Aircraft Super Thread Mk.VII

[Gerli]

Sorry, as always, my evil bad english doing his things.

I mention the Tucanos because they're similar, Argentina is looking for buying the Texans.

Edited August 4, 2016 by Gerli

[electric indigo]

Interestingly, the Texan is based on an 80s airframe from swiss manufacturer Pilatus.

I also read that the Argentinian Air Force is considering to reactivate the Pucara.

[Sildani]

I saw a flying A6M2 at the airshow at Hill AFB back in 04'. It was awesome to watch. The Naval Air Museum at Pensacola has one on display also, I can't remember which type it was, I think it was a Type 11. Now here is a pic of an extremely rare bird in flight.............

That's not a Zero, friend, that's a Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa! Perhaps even rarer! Zeroes are Mitsubishi birds made for the Navy. These Nakajimas were for the Army. Not strictly comparable, although they are contemporaries.

I always liked the Pucara, it seemed well designed and thought out.

[Gerli]

There is also an offer to buy some F-16 Block-30, but if UK says no, the US may not approve the transaction.

[electric indigo]

Argentina may stock up on Mirages again; apparently there was also interest in russian Fencers at one point.

[F-ZeroOne]

Wait, theres an actual flying Hayabusa?!

[grigolosi]

That's not a Zero, friend, that's a Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa! Perhaps even rarer! Zeroes are Mitsubishi birds made for the Navy. These Nakajimas were for the Army. Not strictly comparable, although they are contemporaries.

I always liked the Pucara, it seemed well designed and thought out.

LOL I know that wasn't an A6M2, That is why I posted it as an even rarer bird. The 43 also had a larger wing and utilized butterfly flaps. That is what helped make it as maneuverable as it was. But it was underarmed compared to the Zero. Nakajima utilized the same flap system on the Ki-44 also. I was seeing if anyone else would catch it. I guess I should have been a little clearer when I posted the pic. Nice eye Sildani.

Yeah the FHC in Washinton State has one, this is actually a pic from the FHC posted on FB. From what I read there are 5 flyable reproductions either completed or being restored at the moment. This one pictured is not a reproduction and has an actual original production serial number.

Edited August 5, 2016 by grigolosi

[Sildani]

That's... awesome. Is the pilot delighted he gets to fly a Hayabusa or terrified he'll bend it?

[grigolosi]

I was wondering the same thing. They have a website that shows what aircraft they have and some background on them.

http://www.flyingheritage.com/

[Dobber]

I was wondering the same thing. They have a website that shows what aircraft they have and some background on them.

http://www.flyingheritage.com/

Cool site! Thanks for sharing.

The P-51D they have is really cool, for a couple reasons. 1) that is from my favorite unit, I love the Yellow and black checkerboard of the 353rd. 2) It is a REAL RESTORED Warbird, not a surplus plane painted up like a famous combat vet. This plane is restored to its former glory and looks how it did when it flew combat missions in WWII. Awesome!

Chris

Edited August 6, 2016 by Dobber

[frothymug]

I live on the other side of Paine Field from that museum. Been meaning to go, but I never get around to it...

They often fly warbirds all around here on the weekends. I'm sure their owners love to take them out for a spin on the weekends for that relaxing stress-relieving flight.

The other day, I was outside of the Jack in the Box on the south side of Paine and there was what I think was a P-51 and what looked like a B-25 Mitchell in formation flying around the area. Then they flew right over my head as they came in for a landing one at a time. Such a good feeling to watch those babies glide past me like that.

[spanner]

I live on the other side of Paine Field from that museum. Been meaning to go, but I never get around to it...

They often fly warbirds all around here on the weekends. I'm sure their owners love to take them out for a spin on the weekends for that relaxing stress-relieving flight.

The other day, I was outside of the Jack in the Box on the south side of Paine and there was what I think was a P-51 and what looked like a B-25 Mitchell in formation flying around the area. Then they flew right over my head as they came in for a landing one at a time. Such a good feeling to watch those babies glide past me like that.

I live not too far from Richmond airbase and years ago we'd get the odd warbird fly over but its been very quiet the last few years. We do get Hornets & Super Hornets fly over occasionally but they aren't based there so it must be for exercises only.. I think they are based out at Williamtown RAAF base..

Wish I could see more of these things than I do..

[grigolosi]

A Few yrs ago they had the anniversary of the Doolitttle raid and Raider reunion in Destin Florida. I was outside my house on base when the 4-5 B-25's they had brought in for it went roaring over one after another right over my house. Got to see the underside of those beautiful birds just above tree top level. They made a couple of passes over Eglin since that was where the original Raiders trained for the mission in 1942.They were a sight to see. Also When I was there as a young airman back in 91' I watched a B-24 make a landing approach on the runway there in some hard cross winds. He did a touch and go and then left. He never did come back and land. If yu ever get a chance go see the Museum at Chino California. They have quite a flyable collection there also. They also have quite few non flyables on display including a ME-262 and the wreckage of a G4M Betty displayed in a jungle style display.

The Naval Air Museum at Pensacola has an IJN Kawanishi N1K2 Shiden-Kai on display on the floor of the museum. It still has bullet hole patches on it and was captured during the war and used for evaluation by the USN.

Edited August 8, 2016 by grigolosi

[Graham]

Seems like we are gonna buy a few dozen of these.

