- Research Indicates
- Apr 11, 2007
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That's coming out of your paycheck.
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Planes of the Day so far:
P-38 Lightning
A-10 Warthog
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Douglas A-1 Skyraider
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
Boeing F-15 Eagle
North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie
Possible Planes of the Day:
P-61 Black Widow
P-51D Mustang
Wright Brothers Flyer
Brewster Buffalo
Avro Arrow
F4U Corsair
F-4 Phantom
C-17 Globemaster III
F-82 Twin Mustang
North American F-86 Sabre
B-24 Liberator Heavy Bomber
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
Ryan NYP (Spirit of St. Louis)
Grumman F6F Hellcat
Lockheed AC-130 Spectre
Boeing E-4 'Nightwatch'
Northrop HL-10
F-117 Nighthawk
Boeing 747
Boeing 707
Boeing 777 Dreamliner
Lockheed Constellation
Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk
F-14 Tomcat
Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk (Zeppelin launched)
General Dynamics F-111C "Aardvark"
Goon Contributed Plane Writeups
TheLoquid posted:
P-51(d) Mustang
This particular model of the highly successful P-51 Mustang is my personal favorite, serving all the way to Korea despite the advent of the jet engine. The P-51 was developed as a bomber escort capable of flying all the way to Germany and back to cut down on the terrible losses the Luftwaffe was inflicting on the Allies' daylight raids. It is considered on par with the best German propeller planes and performed magnificently as an escort, playing a key role in winning air superiority over Europe by 1944. It saw limited service in Korea, chiefly attacking ground targets. Overall, it is one of the best non-jet fighters ever designed.
Edminster posted:
My nomination for Plane of the Day: The Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly known as the Warthog.
Some here may remember BOrangefury's LP of Fallout, where he found a minigun and said:
Fig. 1: The gun
This is the plane he was talking about, where the fuselage is literally built around the gun. But that's not the only reason why this plane should be the POTD, no. This marvel of engineering is almost certainly one of the most durable planes currently in use by any air force in the world. From the beginning it was designed to take far more damage and still fly than anyone could reasonably expect. Not content with just making sure it could limp home if one of the engines got shot to hell, the people in charge made sure that it could still be brought in safely even if half a wing is gone, an engine missing, one tail destroyed, and an elevator shredded.
Fig. 2: The plane
What's this? Somebody got a lucky shot and disabled the hydraulic system, making us unable to smoothly open the landing gear? Well nuts to that, these puppies have gear that latches at the front, so all you need to do is pop them mechanically and let the wind yank 'em open because they thought to install mechanical redundancy despite having double-redundant hydraulics JUST in case this poo poo happens. You say that somehow the mechanicals have failed? WELL gently caress YOU BUDDY, because even THAT's been planned for. Yes, a couple of wheels remain exposed at all times so that in the event of catastrophic failure the Warthog can come in for a belly-landing with minimal damage.
Fig. 3: Belly landing
It's maiden flight was in 1972, but it took all the way until 1977 for the Air Force to understand just how loving badass this plane is because they were too busy pretending that things like the F-15 Eagle or F-16 Fighting Falcon were more important, even going so far as to try and switch out the A-10 for F-16s. But then the Gulf War happened, wherein A-10s destroyed nearly a thousand tanks, two thousand miscellaneous military vehicles, about twelve hundred pieces of artillery, and two helicopters. Overall they flew 8100 sorties throughout the course of the war, and they fired 90% of all the Maverick Air-to-Ground missiles used in the conflict. So now it's scheduled to serve until 2028, but it may serve longer because the plane that is intended to replace it is nowhere near as mind-blowingly amazing at being an unstoppable juggernaut.
Fig. 4: Bullets can't stop it
In conclusion: The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the best plane of all time, and you are literally retarded if you can't understand this.
Fig. 5: gently caress yeah
oddspelling posted:
Since the A-10 has already been picked as the next update's Plane of the Day, I'd like to nominate the Lockheed SR-71 for the update after next.
The SR-71, also known as the 'Blackbird' and the 'Habu' set a yet to be broken world record for air-speed and altitude in sustained flight (2,193.17 mph, and 85,069 feet respectively) on July 28 1976. It also set the record for fastest US coast-to-coast flight time when one was flown from Palmdale, CA to Chantilly, VA in 67 minutes 54 seconds. It's transatlantic flight time (1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds NY to London) is also unbroken.
