3175375
Old Man with a Hat
F-4 is an excellent aircraft. Still in use today.
Heavy Metal
- Thread starter amazinblue82
- Start date
F-4 is an excellent aircraft. Still in use today.
Old Mike
Well-Known Member
I was in the Air Force while the F 15s were being phased in. We were told it was the first aircraft capable of “positive rate of climb”. That meant the engines put out more thrust in pounds than the aircraft (stripped down) weighed, hence the record breaking times to altitude.
50 Years Ago Today: The F-15 Streak Eagle reaches an altitude of 30,000 meters
thats what Saturn V had (i.e., a positive climb rate) even though it weighed a bit over 6 million lbs. its thrust/weight ratio was 1.2:1 (7.5 divided by 6.2 = 1.2). first stage had five F-1's, at 1.5M lbs thrust each. again, it was a rocket, capable of escape velocity (25,000 mph) and getting to the moon. not even easy today, let alone 60 years ago.
F-15 "Streak" was allegedly 1.5:1. Dont think F4 was much less than 1:1 but it wasnt "positive". Regular old F-15 was close to 1.2:1, still bit better than F4.
stills from vid .. afterburners lit, low altitude, then straight up.
LSS, they (the planes) all could flat out get it. hard to believe that only 60-70 years earlier, at a NC beach, all we had was this:
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3175375
Old Man with a Hat
Captured Heinkel He 162 A-2 Spatz (Sparrow) Wr.N 120230 in a USAAF Freeman Field hangar in 1946. According to the US National Air and Space Museum, this was one of the thirty-one JG 1 aircraft manufactured by Heinkel at Rostock-Marienehe and captured by the British at Leck on May 8, 1945. It was painted with the number "white 23" and its red-white-black nose bands were in reverse order from the usual paint scheme, which may indicate that the wing commander and high-scoring ace, Col. Herbert Ihlefeld, flew this particular aircraft. After transfer to Britain, the USAAF accepted the airplane and shipped it to Wright Field, OH, for evaluation. It received the foreign equipment number FE-504 (later T2-504), and was later moved to Freeman Field, IN. For unknown reasons, mechanics replaced the tail unit at Wright Field with the tail unit of aircraft Wr.N 120222. Although another He 162, T2-489, was tested at Muroc Field, CA, FE/T2-504 was apparently never flown. Its flying days ended permanently when someone at Freeman Field neatly sawed through the outer wing panels sometime before September 1946. The wings were reattached with door hinges and the jet was shipped to air shows and military displays around the country. The USAF transferred the aircraft to the Smithsonian Institution in 1949 but it remained in stored at Park Ridge, IL, until transfer to the Garber Facility in January 1955. Note: the He 162 has often been erroneously referred to as the "Salmander". The term is a codename for the wing structure, not the aircraft.
120 built.
Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger - Wikipedia
120 built.
Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger - Wikipedia
Interesting plane and story at the link. Never heard of this plane.
The "people's fighter" (Volksjäger).
Wasnt a very high quality, NOR was its safe, partially made of wood (due to material shortages in Germany at the end of the war). It was fast, and a sign of things to come in aerial weaponry still in use today.
Single jet engine (made by BMW) on top/rear of fuselage (looks a bit like a VI in that regard) made it hard for pilots to eject (either hit engine nacelle, or go into it while it was running .. both likely fatal outcomes).
Nazis were real bad actors, led by a mad man, as we know. Their ironic legacy, however, was a lot of technology (jets, rockets, metal working, etc.,) that's still in stuff the world uses today.
HE 162
below for appearances reference .. the V1 "buzz bomb", the WWII "great grandfather" of today's cruise missle.
source: V-1 flying bomb
3175375
Old Man with a Hat
V-tail model of the P-63 Kingcobra, a configuration which was actually tested. Best I can tell, it first flew in December 1945.
3175375
Old Man with a Hat
Epic Whoops thread.
Looks shopped, but it aint.
443 ft, several thousand tons, 16 knots. Nobody hurt.
Looks shopped, but it aint.
443 ft, several thousand tons, 16 knots. Nobody hurt.
3175375
Old Man with a Hat
General Adolf Galland, one of Germany’s most famous fighter aces, is pictured here with Werner Mölders, another leading Luftwaffe pilot, during the early stages of the Second World War.
The aircraft is a Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4/N, Werknummer 5819, assigned to the Stab
Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) — "Schlageter".
This particular Bf 109 was a unique machine , the only known example fitted with a cigar lighter!
