magnificent machine .. a heavy metal fav (like the SR-71 Blackbird) for sure (it may be here 5-6 times, plus other places). Don't make 'em like that any more.
Big Boy 4014
Heavy Metal
- Thread starter amazinblue82
- Start date
Big Boy 4014
Fast (vantage photos/CGI representations) 14 Minutes of the horsepower race/transitions over the 1920's into the 1990's viewed through Union Pacific.
All to move huge loads (heavy, long trains), fast (to compete with trucks), over all terrains.
Challengers and Big Boys steam monsters, gas turbines, and the venerable electric-diesels of today ... fascinating to learn about or refresh if you're a locomotive-head
.
All to move huge loads (heavy, long trains), fast (to compete with trucks), over all terrains.
Challengers and Big Boys steam monsters, gas turbines, and the venerable electric-diesels of today ... fascinating to learn about or refresh if you're a locomotive-head
.
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3175375
Senior Member
The B-36 was probably the most complex bomber in history with six R-4360s and four J47 turbojets. Six turnin' and four burnin' as they used to say, but it was pretty common to lose several on any long flight. The flight engineer was certainly the busiest guy in the crew.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/convair-b-36-peacemaker
We have the "Peacemaker" here somewhere.
Plus, the mighty Wasp Major .. six of them on this baby .. this engine was the largest, most powerful, prop (radial design) engine EVER made in the USA. 4,300 HP (supercharged versions, naturally aspirated about 3,000)EACH, 18,000 made (cool video below).
The Wasp Major
Four WASP Major's running
And, 10 minutes, summarizing 20+ aircraft essentially built around the Wasp Major. Remarkable, but many forgotten designs.
BTW, this is a 28 piston, 71 Liters, 56 spark plugs, air-cooled, internal combustion design, with ONE crankshaft. Any "motor-head" would appreciate the challenge the Pratt Whitney motor-heads faced 80 years ago.
We have the "Peacemaker" here somewhere.
Plus, the mighty Wasp Major .. six of them on this baby .. this engine was the largest, most powerful, prop (radial design) engine EVER made in the USA. 4,300 HP (supercharged versions, naturally aspirated about 3,000)EACH, 18,000 made (cool video below).
The Wasp Major
Four WASP Major's running
And, 10 minutes, summarizing 20+ aircraft essentially built around the Wasp Major. Remarkable, but many forgotten designs.
BTW, this is a 28 piston, 71 Liters, 56 spark plugs, air-cooled, internal combustion design, with ONE crankshaft. Any "motor-head" would appreciate the challenge the Pratt Whitney motor-heads faced 80 years ago.
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3175375
Senior Member
Lifted from Facebook, not heavy metal, but very cool:
NASA’s new super-fast X-59 jet, which can travel faster than sound, is now one step closer to start flying tests. NASA has announced that the jet has now moved from its site of construction to the flight line. What’s the best part about this aircraft? Unlike older fast planes, this one won’t make a loud ‘Sonic Boom’ noise when it goes super fast. Loud sonic booms can damage structures, such as breaking glass.
NASA’s new super-fast X-59 jet, which can travel faster than sound, is now one step closer to start flying tests. NASA has announced that the jet has now moved from its site of construction to the flight line. What’s the best part about this aircraft? Unlike older fast planes, this one won’t make a loud ‘Sonic Boom’ noise when it goes super fast. Loud sonic booms can damage structures, such as breaking glass.
Its still "heavy" chief. 25,000 lbs (but only 600 lbs of payload), Mach 1.4 (~1,000 mph) expected.
What it takes NOT to go "boom"? Basically, the shape of the aircraft.
sources: How is the X-59 designed to quiet the boom?, Lockheed Martin X-59 Quesst - Wikipedia
At link, the several things they did to reduce the acoustics -- i.e, the noise pollution of SST's -- to a fraction of the old days.
Allows, potentially (if commercially viable as a paying-passenger plane - long way to go before they know that) SST's to fly over land without breaking windows, setting off car alarms, scaring the crap outta people.
LA to NY in 2.5 hours, instead of 5.0 hours, flying OVER the US is irresistable temptation for air travel. 60 years ago and still today.
Fast (vantage photos/CGI representations) 14 Minutes of the horsepower race/transitions over the 1920's into the 1990's viewed through Union Pacific.
All to move huge loads (heavy, long trains), fast (to compete with trucks), over all terrains.
Challengers and Big Boys steam monsters, gas turbines, and the venerable electric-diesels of today ... fascinating to learn about or refresh if you're a locomotive-head
View attachment 605930
There's one of those huge UP Diesels in the train museum in Portola, CA. The thing is daunting!
3175375
Senior Member
2002: The Airborne Laser (ABL), a highly modified Boeing 747-400F, made its first flight. The world’s first directed-energy combat aircraft had a rotating nose turret with a 5-foot diameter telescope to focus and direct a laser to destroy ballistic missiles in flight.