To give you an idea of how extreme the SR-71 was: the space suits that Shuttle crews wear during lift-off were originally used by Blackbird crews during mission sorties.
Catsworth posted:
I would like to nominate the C-17 Globemaster III for the plane of the week.
The C-17 Globemaster III is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The aircraft can perform tactical airlift and airdrop missions and can also transport litters and ambulatory patients during aeromedical evacuations when required. The inherent flexibility and performance of the C-17 force improve the ability of the total airlift system to fulfill the worldwide air mobility requirements of the United States.
The C-17 measures 174 feet long (53 meters) with a wingspan of 169 feet, 10 inches (51.75 meters). The aircraft is powered by four, fully reversible, Federal Aviation Administration-certified F117-PW-100 engines (the military designation for the commercial Pratt & Whitney PW2040), currently used on the Boeing 757. Each engine is rated at 40,440 pounds of thrust. The thrust reversers direct the flow of air upward and forward to avoid ingestion of dust and debris. Maximum use has been made of off-the-shelf and commercial equipment, including Air Force-standardized avionics.
It can take off and land on incredibly short runways, and is incredibly maneuverable, for a plane its size. It has also set 33 world records.
My father is an aeronautical engineer who used to work for McDonnel Douglas, and later Boeing, and helped design it, so I've always had fond memories of it. 
Popo posted:
And for Plane of the day, I'd like to put a word in for the F-117 Nighthawk.
I know it's an obvious and slightly pedestrian choice but I'd say it's an iconic plane, on level with the SR-71 for capturing the public's imagination. It's a technological marvel and a pioneer it Stealth warfare and it's angular design makes it one of the most instantly recognisable planes there is.
Sorry it's not as much as others have to say for their suggestions but all I know is that as some one who knows jack about planes and aviation when I think of a fighter plane this is one of the first that comes to mind.
The Casualty posted:
I have a suggestion for plane of the day: The North American F-86 Sabre
Click here for the full 1024x768 image.
The F-86 Sabre was designed by the North American Aviation Co. in 1944 as a fighter and interceptor for the USAAF (later to become the USAF). It originally started as a derivative of the FJ-1 Fury, a straight-winged, carrier borne fighter for the US Navy. However, North American used German aerodynamics research captured at the end of WWII to redesign the airframe with swept control surfaces and automatic slats for stability. Combined with the new General Electric J47 engine, the Sabre performed remarkably well for the era, able to break the sound barrier in a dive (some even credit the F-86 with breaking the sound barrier before the Bell X-1 did it in 1947, however the X-1 could do it in level flight, unlike the F-86).
The F-86 went on to perform remarkably well during the Korean War, facing off against MiG-15s piloted by North Korean and Chinese pilots, and their Soviet instructors. While the MiG could out-climb the Sabre and had significantly more powerful armament, the Sabre pilots were better trained (often veterans of WWII) and had better high speed maneuverability. The F-86 proved to be an even match for the MiG-15, although history has shown that the 10:1 kill ratio quoted for decades was probably closer to 2:1. Aside from being capable dogfighters, there were also successful ground attack and all-weather variants. F-86's also hold the distinction of being the first aircraft to use air-to-air missiles in anger, when Taiwanese F-86's engaged Chinese MiG-15 and -17's with Sidewinder missiles in 1958. Sabres were so successful and well-rounded that they were exported to 22 other nations, making them one of the most prolific aircraft of the early Cold War.
Detective Thompson posted:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt_Stubby
As for PoTD, I would like to submit the Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber.
A YB-24, one of seven pre-production aircraft.
Click here for the full 1800x1189 image.
The B-24, introduced in early 1941 (at first in use by British flyers), was faster, carried a heavier payload, and could fly farther than the B-17, arguably the best known American bomber of the war. Nicknamed the "Flying Boxcar" due to its slabsided design, the bomber could carry up to 8000lbs of ordnance. Powered by four 1,200-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 Twin Wasp radial piston engines, it could reach a maximum speed of 290 mph, and had a 2100 mile combat radius.
