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Post by Nutzkie on Oct 22, 2007 23:49:16 GMT -5
Sometimes a guy just gets lucky! Today, for the first time in longer than I would care to admit, I had a full day with nothing to occupy my time. The sun was bright, the Autumn air was cool, and so I decided to make the 90-minute drive to the small town of At water, California. Now At water itself may not be much to look at. (The place only has a population of about 2,500, and that's only if you count livestock.) The town's primary claim to fame, however, is that it's the geographically closest community to the former Castle Air Force Base. Throughout the Cold War, Castle AFB was the primary western base of operations for Strategic Air Command: The nuclear-strike branch of the United States Air Force. It was at Castle that dozens of B-52 Stratofotresses sat on ready alert, live thermonuclear weapons loaded in their bomb bays, awaiting the call to take off at a moment's notice and strike the Soviet Union, should World War Three have ever come to pass. Decommissioned in the late 1990s, Castle AFB has since become Castle Airport: A regional hub for the handling of air cargo and local commerce. However, this is not to say that the USAF hasn't left its mark on the property. For the last 25 years, the north-west corner of the Castle AFB grounds has been home to one of the top air museums in the western United States. Over 50 individual aircraft are on display here, comprising everything from twin-engine bombers built in 1938, to an F-14 Tomcat that was only retired late last year. The collection includes helicopters, British and Canadian aircraft, and one of most extensive collections of Cold War-era jets in existence. But then again, you don't have to take my word for it... That's yours truly, standing in front of a Douglas A-26 Invader. The A-26: A twin-engine ground attack plane of the Second World War. North American AT-6 Texan: Literally tens of thousands of pilots received training in this plane. Avro Vulcan: A British, high-speed, delta-wing bomber. If you've ever seen the James Bond film "Thunderball," then you've seen one of these. Boeing B-17/G Flying Fortress: This was the plane that will be forever linked with the fall of Nazi G ermany. Douglas B-18 Bolo: Obsolete by the start of WWII, several of these planes were destroyed on the ground during the Pearl Harbor attack. Throughout the duration of the war, Bolos were relegated to secondary duties such as anti-submarine patrols and light transport missions. This particular airframe was built in 1938. Douglas B-23 Dragon: Little more than a modified B-18, the B-23 holds the distinction of being the first American aircraft to carry a tail gun. With only four guns total and a bomb capacity of only two tons, the Dragon was obsolete before it ever even flew. Only 38 airframes were ever built. Consolidated B-24 Liberator: Known as the "Flying Brick" because of its boxy shape, the "Libby" was the workhorse of the American Eighth Air Force during WWII. It holds the distinction of being the most mass-produced plane of the war. Boeing B-25 Mitchell: One of WWII's most versatile aircraft, the B-25 flew in every theater of operations. It's most famous, perhaps, for being the aircraft the Lt. James Doolittle launched from the deck of the USS Hornet to raid Tokyo on April 18, 1942. Boeing B-29 Superfortress: The most advanced aircraft in the world at the time of its introduction, the B-29 was the world's first pressurized bomber, and boasted both ground-scanning targeting radar, and an integrated targeting computer for aiming its defensive armaments. The Superfort also holds the distinction of being the aircraft that delivered atomic bombs to the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August sixth and ninth of 1945, respectively. Now don't you go touching that dial now... There's a lot more to come!
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Post by Knife Wife on Oct 23, 2007 0:52:42 GMT -5
Now don't you go touching that dial now... There's a lot more to come! *touches dial* I could spend all day in a place like that. I don't know what it is, but I love history and machines of any sort.
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Post by Commander Argus on Oct 23, 2007 2:40:26 GMT -5
That A-26 bears a striking resemblance to a P61 Black Widow
Years ago, the Confederate Air Force's "Fifi" (the last operational B-29) visited Charlotte. We were out near the airport and I said "That looks like a B-29 tail fin" and my father said that was impossible. He called the next day to tell me I was right.
