the operating costs were projected to be too high. The prototype was renamed the DC-4E and remained the only one of its type, while Douglas went on to develop a smaller four-engine airliner called the DC-4. The single DC-4E ended up being sold to a Japanese airline -- and then ended up as the basis for a Japanese heavy bomber prototype of World War II. The replacement DC-4 went on to greatness, with over a thousand built; most were military as World War II was on, but after the war many went into commercial service.

While the DC-2 and its DST and DC-2 predecessors established Douglas firmly as a power in the transport market, it was the DC-4 that introduced intercontinental travel. The DC-4E ended up as a side road leading to a dead end.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-4E

[Llarry]

Viper!

The F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, known universally as the Viper, remains the most numerically important U.S. Air Force combat aircraft. A year ago (the latest date that I have data) 862 were in service with active USAF, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units.

Altogether, and excluding prototypes, the Air Force took delivery of 2,241 F-16s during 1978-2005. Of these, 795 were the initial F-16A single seat and F-16B twin-seat model and 1,446 were the upgraded F-16C/D aircraft. A couple of sub-types of the F-16C/D are in service: The F-16CG/DG specializes in night and all-weather attack, while the F-16CJ/DJ is optimized for the suppression of enemy air defenses (the Wild Weasel mission). F-16C/Ds are powered by either Pratt & Whitney F100 or GE F110s afterburning turbofan engines. There have been a number of block upgrades over the years to maximize the combat power of the Viper.

While the new F-35A is coming on strong, it will still be some time before the F-16 relinquishes its position as the most numerous Air Force fighter.

The F-16 has also found outstanding success elsewhere and Vipers can be found in the U.S. Navy (in much smaller numbers) and in the air forces of many nations.

The F-16 can carry 1-3 external fuel tanks; note that most photos show Vipers with two tanks under the wings. The incredible power of modern engines comes with a price: fuel consumption!

[Llarry]

The first UK Royal Air Force Wedgetail AEW1 is almost complete. No paint yet, but that should come soon. The RAF will buy 3-5 aircraft.

Airborne warning and control aircraft are a vital force multiplier, giving air forces the situational awareness they need to maximize combat air power. They are also expensive, as the U.S. Air Force is learning as they prepare to replace their older E-3 AWACS aircraft with 26 new Wedgetails planned for delivery after 2027.

Other users include Turkey, which has four, Korea, which also has four but is considering additional purchases and NATO, which plans to buy six starting in 2031.

Another wealthy U.S. ally which should get on board is Canada. The RCAF benefits from the NATO AWACS force (in Europe) and Canadian taxpayers appear to be unenthusiastic about defense expenditure.