Liberators being built at a Ford Motors plant.
Aside from its role as a heavy bomber, the B-24 was also adapted to a variety of missions, from fuel transport to cargo plane, from the personal transport plane of Winston Churchill to anti-ship/submarine roles as the Navy's PB4Y-2 Privateer. Liberators are credited with sinking 72 U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic.
Liberators flying in formation.
Click here for the full 2048x1427 image.
The B-24 was also packing some serious heat. Ten fifty cal machine guns provided protection for the plane, from the tale to the waist to the nose, along with a retractable ball turret in the belly. Some variants had a chin turret, replacing the traditional nose. There are a few tales of the B-24 being used as a dog fighter, employing its nose guns to go after enemy fighter planes, though I can't seem to find any examples at the moment.
Bombing the hell out of oil fields in Romania.
Click here for the full 1402x1800 image.
The B-24 was used by many of the Allied powers under lend-lease agreements. Some even were used by Germany after being captured. The last Liberators used by any air force were finally retired in 1968 in India.
An RAF B-24.
A number of B-24s were flown in by some folks that would later become well-known, though the most recognizable crew member of any Liberator would have to be Maj. Gen. Jimmy Stewart. The actor, already a big name before the war, decided to join the Army Air Corp. Stewart, due to his status as a celebrity, was initially relegated to being an instructor for B-17 pilots. Eventually, he was successful in gaining a transfer to the 703rd Bombardment Squadron. Stewart went on to fly twenty combat missions as a pilot, and perhaps as many as twenty more unofficial flights as a replacement pilot. He was highly decorated for his service.
Stewart, then a Colonel, receiving the Croix de guerre for his part in the liberation of France as a pilot of a B-24 Liberator.
Click here for the full 1446x1800 image.
There are currently three flying examples of the B-24, out of more than 18,000 built in all its variations. The B-24 was and still is the most widely produced American military plane, and was quite good at its job, dropping over 630,000 tons of bombs during the war and downing several thousand enemy aircraft with its guns.
Witchcraft, one of the few flying B-24s left, operated by the Collings Foundation out of Stow, Massachusetts. I was lucky enough to get up close and take a walkthrough of this plane when it came near me during a tour. Beautiful aircraft in my opinion, and being able to go through it really makes you realize how small they actually are and the nerve of the guys needed to fly inside it during combat.
Pops posted:
My humble suggestion for Plane of the Day:
Click here for the full 900x600 image.
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider.
The awesome name choice aside, this beast was an excellent multirole platform that saw service with the US Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and could be found flying combat missions during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
The specs are available on the source of all knowledge, of course, but it boils down to something like this: the P-51 may be faster and more maneuverable, but the Skyraider is loaded for bear and not about to take any poo poo from any fancy nancy jet fighters trying to cramp its style. They even managed to bag a couple MiG-17s in a head-to-head gun duel.
Instead of the P-51's six .50 cal machine guns, the Skyraider had four 20mm cannons and room for up to eight thousand pounds of bad news under the wings, compared to the P-51's one-ton capacity. And you could stick just about anything you wanted under the wings - mine dispensers, torpedoes, rockets, bombs, even more guns, knives, sharp sticks... And with as much as ten hours of fuel endurance, they could afford to hang out and drop the hammer for much longer than their jet-powered counterparts.
They were (rather unfairly) overshadowed by other, flashier aircraft during this period - the P-51D was still around, and jet fighters like the F-86 Sabre and the F-4 Phantom made their debut. Credit where credit is due - the Sabre and Phantom were (are) excellent machines well-suited to their missions. The Skyraider was something of an anachronism - a piston-engine warplane rubbing shoulders with supersonic jet fighters armed with heat-seeking missiles. Even so, it managed to be more 'classic' than 'throwback' - a prop-driven '50s muscle car of a fighter, chrome and leather with flames up the sides.
AeroCmdr posted:
I would like to suggest the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet as a candidate for Plane of the Day.
The Hornet was designed as a fighter-attack aircraft to replace the remaining F-4 Phantoms, A-7 Corsair IIs, and the A-6 Intruders for the US Navy and Marines.
The F/A-18 entered service with the US Navy and Marines in 1983 and later Australia, Canada, Finland, Kuwait, Spain, and Switzerland began using the Hornet in their air forces.