Most likely to use against small airplanes that carry drugs on the north part of the country. Brazil had very good experience using the Tucanos on that type of missions.

No guns?????

[Scyla]

No guns?????

I think I can spot two gun-pods disguise them selves as fuel tanks.

[GMK]

I think I can spot two gun-pods disguise them selves as fuel tanks.

Prefer the integral ones of the A-29. Actually, prefer the A-29. Period.

[Smiley424]

The Bones have arrived. Just some video of them taxiing at Andersen AFB.

https://youtu.be/S1OkDqHQGGs

And video of what these bombers do everyday out here in the middle of the Western Pacific Ocean. It's cool to see the ordnance crews still write those messages on bombs.

https://youtu.be/_c-vJ9gVJm0

[Nazareno2012]

Prefer the integral ones of the A-29. Actually, prefer the A-29. Period.

Not to mention that the Embraer Super Tucano is a popular choice for that type of mission. I wonder why Argentina asked for the T-6C, if they could just buy from Brazil instead.

[Chewie]

This picture is super sexy.

[grigolosi]

Nice the bottom one is a loads and flutter bird. They essentially load out the frame with munitions they want to test on it and have specially modded LEF's that shake the crap out of the frame while the pilot does certain maneuvers to see how the frame handles it and see if the munitions will fall off during said maneuvers. You can see the small orange sensors on the GBU's between the tail fins and the long nose pitot tube mounted for the testing also since there is a chance the plane can go out of its envelope. I never did ask why they changed the probes out for it but the probe is mounted for out of envelope test also.In this case they actually had to add the probe to the aircraft. On F-16's they simply swap out the standard pitot tube for this one.

Edited August 9, 2016 by grigolosi

[Vifam7]

The F-35 is starting to get its supporters in the press.

Pilots prefer the F-35 according to report by retired USAF pilot (and former Thunderbirds commander):

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-f-35-worth-every-penny-heritage-foundation-2016-8?r=UK&IR=T

Edited August 9, 2016 by Vifam7

[Sildani]

Man, you can really see all the bumps and bulges where crap was added onto the airframe after design. One of this plane's greatest problems.

[Dobber]

Almost missed the AMRAAMs on the doors in the second photo.

Chris

[Smiley424]

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/4793/all-three-of-the-usafs-bomber-types-congregate-unexpectedly-in-guam

So we now have B-52s, B-1s, and B-2s on Guam right now as well as some USMC F-18s down from Okinawa. The most aircraft deployed at Andersen outside of a scheduled exercise I have ever seen and the first time all three bombers are here at the same time.

Edited August 11, 2016 by Smiley424

[Nazareno2012]

Almost missed the AMRAAMs on the doors in the second photo.

Chris

It would be much better to use the MBDA Meteor instead, the Meteor is a superior missile to AMRAAM and is also being integrated with the F-35 as well.

[Shadow]

It would be much better to use the MBDA Meteor instead, the Meteor is a superior missile to AMRAAM and is also being integrated with the F-35 as well.

Compared to the AIM-120C? Yes. Range with the AIM-120D is about the same though.

[Nazareno2012]

Compared to the AIM-120C? Yes. Range with the AIM-120D is about the same though.

The range is similar to the AIM-120D but Meteor has a larger no-escape zone due to the use of a ramjet engine. Meteor would have been a good replacement for the AIM-54 Phoenix (there was a replacement program for the Phoenix, with proposed designs that are similar to Meteor but it had been canceled).

[Gerli]

Not to mention that the Embraer Super Tucano is a popular choice for that type of mission. I wonder why Argentina asked for the T-6C, if they could just buy from Brazil instead.

The new goverment is Pro-USA

Like... A LOT

[GMK]

The new goverment is Pro-USA

Like... A LOT

The A-29 is available from the US Government via FMS. That's how the Afghans got theirs.

[kalvasflam]

saw this interesting nugget: http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/12/politics/f-22-raptor-grounded-honey-bee-swarm/index.html

Hilarious, F-22 becomes a beehive.

[grigolosi]

I saw that on FB also......not the first time bees have made a nest like that. I believe it has happened to several F-16's also in the past. I am glad they were able to remove them without destroying them. They are at too much risk now to needlessly destroy them. Quite funny though...."Nothing will stop the US Air Force"......except bee's...and lightning......they stop the USAF.......LOL.

[Thom]

The Queen thought a Raptor would make a good home!

Also glad to hear they took care of it without harm to the bees. From what it says, they think the Queen may have stopped for a rest and the others just gathered.

Pretty sweet.

[Sildani]

How long was the Raptor sitting there so that an 8 pound hive could form?!

[F-ZeroOne]

So did the F-22s missile detection system indicate a possible threat from "Stingers" then...?

[grigolosi]

I would say it probably missed the flying schedule as a maintenance non delivery. It takes an act of God to get base entymology to respond to anything and when they do they feed you "its not our job or we have to call someone in" which they did. That probably took a couple of hours alone. Then getting them cleared/escorted onto the flightline took a another hour. Then knowing the modern USAF they probably contacted the MEO office (Military Equal Opportunity) too make sure someone wasn't going to be offended or make sure the bees weren't offended or discriminated against etc.......just joking about the last one but all the other requirements probably took some time to coordinate.