The Airplane Thread

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Llarry

If Boeing meets that schedule -- and one might be forgiven for being skeptical at this point -- I would think that modifying the Qatari aircraft for presidential airlift would take a considerable time... perhaps a couple of years?

The contract for converting this gift was awarded to L3Harris, with a deadline of the end of this year supposedly being given for the conversions to be completed to the military's specifications for VIP transport. The gift is slated to be transferred to the Presidential Library Foundation at the end of the current administration, and I ASSume will be displayed in a similar fashion to the old 707 (SAM-27000) at the Reagan Library.

I think that a big motivation for accepting this gift and awarding the work to L3Harris is to put heat on Boeing to finish the two planes that will have been in the works for a decade before their current promised delivery date. Seems in line with how the current administration does deals, and there's a scale model of the new 747-800's in it's proposed gaudy livery on the coffee table at every White House press event these days to show how important it is to the current administration.....

[vreihen16]

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[freakystyly]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

.

What is this? An airplane for ants?

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

What is this? An airplane for ants?

When considering egos, perhaps a C-5 would be a better choice…

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

When considering egos, perhaps a C-5 would be a better choice…

Cargo area noise aside, isn't the military already scrounging parts from planes to keep their current C-5's flying? Our local ANG was allegedly swapping tires between flight line planes ten years ago because they couldn't source replacements.....

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Cargo area noise aside, isn't the military already scrounging parts from planes to keep their current C-5's flying? Our local ANG was allegedly swapping tires between flight line planes ten years ago because they couldn't source replacements.....

I have no sympathy. Let’em rough it a little bit and get a hint of
what its like to be a regular troop. I’m referring to the passengers,
not the team who has to make do with hand-me-downs.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

.

I want one...

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

I want one...

I hear that Boeing gives them away for free with every $3.9 billion custom airplane order.....

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

I hear that Boeing gives them away for free with every $3.9 billion custom airplane order.....

In that case, I'll just make a quick run to the bank!

[Llarry]

1990s Northrop Grumman concept stealth reconnaissance aircraft CGI. This aircraft was derived from the YF-23 that lost out to the F-22 for the USAF fighter contract.

Regardless of the aircraft's qualities, the 1990s was a time when the West had just "won" the Cold War and the F-22 program was ramping up. Spending big bucks on a stealth recon aircraft was not in the cards.

[Llarry]

Bad to the BONE -- The B-1B!

[Llarry]

A C-5M getting ready to land in a 150-knot crosswind.

Or a photo of the main landing gear rotating 90 degrees prior to retraction.

[Llarry]

Slovakia-based Klein Vision has a prototype flying of the AirCar, a two-seat BMW-powered flying car.

https://en.wikipedia.org/Klein_Vision_AirCar

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Slovakia-based Klein Vision has a prototype flying of the AirCar, a two-seat BMW-powered flying car.

https://en.wikipedia.org/Klein_Vision_AirCar

People can't drive, now "they" want to put them in aircraft?! Just how would the NTSB classify the many deaths from these people running into each other? Would the FAA require a special license? What would be the hard ceiling? How many miles from an airport would these things be allowed to operate?

IMHO, I don't ever see The Jetsons scenario ever panning-out.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

People can't drive, now "they" want to put them in aircraft?!

I suspect that the only people buying these will have deep enough pockets to buy a real plane, with similar concerns and risks.....

[Llarry]

Phantom Phriday again; this time, let me cover four remaining nations' use of the F-4.

Australia: The RAAF ordered the General Dynamics F-111C Aardvark in 1966 as a strike fighter. The F-111 had a troubled gestation, which led to considerable delays and price increases. (The UK ordered 50 F-111Ks at the same time and cancelled the order as a result of the same factors.) In 1970, Australia leased 24 U.S. Air Force F-4Es to fill in while the F-111C's difficulties were resolved. The RAAF operated these F-4Es until 1973 and returned them to the U.S. only reluctantly -- the Phantoms were very popular with the aircrews. But the F-111Cs were coming and Australia could not afford both types.

Spain: The Spanish air force received a batch of ex-USAF F-4Cs in 1971 and operated them until retirement in 1989. Upon retiring the F-4Cs, they received a batch of RF-4Cs which were active until retirement in 2002.