It's taken part in operations in Libya, Operation Desert Storm, peacekeeping in Bosnia and Kosovo, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Fledgling Gulps posted:
Now, I like snuffing out the lives of my fellow human beings in a fiery maelstrom of spent uranium as much as the next sensible person, but I think we need some non-military PotDs up in here.
So allow me to suggest the Ryan NYP, AKA Spirit of St. Louis
The Spirit of St. Louis was a specially modified Ryan M-2 mailplane, designed and built in just 60 days to compete for the Orteig Prize, a publicity stunt thought up by a New York hotel owner. The contest was to fly non-stop from New York to Paris or vice versa with a reward of $25,000.
Flown by Charles Lindbergh on May 20, 1927 the Spirit captured the prize after multiple failures from other competitors and launched Lindbergh into international stardom.
The fuselage was comprised of metal beams and fabric while the wings, 10ft longer than the Ryan M-2, were wood and fabric. A Wright J-5C radial engine was installed with a forward mounted fuel tank. The forward mounting improved center of gravity but made a front windshield impossible. Lindbergh had to rely on his instruments and a parascope to fly. The craft was intentionally unstable, prone to unexpected pitching and yawing, as well as uncomfortable to help keep the pilot awake on the 33 hour flight.
Cythereal posted:
Tossing my own hat into the ring for Plane of the Day:
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, AKA the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fucker)
During World War Two, thinkers in strategic bombing primarily subscribed to the doctrine that the best way to bomb an enemy was with many, many high-explosive bombs dropped in the general vicinity of the target. The B-52 was the final and perhaps greatest example of this philosophy ever built: powered by no fewer than eight turbofan engines, bearing a wingspan of 185 feet, weighing 488,000 pounds at takeoff, and build to carry nuclear weapons, the B-52 is not, and was never intended to be, clever or subtle. 70,000 pounds of ordnance discourages its targets from laughing too hard.
The B-52 has also racked up a number of achievements of its own: it is the largest aircraft ever built to be credited with air-to-air kills (two MiG-21 Fishbeds during Vietnam), it has been in service for 55 years with the USAF as of this February (the second aircraft to serve for 50 continuous years with its nation of origin (two years short of the record - the English Electric Canberra, which served for 57 years with the RAF before its retirement in 2006), has flown around the world nonstop with aerial refueling, and, in its day, set a number of world records for speed and range endurance.
Sure, it's as far from the idea of sexy, sleek aircraft as you can possibly get, but you can't deny the sheer brawn of the BUFF.
The Casualty posted:
The F6F is plain but by no means ugly. It's the mountain man of WWII aircraft- utilitarian, rugged, no frills, and highly adaptable.
Here's my picks for top 5 ugliest of WWII:
Short Sterling (UK)
Curtiss SB-2C Helldiver (US)
Fiat G.50 (Italy)
Panstwowe PZL P23 (Poland)
Aaaaand the Handley Page Hampden (UK)
Cythereal posted:
Even though a number of excellent planes are already in the offing for the next Plane of the Day, I'll toss in a new submission:
The North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie
A bomber that never actually saw full production or military service, the Valkyrie was the stillborn heir to the B-52 as a high-altitude nuclear-capable strategic bomber during the Cold War, and could be accurately described as the love child of the B-52 and SR-71, combining the best features of both aircraft. From its bulky and brawny father, the XB-70 inherited nuclear capacity, sturdy and redundant systems, and a substantial bomb capacity. From its sleek and stunningly advanced mother, the Valkyrie inherited extreme speed and altitude capabilities. It couldn't fly as high or fast as the Blackbird, true, but sustained Mach 3 speed at 70,000 feet for a nuclear bomber was no joke.
Also like the Blackbird, the Valkyrie was a study in practical insanity for aviation science. Like the Blackbird, the Valkyrie was constructed of extraordinarily advanced materials and components in order to fly at such high altitudes at extreme speeds for long periods of time, and faced similar problems - problems the Skunk Works weren't particularly interested in sharing the answers to, it seems, because the Valkyrie encountered severe problems keeping the thing together and operational. One problem the SR-71 never faced, however, was lift: the SR-71 wasn't carrying a massive payload of bombs. The Valkyrie ultimately used a novel method of generating lift never used since: at supersonic speeds, the Valkyrie literally rode its own sonic boom, for all intents and purposes surfing on the shockwave to provide more lift.