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Post by Nutzkie on Oct 23, 2007 11:48:14 GMT -5
I'm the same way, Nemesis. Mechanical history just somehow appeals to me. And now... Onward and upward with Chapter Two: Consolidated-Vultee B-36 Peacemaker: Known as the "Big Stick" by its crews, the Peacemaker was a hybrid design of sorts, featuring six turboprop engines along the trailing edge of its wings, and four turbojets on pylons under its wingtips. In service for only ten years, it effectively bridged the gap between the propeller-driven B-29, and the jet powered B-52. To spite serving throughout the era of the Korean War, no Peacemaker ever fired a shot in anger. Six Turning and Four Burning: This was the mantra by which Peacemaker crews flew. Looking along the trailing edge of the starboard wing, one can see the unique arrangement of jets and props, connecting the propeller-era and the jet-age. Note the unusual "Pusher" configuration of the propellers. Looking up into the Peacemaker's cavernous bomb bay. It's chilling to think of the destructive force once carried within this compartment, but also important to remember that the B-36 was an intercontinental, nuclear-capable bomber. Looking up at the Peacemaker's tail: This thing is as tall as a three-story building! Interestingly enough, this particular airframe is designated as an RB-36/H. A specialized variant of the standard B-36, this plane was equipped with several camera pods and auxiliary fuel tanks, and was tasked with performing long-range strategic reconnaissance missions; a role later performed by the Lockheed U-2. Of 384 Peacemakers built, only four survive today. Of those four, Castle's specimen is the only RB-36. North American B-45 Tornado: America's first jet bomber, the Tornado was intended to replace aging WWII craft such as the Boeing B-25 Mitchell and Martin B-26 Marauder. Quickly rendered obsolete by further advances in jet technology, the B-45 only remained in service between 1948 and 1958. Boeing B-47 Stratojet: A precursor the the legendary B-52 Stratofortress, the B-47 was the first bomber to ever feature swept wings and bicycle-style landing gear. Incredibly maneuverable for a craft its size, the Stratojet was actually capable of executing a barrel-roll. Eventually used as a photo-training target at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, museum volunteers spent over 36,000 hours restoring this particular airframe on site, before flying the completed project to Castle in 1986, making this the last B-47 to ever take to the sky. Boeing WB-50 Superfortress: A highly-modified variant of the B-29, the B-50 was developed in the late 1940s, and is the last propeller-driven bomber purchased by the U.S. Air Force. Eventually replaced in the bomber-role by the B-47, B-50s were relegated to recon duties, but not before a B-50 by the name of "Lucky Lady II" claimed the honor of being the first aircraft to ever circumnavigate the globe, non-stop. This particular aircraft was assigned to weather reconnaissance duties out of McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, and performed atmospheric sampling missions after Soviet nuclear tests. Close-up of the B-50's tail, clearly indicating the function of this craft. While I was shooting, a red-tail hawk found a rather interesting perch from which to view the exhibits. The Killer Bees: A B-50 in the foreground sits with a B-29 situated behind. From this angle, it's virtually impossible to tell one from the other. (Insider's tip: The only real difference between the B-29 and B-50 is a subtle variation in the shape of the turbo intakes.) Not anywhere even close to finished...