Boeing completed initial modifications to a new 747-400F off the production line in 2002, culminating in its first flight from Boeing's Wichita, Kansas, facility. Ground testing of the COIL resulted in its successful firing in 2004. The renamed YAL-1 was assigned to the 417th Flight Test Squadron Airborne Laser Combined Test Force at Edwards AFB. The aircraft was retired in September 2014.
Boeing completed initial modifications to a new 747-400F off the production line in 2002, culminating in its first flight from Boeing's Wichita, Kansas, facility. Ground testing of the COIL resulted in its successful firing in 2004. The renamed YAL-1 was assigned to the 417th Flight Test Squadron Airborne Laser Combined Test Force at Edwards AFB. The aircraft was retired in September 2014.
3175375
Senior Member
Here’s something that I just learned. The T-FX program loser: The Boeing 818.
Boeing 818 TFX; The Actual Aardvark? - Forgotten Aircraft - Military Matters
Boeing 818 TFX; The Actual Aardvark? - Forgotten Aircraft - Military Matters
thanks man.
wow, what a cluster **** and after ALL that, it STILL didn't get built.
We (USA) wound up with excellent planes since all this went down, despite all the drama with this one, but the "military-industrial complex" procurement saga was something else in this case ...
That's as close to the politics as I am gonna get here
3175375
Senior Member
McNamara was quite an ***.thanks man.
wow, what a cluster **** and after ALL that, it STILL didn't get built.
We (USA) wound up with excellent planes since all this went down, despite all the drama with this one, but the "military-industrial complex" procurement saga was something else in this case ...
That's as close to the politics as I am gonna get here
3175375
Senior Member
Back on topic:
The largest mass-produced piston-engined aircraft ever built, the Convair Peacemaker, B-36. A wing span of 230 ft. and a pusher configuration of six Pratt & White R4360 radial engines along with four General Electric J47 turbojets.
#avgeeks #aviation
Credit: Centerline Images
This is at the Pima Air Museum:
The largest mass-produced piston-engined aircraft ever built, the Convair Peacemaker, B-36. A wing span of 230 ft. and a pusher configuration of six Pratt & White R4360 radial engines along with four General Electric J47 turbojets.
#avgeeks #aviation
Credit: Centerline Images
This is at the Pima Air Museum:
There is a B-36 at the Castel Air Museum n Atwater, CA. I was there visiting with my children years ago and saw it, laying in pieces behind a cyclone fence. I was blown away, and started telling my family about it and its place in history. Soon, another man with small children came walking up. One of his kids asked what it was; he said it looks like several planes. I said, "No, it's one, a B-36 Peacemaker, the world's largest production bomber." He said, "No way, there are 10 engines there!" I said, "Correct, 6 4360s and 4 turbo-jets for aid in taking off." He looked at me like I was from the moon and then turned to his kids and said, "Don't listen to this guy kids, he's nuts." At times, ignorance can be very loud!
3175375
Senior Member
First jet powered sea aircraft.
The earliest example of combining the advantages of jet propulsion and the capability to land on and take off the water was the British Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 aircraft.
Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 - Wikipedia
The earliest example of combining the advantages of jet propulsion and the capability to land on and take off the water was the British Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 aircraft.
Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 - Wikipedia
One big thing in common for all these? Wasp 4360. Note SOME of them are the same airframe, just modified for new duties. Plane name/number then photo underneath. Some "one of one's ... for real .., and some had distingished carreers before being retired.
Soon, everything "hot" would become jets -- though prop planes (no WASPS, though some are still flying) post-WWII hung around a LONG time;
Lockheed Constitution
The "Spruce Goose". Howard Hughes' rig, flew once and never again. Really made out of birch, look at that wing BEFoRE it was painted - looks like fine furniture.
Convair XC 99 1 of 1, largest metal piston plane ever built
Twin-Prop version of Northrop "Flying Wing"
The following evolved from the B-29 (it used Curtiss engines) airframe, enabled by all using the Wasp 4360
Boeing B-50 "Superfortress" bomber
Boeing C-97 "StratoFreighter"
Boeing KC-97 Tanker
Boeing "Stratocruiser" for passenger service
The "Pregnant Guppy" cargo plane
Soon, everything "hot" would become jets -- though prop planes (no WASPS, though some are still flying) post-WWII hung around a LONG time;
Lockheed Constitution
The "Spruce Goose". Howard Hughes' rig, flew once and never again. Really made out of birch, look at that wing BEFoRE it was painted - looks like fine furniture.
Convair XC 99 1 of 1, largest metal piston plane ever built
Twin-Prop version of Northrop "Flying Wing"
The following evolved from the B-29 (it used Curtiss engines) airframe, enabled by all using the Wasp 4360
Boeing B-50 "Superfortress" bomber
Boeing C-97 "StratoFreighter"
Boeing KC-97 Tanker
Boeing "Stratocruiser" for passenger service
The "Pregnant Guppy" cargo plane
Interesting trivia point, while the B-29 was a Superfortress, the B-50 was the Super Fortress. It was my dad's favorite plane, and his favorite engine.