Sadly, the Valkyrie was in prototype stage when the USAF decided that missile technology, particularly of the surface-to-air variety, had become too advanced: the high-and-fast concept for strategic bombing was doomed, and the Valkyrie died with that theory, along with the SR-71 itself and the U-2 spy plane. Of the two prototypes, one was destroyed in an accidental collision with an F-104 (itself a worthy PotD) fighter, and the other is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Ohio.
Nckdictator posted:
Boeing E-4 'Nightwatch'
This plane is diffrent then most nominated so far due to the fact that is has no weapons whatsoever. Well what's so cool about it if it can't blow things up? you say. Well for one it's known as the 'Doomsday Plane'
In the event of a nuclear war the E-4 is to act as a mobile command post for the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense.
So yeah, if the nukes start flying then don't worry! Our beloved leaders will be safe miles above the Earth (untill they have to land..i'm honestly not sure where they would land the plane..)
Previously one of the mobile command posts was-instead of a plane- a ship USS Northampton.
Bonus: This is the Russian/Soviet version of the plane, the Ilyushin Il-80
Ringo Star Get posted:
I'd like to put forth my nomination for POD: The Ju-87 Stuka.
This aircraft is one of the most recognizable out of the Luftwaffe's stock. It first flew in 1935 and was continued to be produced all the way up to 1944. It represented Blitzkrieg in its finest; pinpoint tactical dive bombing power with advanced technology. This plane carried three weapons: two 7.92 MG17 machine guns, a heavy bombload (the B variant could carry up to 4 thousand pounds) and of course, a dive siren.
A loving dive siren that when in a dive, would scream and wail that made it sound like the demons of hell were coming right for you. Primarily used in the invasion of Poland, France and over Britain, the sirens would cause terror below. They were eventually removed because after a few years, it wasn't effective. Why?
Because the Stuka was a giant flying turd. It wasn't fast or maneuverable and its lack of serious defense (a single MG17 or dual depending on the variant) made it easy prey for modern fighters. In the Battle of Britain, when their fighter escort was occupied or not giving a poo poo about what happened to the Stukas, the Ju-87 suffered to the Spitfires and Hurricanes. During the "Hardest Day" of August 18, 1940 16 Stukas were outright destroyed with many damaged. Within two weeks from the first of August, Stukas lost more than %20 of their numbers and were told to retire from frontline action.
So they seem a bit lovely. No matter, I'll tell you the reason why they rocked. They made countless modifications. Like this one:
The D model received cannons for offense with some aero mods to make it slightly faster. But the D model wasn't where it was at. I'm talking about the G-2. Why was the G-2 the cat's rear end? Well its hard not to be awesome when you're flying with these fuckers under your wings:
Two 37mm gunpods.
With the Stuka blowing rear end on the Western Front and Stalin shoving shitloads of armored vehicles into the German armie's rear end in a top hat on the Eastern Front, the Luftwaffe decided to withdraw the HS-129 (also an awesome plane which I may make a POD for) and throw in the Ju-87G-2. This was at 1943, which by this time modern airplanes would make mincemeat of the Stuka. It didn't matter. This thing was a weapon from the Gods. Want visual proof?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU6OK1zSxKg
They tore everything up. Who was flying the G-2 in this video? None other than Hans Rudel, top scoring Stuka ace. This man poo poo Swastikas and slapped undermechen around on his free time but when he clocked in he rocked the skies. His kill list in the Stuka (including non-G-2 goodness):
-800 vehicles
-519 tanks
-150 artillery guns
-1 Destroyer
-2 Cruisers
-1 Soviet Battleship the Marat
-70 Landing craft
-4 armored trains
-several bridges (Rudel was rumored to have a fear of heights on bridges or some poo poo)
-9 aircraft
Rudel's input was used to create a well-known ground attack badass: The A-10.
Near the end of the war the Stuka was phased out and replaced by the ground attack version of the Fw-190. While instrumental in stopping several Soviet armored offensives, the tired old dog was retired officially in Jan 31, 1945.