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Post by Nutzkie on Oct 25, 2007 0:13:36 GMT -5
Onward and upward... Boeing B-52/D Stratofortress:For years, Castle AFB was the west coast home of the Strategic Air Command bomber fleet, and dozens of massive bombers such as this were stationed here. This particular air frame was a member of the USAF 93rd Bombardment Wing, and was based out of Castle for many years. It's best known, perhaps, for taking part in Operation Arc Light during the Vietnam War. First flown in the mid 1950s, the current B-52/H models are forecast to remain in service until the year 2040: An operational life span of nearly 90 years! A large, nuclear-capable cruise missile, nestled under the port-side wing. Close-up view of the massive Pratt & Whitney turbojet engines. It takes eight of these power plants to get this behemoth off the ground. Study of the starboard-side wing gear. When loaded with fuel, the wings of a Stratofort will bend downward, and this wheel is necessary to keep the wing tip from dragging on the tarmac. The B-52's massive tail is back-lit by an afternoon sun. Pilot's seat and controls. Co-Pilot. ...And the Navigator. Just behind the co-pilot's window, the 93rd Bombardment Wing's insignia is still proudly displayed. Martin B-57 Canberra:Vultee BT-13 Valiant: A beginning trainer from WWII. (Note the fixed landing gear.) Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar:Fairchild C-123 Provider:Convair C-131 Samaritan: Currently under restoration by museum volunteers, this airframe once served with the United States Coast Guard. Capable of carrying 37 seated passengers or 28 stretchers, this craft specialized in the evacuation of casualties from disaster areas. (And now, from the looks of things, it is a disaster area. ) Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando:Douglas C-47 Dakota: Originally built as the DC-3 commercial airliner, the C-47 would become legendary in the skies over Europe during WWII. Used for everything from ferrying supplies and evacuating wounded to performing reconnaissance and dropping paratroopers, the Dakota served as the backbone of allied military air transport. Most famous, perhaps, for dropping paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions behind enemy lines on D-Day, this plane now proudly wears the "Invasion Stripes" that were the standard colors during that operation. Douglas C-54 Skymaster: A four-engine heavy transport of WWII, one lucky C-54 was detailed as President Roosevelt's personal aircraft while in office, making it the first ever Air Force One. Avro CF-100 Canuck:North American F-100 Super Saber:McDonnell F-101 Voodoo:Still more to come folks!
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Post by Nutzkie on Oct 27, 2007 13:33:07 GMT -5
Moving on to Chapter # 4: (And by the way, is Trollis still a member of this forum? I thought he'd get a real kick out of this thread!) Tail end of the F-101 Voodoo: The power these engines possessed is simply mind-boggling. According to official air force reports, when sitting at the end of the runway awaiting take-off, a pilot could not advance the Voodoo's throttle past 80%. If he did, then the F-101 would proceed down the runway without the brakes ever being released. The tires would literally slide along the runway without turning, the thrust was so great. Convair F-102 Delta Dagger: A delta-winged interceptor developed in the mid-1950s, the Dagger's primary function was to intercept Soviet bombers with long-range air-to-air missiles. Sadly, it suffered from a host of developmental and operational problems, and was ultimately replaced by the F-101 Voodoo, and the F-106 Delta Dart. Convair F-106 Delta Dart: A re-design of the failed F-102 project, the Dart was the U.S. Air Force's primary all-weather interceptor from the 1960s through the 1980s, although the QF-106 variant remained in service until 1998. To date, it remains the last dedicated interceptor aircraft to be ordered by the USAF. Twins: To spite their vastly different service records, the F-102 and F-106 were nearly identical. One of the very few ways to tell them apart is by the tails, as illustrated by this photo here. (Hint: The F-102 is the one on the left.) General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark: A high-speed tactical bomber, the Aardvark was the first aircraft to ever incorporate variable-geometry wings, (swing-wings), and after-burning turbofan engines. A revolutionary aircraft for its day, it suffered from several shortcomings, and while highly successful with the Air Force, it failed to live up to standards as a naval interceptor. For this reason, the U.S. Navy abandon its F-111/B program, and instead purchased a new design from the Grumman Iron Works: The F-14 Tomcat.Grumman F-14 Tomcat: The aircraft that was immortalized by the movie "Top Gun." Incorporating the swing-wings and after-burning turbofans of the F-111, the Tomcat was faster, lighter and more agile than the Aardvark could have ever hoped to be, boasting a top speed of Mach 2.2 and the ability to crank out eye-watering maneuvers. Sadly, the last Tomcat squadrons were decommissioned on September 22, 2006, and the F-14 was officially retired from service. Twin General Electric F110-GE-400 Turbofans, capable of producing a combined 55,600 pounds of thrust. A look at the landing gear; wings at half-sweep. Nose-on: A close-up view of the port-side fuselage. Note the gun port for the M-61 Vulcan cannon toward the nose. The Belly of the Beast: A detail shot of the Tomcat's unique palate-based loading system, which allowed for quick and easy reconfiguration of the plane's load-out by ground crews. Coming up next, we go retro with a walk-around of the McDonnell F-4 Phantom!