If he were alive he would point out the nose cone, wings, and tail sections were different on both. The B-50 also had Fowler flaps that the B-29 didn't. He was especially glad when he slid off the wing of a 50 and broke his leg. He said the flaps were down which made the fall 6 feet instead of 15!
If he were alive he would point out the nose cone, wings, and tail sections were different on both. The B-50 also had Fowler flaps that the B-29 didn't. He was especially glad when he slid off the wing of a 50 and broke his leg. He said the flaps were down which made the fall 6 feet instead of 15!
3175375
Senior Member
The Fairchild C-119, nicknamed “Flying boxcar” for its simple and capacious interior, has entered the history of aviation as one of the most versatile transport aircraft. Fairchild C-119: The “Flying Boxcar” - Jets ’n’ Props
I knew this plane looked familiar.
The C-119 was the new and improved version (structural changes and Wasp 4360's used over the Pratt & Whitney 2800's) of the Fairchild C-82 (pic immediately below).
sources: Fairchild C-82 Packet - Wikipedia, The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
7.5 | Adventure, DramaI didn't know that was the movie plane until now, because of the similarity to the plane used in one of my favorite movies i sorta recognized it. The 1965 original version (I saw at the movies as an original release with my Dad about a thousand years ago).
The original Flight of the Phoenix, with Jimmy Stewart as the star. Worth your time if you like some neat plot twists/character studies & drama in movies. If you havent seen it, I wont spoil it. Tho the plane, with its twin-boom design, had almost as big a starting role as ole Jimbo did.
Anyway this design, the "Flying Boxcar', saw tons of military-related action. The C-82 came really late to significantly impact WW II, but the C-119 was a military workhorse through Korea and beyond in militaries around the world. Many found civi duties in retirement too as in the one used in fictional Phoenix move.
The third act for this airframe was the XC-120. Thing had a detachable "belly". Never went into service. Experimental, only one ever built. Had it made it to production, if would have been the C-128.
Fairchild XC-120 Packplane - Wikipedia
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3175375
Senior Member
My uncle (mom’s oldest brother), died in one of those, while on a flight in Japan in 1957. 5 years before I arrived on the planet.I knew this plane looked familiar.
The iC-119 iwas the new and improved version (structurual changed and Wasp 4360's over the Pratt & Whitney 2800's) of the Fairchild C-82 (pic immediately below).
sources: Fairchild C-82 Packet - Wikipedia, The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
View attachment 608120View attachment 608123'
I didn't know that was the movie plane until now, beause of the similarity to the plane used in one of my favorite movies i sorta recognized it. The 1965 original version (I saw at the moviies as an original release with my Dad about a thousand years ago).
The original Flight of the Phoenix, with Jimmy Stewart as the star. Worth your time if you like some neat plot twtists/character studies in movies. If you havent seen it, I wont spoil it. The plane, with its twin-boom design, had almost as big a staring role as ole Jimbo.
View attachment 608121
View attachment 608122
Anyway this design, the Flying Boxcar, saw tons of military-related action. The C-82 came really late to significantly impact WW II, but the C-119 was a military workhorse through Korea and beyound in militaries around the world. Many found civi duties too as in the one in fictional Phoenix move.
The third act for this airframe was the XC-120. Thing had a detachachable "belly". Never went into service. Experimental, only one ever built. Had it made it to prroduction, if would have been the C-128
Fairchild XC-120 Packplane - Wikipedia
View attachment 608124View attachment 608125
They looked alike to me, but they clearly were not. Just same vintage, and one was much better know/more widely used .. even today. 3
Curtiss C-46 Commando, 3,100 built. Wikipedia
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (Dakota). The DC-3 in civilian/passenger usage. One of my favorite prop planes. Almost 11,000 built, many still flying today.
One of the more famous variants? "Puff the Magic Dragon", Vietnam-era gunship. The AC-47 Spooky at the bottom
Douglas C-47 Skytrain - Wikipedia
AC-47 Spooky Gunship. It could tear ya a new one if your army was on the business end of any/all of ts three, 7.62 mm Gatling guns.
Not to be confused with similarly named AC-130 gunship by Lockheed, an equally bada** flying gun.
Puff, the Magic Dragon - Wikipedia, Vietnam War Weapons: The AC-47 Gunship, 'Spooky' Gunship Operations in the Vietnam War
Curtiss C-46 Commando, 3,100 built. Wikipedia
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (Dakota). The DC-3 in civilian/passenger usage. One of my favorite prop planes. Almost 11,000 built, many still flying today.
One of the more famous variants? "Puff the Magic Dragon", Vietnam-era gunship. The AC-47 Spooky at the bottom
Douglas C-47 Skytrain - Wikipedia
AC-47 Spooky Gunship. It could tear ya a new one if your army was on the business end of any/all of ts three, 7.62 mm Gatling guns.
Not to be confused with similarly named AC-130 gunship by Lockheed, an equally bada** flying gun.
Puff, the Magic Dragon - Wikipedia, Vietnam War Weapons: The AC-47 Gunship, 'Spooky' Gunship Operations in the Vietnam War
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