Oh did I mention that they never modernized the plane to have retractable landing gear and therefore wore spatted gear? They were the equivalent of a 1920's bar fighter that did steroids.
Cythereal posted:
The Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Meet the behemoth of the United States Air Force: the largest combat aircraft ever built by any nation, lending credence to the American idea of "Go big or go home." The B-36 weighs in at at over 171,000 pounds - empty - and has a massive wingspan of 230 feet while no fewer than ten engines power this monster. For weaponry, it could carry up to 86,000 pounds of bombs. For comparison, you are probably aware of the B-36's granddaddy, the B-17 Flying Fortress. The B-36 carried more weight in high-explosive bombs than a fully loaded B-17 weighed, period. Even though nuclear bombs were classified and not public knowledge while the B-36 was being built, the B-36 was the first aircraft of the USAF to carry nuclear weapons with absolutely no modification to the plane itself. The B-36 was that freaking big. Oh, and it carried 16 defensive guns, to boot - the heaviest defensive battery of any aircraft ever built.
Sadly, the B-36 is also proof that size is not everything. While quite good at its job - carrying enough bombs to blow everything you have ever seen to hell from a very high altitude and with enormous range - the B-36 was plagued by mechanical problems, up to an including many, many engine fires, which the B-36's extremely unusual pusher prop engine configuration made a common danger to the aircraft. While the B-36 did have immense range and altitude for its day, and a colossal payload, the Peacemaker ironically never saw combat or dropped a single bomb in anger, and was not popular with pilots - one pilot likened flying the B-36 to sitting on your porch and driving your house around.
What was this monster good for, then? Two things, as it turned out, which had nothing to do with bombing but took advantage of its size and payload capacity anyway. One was reconnaissance: back in the day, spy plane cameras were enormous, and the US was unwilling to launch spy flights from Europe. The Peacemaker, rechristened the RB-36, had room to spare for cameras and was the only aircraft of its day that could make the North America/Russia flight without refueling, and was the primary spy plane of the Air Force until the arrival of the [in]famous U-2.
The other thing the B-36 was good for was for testing all kinds of avionics and other toys, again taking advantage of its high altitude, long range, and huge bomb bay. Two experiments stood out in particular - in Crimson Skies, we have parasite planes in zeppelins. Ever wondered if parasite planes could be launched from other airplanes? The B-36 was the testbed for the mothership - the parasite fighter was a seriously whacked-up looking thing called the XF-85 Goblin. Oh, and the other big experiment the B-36 was a testbed for was toying with the idea of nuclear-powered aircraft. Yeah, these monsters have taken operational nuclear reactors aloft, though they weren't actually powered by the reactors at the time. Though that would have been awesome.
Cythereal posted:
The Consolidated PBY Catalina
Now ain't that just a pretty airplane? Yes, but the Catalina isn't exactly a plane. It's a boat, too, one of that curious fad among aircraft designers of flying boats. The Catalina stands as the most successful of its breed, produced in greater numbers than any other flying boat ever designed, still in military service on some parts of the world in the 80's, and still in civilian service today, mainly working with aerial firefighting groups. Did I mention that it's one beautiful old bird?
The PBY Catalina is not just a pretty plane, however: that "PB" in its designation stands for "Patrol Bomber", hinting at its origins: the Catalina was developed for the United States Navy as a long-range patrol bomber in the 1930's, built specifically with service in the Pacific in mind. When World War 2 broke out, ultimately over 4,000 of these planes were built, and they served with virtually ever member of the Allied nations... ever wonder what the British pilot who spotted the Bismark was flying? One of these. A flight of Catalinas is credited with spotting the Japanese fleet approaching Midway, and in one incident seldom heard of in WW2 history, a Canadian-flown Catalina detected the Japanese fleet sent to destroy the Royal Navy's Indian Ocean fleet. The Catalina excelled at maritime patrol, and at the beginning of the United States' entry into the war, the Catalina was one of only two aircraft with enough range to operate successfully in the Pacific without a carrier, sharing this distinction with the mighty B-17.