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Post by Yamal on Oct 28, 2007 16:41:27 GMT -5
Beautiful planes, Nutzkie. I love all kind of planes. Sadly, I don't think I'll aver be able to pilot one of them. I'm looking forward to see more of the photos, hehe. Thanks a lot!
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Post by Darth_Comrade on Oct 28, 2007 16:56:33 GMT -5
Those are some immense machines you visited there, Nutzkie! I recall a time when I was between ten to eleven years old when I dreamed of becoming a Jet pilot. I was inspired by a Simulator type computer game titled "Fighter's Anthology" or something like that...blew my breath away. Seeing that Tomcat just brought back those memories. Thanks for sharing them with us!
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Post by Luke Danger on Oct 28, 2007 16:59:04 GMT -5
You lucky son of a nuke. Your so lucky.
I only was able to visit the Beoing (sp plz) mueseum in Seatle.
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Post by Nutzkie on Oct 29, 2007 13:48:28 GMT -5
Those are some immense machines you visited there, Nutzkie! You're telling me? The B-36 was just mind-blowingly huge! I had a difficult time just getting the whole thing into one picture! I recall a time when I was between ten to eleven years old when I dreamed of becoming a Jet pilot. What red-blooded young boy didn't? Seeing that Tomcat just brought back those memories. Too true. The F-14 was always one of my personal favorites for the simple fact that it was the complete package. Incredible speed, top-notch maneuverability, and one of the most advanced weapons platforms ever developed. There's a reason Tom Cruise flew it in "Top Gun." My fascination actually goes so far, that I recently wrote a fanfic where the Tomcat plays a staring role. [shameless self-promotion.]I won't bore anyone with the tedious details, but in the story, Ron gets recruited into a combat air squadron that's attached to the Global Justice command structure. It's a three-month story arc following Ron's progress through training, and Kim's globe-hopping attempts to find out just where the heck he ran off to. It all ends with a massive dogfight and emotional reunion for the two. Come to think of it, several of the planes I saw at Castle were ones that I had used in that story. The F-14, F-4, F-86 and B-52 were all mentioned. Freaky! [/shameless self-promotion]I only was able to visit the Beoing (sp plz) mueseum in Seatle. Boeing Field in Seattle is a top-notch facility, no doubt. I've had the distinct privilege of visiting there twice. My absolute favorite exhibit was the Boeing 707 that had served as Air Force One under the Kennedy administration. Seeing the safes where the nuclear launch codes were kept was incredible, as was discovering what a mobile communication center looked like back then. (You think the Henchco molecular transducer was big and clunky looking? You ain't seen nuttin' yet.) Then, of course, there was seeing the compartment where JFK's casket had laid during the trip back from Dallas, and the spot where LBJ was sworn in as his successor. That experience was downright sobering. I swore that I could almost see Jackie standing there in her blood-stained dress from that day. So anyway... On with Chapter Five: McDonnell F-4 Phantom: The aircraft that successfully opened the era of the Mach two fighter, Phantoms were flown by every branch of the American armed forces. First flown in 1958, Phantoms still serve today in the form of the F-4/G Wild Weasel, making this one of the most adaptable and well-designed airframes in history. One of the most common and easily recognizable aircraft in the U.S. inventory, Phantoms quickly became the favorite craft of precision exhibition teams. This particular airframe flew with the Air Force Thunderbirds, and still proudly wears their colors. F-4s also flew with the Navy's Blue Angels flight team until 1986, when the switch was made to the newer McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The Thunderbirds transitioned to flying the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon in 1982. A close look at the Phantom's unique downward-canted tail. Up-turned wing tips: Another Phantom signature. Republic F-84 Thunderjet: Plagued by developmental problems during its early service life, the Thunderjet eventually evolved into an effective ground-attack craft, and