The aircraft is a Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4/N, Werknummer 5819, assigned to the Stab
Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) — "Schlageter".
This particular Bf 109 was a unique machine , the only known example fitted with a cigar lighter!
3175375
Old Man with a Hat
The Henschel Hs 129, often nicknamed the "Flying Tin Can" or "Panzerknacker" (Tank Breaker), was the Luftwaffe's dedicated ground-attack aircraft during World War II, specifically designed to counter Allied and, in particular, Soviet armour.
While it had numerous variants and armament options, its most formidable iteration, the Hs 129 B-3, gained notoriety for mounting a massive 75 mm anti-tank cannon.
While it had numerous variants and armament options, its most formidable iteration, the Hs 129 B-3, gained notoriety for mounting a massive 75 mm anti-tank cannon.
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
13 minutes of F-series (GM Electromotive) history.
]
ASIDE
All my train books/toys from my earliest memories were this locomotive. i inherited this "Golden Book", part of a very popular series of kids books in the early-mid '60's.
Minw is LONG GONE, but memories of it are vivid because it reminded me of Yogi Bear's "pic-a-nic" basket.
for any of us old enough back then, you may have had this exact train book or any one of a hundred others (on dogs, cartoon characters, etc.,) in the Golden Book series.
source: Golden Book on Trains.
]
ASIDE
All my train books/toys from my earliest memories were this locomotive. i inherited this "Golden Book", part of a very popular series of kids books in the early-mid '60's.
Minw is LONG GONE, but memories of it are vivid because it reminded me of Yogi Bear's "pic-a-nic" basket.
for any of us old enough back then, you may have had this exact train book or any one of a hundred others (on dogs, cartoon characters, etc.,) in the Golden Book series.
source: Golden Book on Trains.
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3175375
Old Man with a Hat
This was crazy:
The Convair NB-36H was an experimental aircraft that carried a nuclear reactor to test its protective radiation shielding for the crew, but did not use it to power the aircraft. Nicknamed "The Crusader", it was created for the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion program (ANP for short), to show the feasibility of a nuclear-powered bomber. Its development ended with the cancellation of the ANP program.
The original crew and avionics cabin was replaced by a massive lead- and rubber-lined 11 ton crew section for a pilot, copilot, flight engineer and two nuclear engineers. Even the small windows had 25-to-30-centimeter-thick (10–12 in) lead glass. The aircraft was fitted with a 1-megawatt air-cooled reactor, with a weight of 35,000 pounds (16,000 kg). This was hung on a hook in the middle bomb bay to allow for easy loading and unloading, so that the radioactive source could be kept safely underground between the test flights. A monitoring system dubbed "Project Halitosis" measured radioactive gases from the reactor.
The Convair NB-36H was an experimental aircraft that carried a nuclear reactor to test its protective radiation shielding for the crew, but did not use it to power the aircraft. Nicknamed "The Crusader", it was created for the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion program (ANP for short), to show the feasibility of a nuclear-powered bomber. Its development ended with the cancellation of the ANP program.
The original crew and avionics cabin was replaced by a massive lead- and rubber-lined 11 ton crew section for a pilot, copilot, flight engineer and two nuclear engineers. Even the small windows had 25-to-30-centimeter-thick (10–12 in) lead glass. The aircraft was fitted with a 1-megawatt air-cooled reactor, with a weight of 35,000 pounds (16,000 kg). This was hung on a hook in the middle bomb bay to allow for easy loading and unloading, so that the radioactive source could be kept safely underground between the test flights. A monitoring system dubbed "Project Halitosis" measured radioactive gases from the reactor.
3175375
Old Man with a Hat
On this day in aviation history: May 27th, 1958; A legend was born. The Double Ugly, Lead Sled, Flying Anvil, St. Louis Slugger, Flying Brick, Snoopy, Rhino, Old Smokey, the triumph of thrust over aerodynamics, and "World's Leading Distributor of MiG Parts" more simply known as the Phantom; made its maiden flight on 27 May 1958 with Robert C. Little at the controls. There were proposals to name the F4H "Satan" and "Mithras", the Persian god of light. In the end, the aircraft was given the less controversial name "Phantom II"
Soon afterwards, the Double Ugly squared off against the XF8U-3 Crusader III, and on 17 December 1958, the F4H was declared a winner.
During her service, the Phantom served many countries, including Australia, Egypt, Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, Iran, Israel, Japan, Spain, South Korea and Turkey, and is the only aircraft to have flown the colours of both the USAF Thunderbirds as well as the USN Blue Angels.