One of the Catalina's other main jobs was a natural evolution of its original task: being a terror to the folks over in the Silent Hunter thread. Catalinas were among the most numerous ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) aircraft in the Allied arsenal in all three oceans, and two Victoria Crosses were awarded to Catalina pilots for pressing assaults against U-boats despite heavy anti-aircraft fire. Catalinas did give some, but are also credited with 40 u-boat kills of their own.
The PBY also saved lives as frequently as it took them: it was an extremely successful Search-And-Rescue craft employed by all three branches of the US military, and continued to be used for SAR work long after the war concluded. A Catalina earned a bit of history in SAR duty, too, when one rescued the survivors of the USS Indianapolis after one of the most harrowing experiences imaginable at sea for the survivors (seriously - there are entire books on what those poor souls went through).
Oh, and the taking lives I mentioned? The Catalina was pretty good at that, too. Several squadrons of Catalinas were painted black and used by the United States and Australia for night raids against the Japanese, earning them the inevitable nickname of "The Black Cats". In less than a year, the Black Cats sank over one hundred thousand tons of merchant shipping, damaged nearly fifty thousand tons, and damaged ten Japanese warships. The Australians preferred a less direct approach with their Black Cats, preferring to mine Japanese ports and scaring the wits out of the IJN - one weapon the Australians developed with the Black Cats were terror bombs, literally empty beer bottles filled with razor blades dumped out of airplanes, and one crewman said the things sounded like the shriek of the damned.
The motto of the Australian Catalina crews? "The First and the Furthest."
silentbrains posted:
Hello, great thread and I love the idea of airship-launched fighter aircraft, but...and I'm new to the thread so sorry if this is old info...no Sparrowhawk POTD??
"The Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk was a light 1930s biplane fighter aircraft that was carried by the United States Navy airships USS Akron and Macon."
Sparrowhawk with its distinctive trapeze hook:
On the trapeze!:
In the hangar. Don't trip!:
The Sparrowhawk was not really a fighter, more of a scout. They were never used in anger, afaik, since both the Macon and Akron and their Sparrowhawks were relegated to PR work and both lost before committing to war.
The Akron and Macon could hold a total of 5(?) sparrowhawks each, 4(?) hanging on storage arms and a 5th(?) "in the chute". Sometimes landing gear was removed to save weight. Sometimes the dirigible took off first, then the Sparrowhawks flew up after it to dock and get stored in the "hangar."
As an aside, the aircraft in Up were inspired by the Sparrowhawks. Also, the Spirit of Adventure was kind of a cross between a Macon/Akron and a Graf Zeppelin, among others. Useless trivia of the day.
Veretas posted:
What? No love for the F-14 Tomcat!?
The Grumman F-14D Tomcat was the first of Amercia's 'teen-series' planes to actually go into full production. The original F-111B was scrapped due to it's lack of air maneuverability, so the Navy gave Grumman the full go-ahead to put this bad boy into development.
The F-14 first saw deployment in 1974 aboard the USS Enterprise. This plane was the go-to plane for air-to-air interception capabilities and was subsequently picked up quickly by the Navy, although the Marines decided not to purchase it due to it's lack of air-to-ground capacity.
The most notable aspect is the wing sweep. Usually computer controlled the wings will either 'fold' back or forward to provide the optimal lift/drag necessary depending on it's speed. In case of emergencies the pilot can also control them manually.
Eventually the F-14D variant was constructed in 1991 and gave it air-to-ground abilities. Sadly the last flight of this awesome bird was in 2006 after it dropped one bomb in Iraq and landed safely on the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Here's some specs!(could only find the D variant's but whatever)
Top Speed: Mach 2.34
Length: 19.1m
Wingspan: 19.55m (with the wings out) 11.58m (with the wings tucked in)
Height: 4.88m
Makrond posted:
So I've been enjoying the thread and the various PotD writeups so I thought I might do one of my own. I don't really care if it makes it into any of the videos I just think this plane is kind of underappreciated as far as military jets go.
General Dynamics F-111C "Aardvark" (AKA "Pig")
The F-111C is primarily a ground-attack aircraft, based on the F-111A designed in 1960 as a result of the Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) program, which was a push to merge the needs of the USAF for a low altitude, terrain-following supersonic fighter-bomber to replace the F-100 Super Sabre, F-101 Voodoo and the F-105 Thunderchief; and the requirements of the Navy for a subsonic, long-range Fleet Air Defense plane, capable of detecting and intercepting threats from significantly greater distances than the F-4 Phantom or the F-8 Crusader.