accounted for 60% of all ground targets destroyed during the Korean War. It was the first fighter capable of in-flight refueling, and the first fighter to be nuclear capable. North American F-86 Saber: The hero of the Korean War, the F-86 became legendary in the skies over South-East Asia. Fast and lethal, it's impressive air-to-air record earned it the nickname "Mig Killer." Northrop F-89 Scorpion: Built as a replacement for the P-61 Black Widow night fighter, the Scorpion holds the distinction of being the first-ever fighter equipped to carry a nuclear air-to-air missile. (The MB-1 Genie.) Beset by engine and avionics problems throughout most of its service life, only 1,050 Scorpions were ever built. Fighter Row: A shot that I just couldn't resist taking. Kaman HH-43 Husky: An unusual intermeshed, counter-rotating design, the Husky was a tandem-rotor helicopter deployed by the Navy, Air Force and Marines during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Deployed mainly in a firefighting and rescue role, it was eventually phased out in favor of the larger and more powerful Bell UH-1 Iroquois, a.k.a. the "Huey." Kawasaki KAQ-1: A small target drone used for anti-aircraft gunnery practice, this model features an eject-able engine, complete with parachute pack. That way, when the unit is eventually shot down, the most expensive component can be salvaged for future re-use. Lockheed C-56 Lodestar: A twin-engine WWII transport, this aircraft served to help suplement the Douglas C-47 Dakota. Markings on this airframe indicate that it flew with the British Royal Air Force. Getting close to the end here, folks. Maybe two posts left.
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Post by Nutzkie on Nov 6, 2007 23:50:31 GMT -5
Onward and/or upward to Chapter SIX bay-beeee! Woohoo!Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker: Adapted from Boeing's 707 Jet Clipper airframe in the late 1950s, the Stratotanker is still in front-line service as America's primary in-flight refueling platform. Fill 'er up!: A Stratotanker is staged in a mock refueling maneuver with a F-111 Aardvark. Boeing KC-97/L Stratofreighter: A highly-evolved variant of the B-29 Superfortress, the C-97 was a twin-deck, fully-pressurized, high-altitude cargo plane that ultimately found far greater success in the role of "air tanker," than it ever did as a transport. Fitted with dual J-47 jet engines to assist in keeping pace with the jet aircraft it was designed to refuel, the KC-97 remained in service until 1978, when it was replaced by the more advanced KC-135. A unique combination of four propellers and two jets is what gets this big bird off the ground. A close-up look at the refueling boom and operator's compartment. Cessna O-2A Skymaster: A military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster, the O-2A was used as a forward observation and light reconnaissance aircraft during the Vietnam War. Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star: The first jet to enter the American military arsenal, the Shooting Star served with distinction in Korea, and saw later use as a training aircraft in the form of its T-33 variation. Grumman SA-16 Albatross: Designed to rescue downed pilots from the open ocean, the SA-16 belongs to a curious family of aircraft known as "Amphibians." These machines possess the unique ability to land on either a conventional airport runway, or on water. Eventually replaced by helicopters, the Grumman Albatross served with distinction from 1949 until 1970. Lockheed F-104 Starfighter: Revolutionary for its day, the Starfighter was the fastest plane in the world when first introduced on February 20, 1958. Blistering fast and extremely agile, Starfighters saw substantial service in Vietnam before being retired in 1969. Republic F-105 Thunderchief: Affectionately known as the "Thud" by its crews, the F-105 was a multi-role, nuclear-capable tactical bomber employed extensively by the Air Force throughout the Vietnam War. The largest single-engine fighter/bomber ever employed by the USAF, the Thud enjoyed a payload capacity greater than that of the four-engined strategic bombers of WWII. As the workhorse of the USAF ground-strike forces during Vietnam, over 20,000 sorties would be flown by F-105 crews by war's end. A close-up look at the Thunderchief's unique flared intakes. Don't you go changing, now... The final chapter is coming up!