Pictured: Operation Top Flight: On 6 December 1959, the second XF4H-1 performed a zoom climb to a world record 98,557 ft. Commander Lawrence E. Flint, Jr., USN, accelerated his aircraft to Mach 2.5, 1,650 mph, at 47,000 ft and climbed to 90,000 ft at a 45° angle. He then shut down the engines and glided to the peak altitude. As the aircraft fell through 70,000 ft, Flint restarted the engines and resumed normal flight.
Soon afterwards, the Double Ugly squared off against the XF8U-3 Crusader III, and on 17 December 1958, the F4H was declared a winner.
During her service, the Phantom served many countries, including Australia, Egypt, Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, Iran, Israel, Japan, Spain, South Korea and Turkey, and is the only aircraft to have flown the colours of both the USAF Thunderbirds as well as the USN Blue Angels.
Pictured: Operation Top Flight: On 6 December 1959, the second XF4H-1 performed a zoom climb to a world record 98,557 ft. Commander Lawrence E. Flint, Jr., USN, accelerated his aircraft to Mach 2.5, 1,650 mph, at 47,000 ft and climbed to 90,000 ft at a 45° angle. He then shut down the engines and glided to the peak altitude. As the aircraft fell through 70,000 ft, Flint restarted the engines and resumed normal flight.
3175375
Old Man with a Hat
CF-104 Starfighters of 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron, known as the "Silver Fox" Squadron, are seen at Baden, Söllingen Air Base.
Originally stationed with 1 Wing at Marville, France, the squadron later relocated to Lahr and then Baden, Söllingen, operating there between 1963 and 1986 as part of Canada's NATO commitments during the Cold War.
Originally stationed with 1 Wing at Marville, France, the squadron later relocated to Lahr and then Baden, Söllingen, operating there between 1963 and 1986 as part of Canada's NATO commitments during the Cold War.
3175375
Old Man with a Hat
The Lockheed "Flatbed" was a conceptual aircraft design developed by Lockheed in the 1970s as part of a U.S. Air Force study into efficient heavy-lift transport solutions. The "Flatbed" concept proposed a radical departure from conventional cargo aircraft designs. Instead of an enclosed cargo hold, it featured a wide, flat fuselage designed to carry large and unconventional payloads—such as tanks, containers, or even other aircraft—mounted externally on its upper surface, much like a flatbed truck.
This open-air approach aimed to simplify loading and unloading of oversized cargo and reduce structural weight. The aircraft would have used advanced lifting body principles and high-lift devices to compensate for the aerodynamic challenges of exposed cargo. Despite its innovative design, the Lockheed Flatbed remained a paper concept and was never built
This open-air approach aimed to simplify loading and unloading of oversized cargo and reduce structural weight. The aircraft would have used advanced lifting body principles and high-lift devices to compensate for the aerodynamic challenges of exposed cargo. Despite its innovative design, the Lockheed Flatbed remained a paper concept and was never built
3175375
Old Man with a Hat
The swing-wing Dassault Mirage G. A French experimental variable-geometry (swing-wing) fighter aircraft developed in the 1960s. Designed by Dassault Aviation, it aimed to combine high-speed performance with better low-speed handling. The prototype first flew in 1967 but was ultimately cancelled.
Dassault Mirage G - Wikipedia
Dassault Mirage G - Wikipedia
3175375
Old Man with a Hat
The Piasecki H-16 was to be a large transport helicopter, to have both civil and military variants
It had a max take off weight of over 20 tonnes and first flew in the early 1950s. Only 2 were built. The project was cancelled after a crash destroyed the second prototype.
Piasecki H-16 Transporter - Wikipedia
It had a max take off weight of over 20 tonnes and first flew in the early 1950s. Only 2 were built. The project was cancelled after a crash destroyed the second prototype.
Piasecki H-16 Transporter - Wikipedia
rotor radii obviously overlap.The Piasecki H-16 was to be a large transport helicopter, to have both civil and military variants
It had a max take off weight of over 20 tonnes and first flew in the early 1950s. Only 2 were built. The project was cancelled after a crash destroyed the second prototype.
Piasecki H-16 Transporter - Wikipedia
surely mounting height comensates somewhat, but what about rotor "flex" (if such a thing) due to wind shear or something else that could create catastrophic rotor interference?
Anybody know? Specifically for this craft or in general?
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