Greece: The Hellenic Air Force obtained factory-new F-4Es in 1974 and later supplemented them with ex-USAF Es and with ex-Luftwaffe RF-4Es. 39 F-4Es were upgraded in cooperation with German company DASA in the late '90s. The last Greek Phantoms -- RF-4Es -- were retired in 2017.

Egypt: The Egyptian Air Force got 35 ex-USAF F-4Es in 1979. They purchased more in the 1980s and 1990s. Egypt's F-4Es were retired in 2020.

This completes the list of countries that fly or flew the Phantom. Next week I will circle back to the very beginnings.

[flybigjet]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Phantom Phriday again; this time, let me cover four remaining nations' use of the F-4.

Australia: The RAAF ordered the General Dynamics F-111C Aardvark in 1966 as a strike fighter. The F-111 had a troubled gestation, which led to considerable delays and price increases. (The UK ordered 50 F-111Ks at the same time and cancelled the order as a result of the same factors.) In 1970, Australia leased 24 U.S. Air Force F-4Es to fill in while the F-111C's difficulties were resolved. The RAAF operated these F-4Es until 1973 and returned them to the U.S. only reluctantly -- the Phantoms were very popular with the aircrews. But the F-111Cs were coming and Australia could not afford both types.

Spain: The Spanish air force received a batch of ex-USAF F-4Cs in 1971 and operated them until retirement in 1989. Upon retiring the F-4Cs, they received a batch of RF-4Cs which were active until retirement in 2002.

Greece: The Hellenic Air Force obtained factory-new F-4Es in 1974 and later supplemented them with ex-USAF Es and with ex-Luftwaffe RF-4Es. 39 F-4Es were upgraded in cooperation with German company DASA in the late '90s. The last Greek Phantoms -- RF-4Es -- were retired in 2017.

Egypt: The Egyptian Air Force got 35 ex-USAF F-4Es in 1979. They purchased more in the 1980s and 1990s. Egypt's F-4Es were retired in 2020.

This completes the list of countries that fly or flew the Phantom. Next week I will circle back to the very beginnings.

Ah, yes-- the F-4.

America's proof that if you put big enough engines on a brick, you can get it to fly!

R.

[M-technik-3]

I was stationed at Osan in the late 80's as E2. I used to pull stand by duty on beeper for logistics and hated the F4's as they always seemed to be broken. Loved my incentive flight that I had just before I PCS'd back to the states.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

I was stationed at Osan in the late 80's as E2. I used to pull stand by duty on beeper for logistics and hated the F4's as they always seemed to be broken. Loved my incentive flight that I had just before I PCS'd back to the states.

Although I was stationed at Camp Humphreys just south of Osan, I lived in housing on Osan AB from 1988 to 1990. I confess I do not remember what the 51st Fighter Wing was flying in 1988 (F-4Es?) but I know they were flying the F-16 by 1990. I think they transitioned from Phantoms to Vipers while I was there. I used to be pretty amazed to see the F-16s takeoff and then pull into the vertical before leveling off. As an intell type, I also liked watching the U-2.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Although I was stationed at Camp Humphreys just south of Osan, I lived in housing on Osan AB from 1988 to 1990. I confess I do not remember what the 51st Fighter Wing was flying in 1988 (F-4Es?) but I know they were flying the F-16 by 1990. I think they transitioned from Phantoms to Vipers while I was there. I used to be pretty amazed to see the F-16s takeoff and then pull into the vertical before leveling off. As an intell type, I also liked watching the U-2.

My brother was stationed at Beale AFB sometime around 1975. He
invited dad and me to get a close up view of his KC-135. While we
were there a U-2 landed. I got a big kick out watching a blue Ford
pickup truck chase the U-2 while an airman in the back caught the
wingtip before it touched the ground.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Llarry

...I used to be pretty amazed to see the F-16s takeoff and then pull into the vertical before leveling off...

I don't know if they still do it, but that pretty much was the ZOOM Departure off HIF (Hill AFB)...

Runway heading until 400kts, then reverse course climbing to between 13K & 15K, reverse course again until between 39K & 50K; all within 5 miles of the runway.

[Llarry]

The U.S. Army has announced the official designation for the Bell V-280 tilt rotor replacement for the H-60 Blackhawk helicopter. The designation is MV-75 and the aircraft will be used for a variety of tasks, including troop transport and medical evacuation. (That V-75 designation appears to be in the helicopter series; a tilt rotor would be in the V-20s.)

Assuming all goes well, the MV-75 should enter service in 2031.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_V-280_Valor