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Post by eclogite on Nov 7, 2007 8:34:39 GMT -5
I lived in Sunnyvale as a child, the B36s used to go over the house enroute to Castle. It made all the windows and doors shake. Impressive airplane. The only time I think they've been in the movies was in a Jimmy Stewart movie (I understand he was qualified on them) called Strategic Air Command, which was as much an Air Force recruiting ad as a theatrical film.
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Post by Nutzkie on Nov 11, 2007 3:46:20 GMT -5
The only time I think they've been in the movies was in a Jimmy Stewart movie (I understand he was qualified on them) called Strategic Air Command, which was as much an Air Force recruiting ad as a theatrical film. Very true! Check out the particulars: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Air_Command_(film)us.imdb.com/title/tt0048667/And now, I give you the final chapter: Beechcraft T-34 Mentor: First flown in 1948, the Mentor was intended to replace the aging AT-6 Texan as America's primary military flight-training aircraft. Originally produced with a standard piston engine, later versions were built with a more powerful turboprop power plant. Today, T-34s are still flown by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Cessna U-3A Blue Canoe: Essentially an "off-the-shelf" Cessna 310, the Blue Canoe was used for military transport of personnel, (up to four persons), and light cargo. DeHaviland U-6A Beaver: Originally designed as a utility "back-country" aircraft for service in Canada's rugged northern territories, the Beaver proved valuable to both the American Army and Air Force as a light transport and recon craft. Although lacking in speed, its rugged design and impressive lift characteristics made it ideally suited to operation from short, unimproved runways that are often found close to the front lines. Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star: A two-seat version of the P-80, the T-33 was the world's first jet-trainer. Ultimately used by the navies and air forces of over 20 countries, literally thousands of pilots earned their wings in planes such as this. Air-Traffic Control On The Go: This mobile command trailer and radar array could be deployed in any location at a moment's notice. Systems such as this were used at forward, often temporary, airfields to monitor and regulate the flow of aircraft through the airspace surrounding the field. Rolling Out the Welcome Mat: An appropriate greeting meets all visitors to the Castle Air Museum. This is what the military refers to as a "retarded bomb," and it is normally used in situations where aircraft will be dropping ordinance from low altitude. The idea is that when dropped, the extend-able fins seen at the rear of the bomb will deploy. This in turn will slow the bomb's rate of descent, and give the attacking aircraft time to get away before the blast hits. An indoor section of the museum holds an interesting display of exhibits as well. Here, a KC-135/E Stratotanker refuels a B-52/H Stratofortress. North American P-51/D Mustang. (aka the "Flying Cross.") Republic P-47/C Thunderbolt (aka the "Jug.") Lockheed P-38/J Lightning (aka the "Fork-Tailed Devil.") Two looks at a radial aircraft engine. These were common in naval aircraft of WWII, as their exposed cylinder banks made for easy maintenance in the cramped and sparsely-equipped environment of an aircraft carrier's hangar deck. An in-line aircraft engine, commonly used in land-based fighters of the mid-20th century. This particular block is a 1450-hp V-14 Packard-Merlin: Commonly used to power the legendary P-51 Mustang. And of course, I saved the best for last... Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird:Another product of Lockheed's notoriously clandestine "Skunk Works," the SR-71 is a long-range, strategic reconnaissance aircraft with Mach three capability. Officially regarded as the fastest plane in the world, an SR-71 set a world speed record when it flew from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. in one hour, four minutes and five seconds. With a maximum speed of 2,350 mph and an operation celling of 80,000 feet, Blackbirds have been fired on over 1,000 times without ever having taken a single hit. This particular airframe flew the most missions of any Blackbird, and holds the special distinction of being the first SR-71 to overfly Vietnam. Later, in 1986, this aircraft performed photographic reconnaissance over Lybia. Looking into one of the Blackbird's two massive Pratt & Whitney J58-P4 engines. Sometimes referred to as a ramjet inside of a turbojet, these are the most powerful jet engines ever built, producing a total of 32,500 pounds of static thrust each. They buck conventional jet engine design by operating continuously on afterburner, and by actually becoming more efficient at high speed. Well, I certainly hope everyone has enjoyed this little trip down Aviation's memory lane. If you're ever in central California, you can visit Castle yourself. Just make your way up state route 99 to the town of At water, and head over to 5050 Santa Fe Drive, ZIP code 95301! Happy con-trails!!!