While the contract was awarded to General Dynamics who made a solid-performing aircraft with the F-111A for the Air Force, they subcontracted Grumman to build and test the F-111B for the Navy, due to General Dynamic's inexperience building carrier-based craft. The F-111B prototype came in 23,000lbs overweight and severely underpowered. The Navy ordered the contract cancelled, as they did not believe Grumman could make the F-111B into a feasible carrier-based aircraft.
In 1963, the Australian government agreed to purchase 24 F-111s. The Australian variant was designated the F-111C, and was a modified F-111A with a larger wingspan, reinforced undercarriage and - due to a fatal design flaw discovered less than a month before the aircraft were to be shipped - improved carry-through boxes, which prevented the wings from literally falling off in flight. The aircraft were originally intended to delivered before the end of 1968, however between the discovery of the flawed carry-boxes, and a US investigation into the overall structural integrity of the F-111 series, 23 of the 24 aircraft were not delivered until 1973.
The partially-disassembled F-111Cs in 'indefinite storage' at Carlswell AFB
The F-111Cs went through numerous upgrades over the years by Australian aircrews - including the addition of anti-ship capabilities and an built-in software update facility - and even today remain capable multirole aircraft.
The F-111A and its variants are unique in that in an emergency, they can detach and eject the entire cockpit module, canopy and all. This gives the pilots superior protection from small-arms fire if ejecting over hostile territory, as well as shelter from the elements, and numerous other benefits.
Designed as it was during the Cold War, the F-111A also had nuclear attack capabilities , and many of the later variants are still capable of stand-off nuclear deployment, however it was removed in the F-111C, as a country with no nukes has no need for stand-off-range nuclear attack craft.
The F-111A was also the first production aircraft to have variable-geometry wings. Its twin-engine swing-wing design was used as the basis for the F-14 Tomcat after Grumman's F-111B was axed. It was an influential aircraft at the time, with the Su-24 Fencer's design bearing a striking similarity, and its swing-wing technology was incorporated in the B1B Lancer, the aircraft designed to take over the F-111's bomber role.
The F-111C was the first 'successful' variant of the F-111A. Its survivability and combat effectiveness were considerably improved, and the low-stress wing carry-through boxes meant the wings wouldn't fall off. Since 1974, only two F-111Cs have been lost, and neither were combat losses. By comparison, 31 F-111A through F-111Gs have been lost, of which only two have been confirmed shot down.
The F-111A and its variants were extremely important aircraft techonologically. Many of the features that were pioneered with these aircraft are now commonplace. While the US retired the last of its F-111s in 1996, the Royal Australian Air Force maintains its 22 remaining F-111Cs, although they are to be retired at the end of 2010.
As mentioned above, The F-111B was scrapped because Grumman done screwed up (not that there was really any way to make the original F-111 design lighter without seriously redesigning it), not because it lacked air manoeuverability. Hell they hadn't even done any serious testing by the time it was scrapped.
DAUGHTER OF MAMMON posted:
The SR-71 is more of a conventional, in the category of spy plane, than the F-15 is in the category of Air Superiority fighter. The F-15 is a Air Superiority fighter, a Fighter-Bomber (F-15E), and NASA test bed (MTD, ACTIVE, IFCS). It's more versatile than the SR-71.
Untestable thesis. And it's not like the SR-71 was the only plane gathering the intel.
P.O.T.D nomination: U-2 Dragon Lady.
The plane flew more man hours than the SR-71 (sustained observation) and is still being flown today in Afghanistan.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/business/22plane.html
Special fact about this plane: it flew in such a tight flight envelope it had to be controlled by computers. If the airspeed increased a by few mph the laminar flow over the wing would be disrupted and it would stall. If it slowed down it stalled. If it went too high, the air density would be too low and the plane would stall.
This is what you saw when you looked out the window:
Research Indicates fucked around with this message at May 17, 2010 around 23:12
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History of Crimson Skies Viddler Youtube HD
I never got a chance to play this game, but it looks like a good romp.