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Post by Nutzkie on Feb 19, 2008 0:26:34 GMT -5
An unexpected addendum to this thread: This afternoon, I chanced to visit the Aerospace Museum of California in Sacramento, located on the grounds of the former McClellan Air Force Base. I was duly impressed. Although many of the airframes on exhibit were duplicated at Castle Air Museum, there were a few gems mixed in as well... Rockets Are Go!: The first-stage engine of a Titan ICBM. ...And here's the second stage. Pratt & Whitney J-58 Turbojet/Ramjet engine: The most powerful jet engine ever developed, two of these massive power plants powered the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Up Your Afterburner!: The business end of the J-58. An interesting display showing the mechanism for mounting counter-rotating propellers. North American F-86 Saber: From the friendly people who brought you the P-51 Mustang, the hero of the Korean War. And this is its younger cousin, the F-86/L. While the fuselage and wing structure have remained virtually the same, the nose is now radically different. This was done to allow for the installation of a radar transceiver into the airframe. Technology marches on. MiG-17 Fresco: An advanced derivative from the MiG-15 of Korean War fame, the MiG-17 featured design modifications such as compound-swept wings and extra stabilization fins. It saw extended use by the North Vietnamese Air Force during the conflict in Vietnam. Rear-end view of the MiG-17. Note the partially-deployed air brakes near the engine exhaust port. MiG-21 Fishbed: With a Mach-two top speed that's impressive by even contemporary standards, the MiG-21 was a force to be reckoned with in the skies over North Vietnam during the 1960s. To spite there only being 15 of these craft in the North Vietnamese arsenal, Fishbeds took a devastating toll on American air crews, proving especially lethal against the cumbersome Republic F-105 Thundercheif. And whadaya know... Here's one now. Once the mortal enemy of the MiG-21, this "Thud," as the F-105 was known, now sits a scant few yards away from Fishbed owned by the museum. Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star: An early version of a modern AWACS system, (Airborne Warning And Control System), this airframe is really just a Lockheed L-749 Constellation equipped with air and surface search radar domes. A close-up view of the surface-search array of this "Connie." Grumman HU-16 Albatross: Although not impressive in its own right, (there was one at Castle), the positioning of this amphibious craft is significant. The large hangar in the background was, and still is, the operational home for the local Coast Guard unit, of which this airframe was once a part. And here's one of the old girl's successors. Parked just across the road from the museum, this C-130 Hercules now fulfills the role of search-and-rescue craft once filled by the Albatross. Hey! Tic-Tac-Toe! ;D Don't worry... There's much more to come, including me getting up close and personal with a Warthog!
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Post by Nutzkie on Mar 7, 2008 14:21:14 GMT -5
Moving on... Douglass C-47 Dakota: Proudly bearing the "invasion stripe" paint scheme of the D-Day operations, this airframe actually served as a drop plane for the 101st airborne division on that fateful day. It was through this door that young paratroopers tumbled out into the darkened sky over Normandy in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, plummeting to an unknown fate as flak bursts and tracer rounds sparkled all around them. Let's have a look inside, shall we? Definitely not the most comfortable accommodations in the world. While investigating the interior of this airframe, I noted that it was hot, cramped and noisy. I can't even begin to imagine what it was like to ride this bird into combat, adding in the elements of turbulence, engine noise, fear and the fact that there were people on the ground shooting at you. To fly one-way on "Air Normandy" that night must have been a truly horrific experience. The radio operator's station, on the right-hand side of the cockpit, just behind the co-pilot. The navigator's position: In the days before computers and GPS, this stainless steel table allowed the navigator to spread out his maps and charts as he kept careful track of the aircraft's position. The flight deck... pilot on the left, co-pilot on the right. That's yours truly, sitting at the controls of this magnificent war bird. "Now hear this! Attach static lines... Drop zone ETA in two minutes!"Chance-Vought A-7 Corsair II: Named for the legendary gull-winged naval fighter of WWII, the Corsair was a naval ground-attack craft from the Vietnam era into the late 1980s. (Personally, I have a hard time telling the difference between one of these and a F-8 Crusader.) A Vought F-8 Crusader that I saw while visiting the USS Hornet museum back in August of last year. Can you tell the difference? (You're a better spotter than me if you can.) Douglas A-1 Skyraider: Naval ground-attack plane of the late WWII era, these propeller-driven anachronisms were still in service at the time of Vietnam, although by then they were being phased out by these... Douglas A-4 Skyhawk: Small, agile and simplistic, the A-4 is one of very few attack planes that can actually hold its own in a dogfight. Quick, nimble and small, it enjoyed an overall performance reminiscent of Soviet-built MiGs. For this reason, Modified Skyhawks were used as stand-ins for MiGs, and were flown by instructors at the Miramar Naval Weapons Station in southern California: The Navy training program immortalized by the movie "Top Gun." This particular airframe flew with the Navy's "Blue Angels" aerobatic exhibition team, and still proudly bears their colors. One more installment after this... So stay tuned!
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Post by eclogite on Mar 7, 2008 17:11:36 GMT -5
That's pretty cool that they've got a Vulcan. Watching those do low level maritime strike runs was always a real thrill.
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Post by Nutzkie on Sept 7, 2008 21:05:03 GMT -5
Yeah, the Vulcan was cool. Somehow I wasn't expecting it to be that big, though. And I guess I never finished this thread, did I? Sikorsky CH-3/E Jolly Green Giant:Originally purchased for servicing offshore radar installations during the height of the Cold War, these machines were eventually re-equipped with more powerful engines and machine gun armaments, and placed into the role of air-sea-rescue. To an allied pilot shot down over North Vietnam, this was the most wonderful sight in the world. Inside the cockpit of the CH-3/E. A super-sonic drone used for target practice by the United States Air Force. North American T-39/A Saberliner:First flown on June 30, 1960, this twin-engine executive jet was used by the Air Force for light transport duties and pilot proficiency training. A decent view of the Saberliner's interior. And again. Republic-Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II:This is the last thing an Iraqi tank ever sees. Better known by the nickname "Warthog," the A-10 is the first dedicated ground-attack plane ever fielded by the USAF. Originally rejected by the Air Force brass, who believed the close-support role was better left to army helicopters and their own aging fleet of A-4 Skyhawks, the Hog proved itself invaluable in the skies over southern Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. Smile!: The weapon around which the A-10 was built, this is the General Electric GAU-8: A seven-barreled, 30-millimeter Gatling gun, capable of pumping out over 4,200 rounds per minute. A look at the tail of this beast. The unique double-tail design has many benefits here. The design helps to mask the infra-red signature of the engines, and also provides redundancy of control. Even with half of its tail shot away, the Hog will still fly. Profile view. Icarus, eat your heart out!
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Post by RedBlueGreen on Sept 8, 2008 2:59:52 GMT -5
I've seen the Vulcan before. I lived in the Channel Islands (UK, off France) and they would fly one over St Peter Port as part of a yearly festival. It was the loudest noise in the world, or it seems so when you're five years old.
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Post by Krist on Sept 9, 2008 10:26:59 GMT -5
No F-16? Blasphemy!
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