Heavy Metal

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1963 North American XB-70A Valkyrie under construction:
The North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie was the prototype version of the planned B-70 nuclear-armed, deep-penetration strategic bomber for the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command.

In the late 1950s, North American Aviation designed the Valkyrie as a large, six-engine bomber capable of reaching Mach 3+ while flying at 70,000 feet (21,000 m).

 

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Royal Air Force Victor K.2 tanker refuelling a Phantom FGR.2
Handley Page Victor - Wikipedia

 

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Fun Phantom Friday Fact: The original F-4 design (the F-3H-G/H mockup below) had a straight wing & tail. After wind tunnel tests, designers bent the tail down to improve pitch characteristics & directional stability; that then necessitated bending the wings up.

 

[Old Mike]

Royal Air Force Victor K.2 tanker refuelling a Phantom FGR.2
Handley Page Victor - Wikipedia


View attachment 729581

The Victor turned out to be what has to be one of the ugliest warplanes ever, with a look that says it couldn’t be meant for anything but war. It’s so ugly it’s cool.

 

[amazinblue82]

yeah,ole Victor had a 'face for radio" as the old timers used to say.

Here's one I recall .. turns out it made somebody's list. To work best as a machine, they gotta be "sleek" .. but a few made it through. (i.e., became flight capable as "X" planes, but even fewer made it into production).

source: The 13 all-time ugliest airplanes

dunno this one before I saw it on the list:

 

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Did the U-2 reconnaissance airplane land on an aircraft carrier? Yes!

The U2 is getting a lot of attention this week with the 70th anniversary of its first flight as it should. Considered the older cousin of the SR-71. It was at one time destined to be retired when the SR-71 took over, but the U2 had had something the SR-71 didn’t have …a much lower cost to operate. This reconnaissance airplane has improved drastically over the years since it was shot down on May 1, 1960. In 1990, when the SR-71 was supposed to be upgraded to real-time, the Air Force chose to take that honor away from the SR-71 and give it to the U2. U2 is not being shot down anymore and has always been a valuable asset to the Air Force.

Have you heard of Project Whale Tale?

U-2 designer Clarence “Kelly” Johnson of Lockheed. Johnson made certain design modifications to the airframe and the first test codenamed Project Whale Tale, occurred on 3 August 1963 off the coast of San Diego. The modified U-2 lifted off from the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk without catapult assistance or incident, but its landing was a different matter.

The expected “bounce” when the aircraft hit the carrier deck was damaged! I have heard that landing a U-2 is very difficult. In mid-1963, the Office of Special Activities set in motion OPERATION WHALE TALE to examine the possibility of adapting the U-2 aircraft for operations from an aircraft carrier. CIA planners believed that, if U-2s could be modified to operate from aircraft carriers, the United States could avoid the political problems involved in seeking permission to base U-2s in other nations.

PROJECT WHALE TALE was designed to address those issues. Modifications were made to the U-2 by Kelly Johnson. (U2G)The modifications only took seven months, that was the way the Skunk Works did things, fast and efficiently. They managed to get the U-2 to land on the carrier On 24 April 1964 a single carrier-based U-2 mission to collect baseline photography of the French test site was approved. This mission was successful.

The project was canceled the decision was made to use cheaper satellites instead.

Thank you Bill Kraus for bringing this to my attention

How the legendary U-2 spy plane landed on an aircraft carrier

 

[amazinblue82]

Did the U-2 reconnaissance airplane land on an aircraft carrier? Yes!

The U2 is getting a lot of attention this week with the 70th anniversary of its first flight as it should. Considered the older cousin of the SR-71. It was at one time destined to be retired when the SR-71 took over, but the U2 had had something the SR-71 didn’t have …a much lower cost to operate. This reconnaissance airplane has improved drastically over the years since it was shot down on May 1, 1960. In 1990, when the SR-71 was supposed to be upgraded to real-time, the Air Force chose to take that honor away from the SR-71 and give it to the U2. U2 is not being shot down anymore and has always been a valuable asset to the Air Force.

Have you heard of Project Whale Tale?

U-2 designer Clarence “Kelly” Johnson of Lockheed. Johnson made certain design modifications to the airframe and the first test codenamed Project Whale Tale, occurred on 3 August 1963 off the coast of San Diego. The modified U-2 lifted off from the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk without catapult assistance or incident, but its landing was a different matter.

The expected “bounce” when the aircraft hit the carrier deck was damaged! I have heard that landing a U-2 is very difficult. In mid-1963, the Office of Special Activities set in motion OPERATION WHALE TALE to examine the possibility of adapting the U-2 aircraft for operations from an aircraft carrier. CIA planners believed that, if U-2s could be modified to operate from aircraft carriers, the United States could avoid the political problems involved in seeking permission to base U-2s in other nations.

PROJECT WHALE TALE was designed to address those issues. Modifications were made to the U-2 by Kelly Johnson. (U2G)The modifications only took seven months, that was the way the Skunk Works did things, fast and efficiently. They managed to get the U-2 to land on the carrier On 24 April 1964 a single carrier-based U-2 mission to collect baseline photography of the French test site was approved. This mission was successful.

The project was canceled the decision was made to use cheaper satellites instead.

Thank you Bill Kraus for bringing this to my attention

View attachment 729767


How the legendary U-2 spy plane landed on an aircraft carrierView attachment 729768View attachment 729769View attachment 729770

theres a video out there of this modified "U2" asserted to be operating/testing from the Carrier Kitty Hawk in 1964.

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

OK I think this would classify as 'Heavy Metal'.

The Door of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory In California, USA

.

 

[amazinblue82]

OK I think this would classify as 'Heavy Metal'.

View attachment 729933

The Door of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory In California, USA

.

Definitely "Heavy Metal". Concrete/steel, 12 ft wide, 8 feet thick, 100,000 lbs, its world's heaviest door.

So "well hung" (hinge design), one person could open/close it.

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NERD ALERT!:

11 min. video below. Get your "propeller head beanie" ready if you watch this.

What was behind this door? why was it so darn big/thick? basically, lotta particle physics going on to try to develop nuclear fusion reactors.

 

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How the B-52 emerged....

On January 26, 1950, General Curtis E. LeMay, the commander of the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command, was present at a conference to deliberate over the next U.S. long-range heavy bomber.

It's likely he had already determined his preference.

The Convair B-36 was nearing obsolescence, and several replacement options were on the table.

LeMay, known for getting his way, had a favorable view of Boeing bombers due to their effective service in World War II. He was inclined towards another Boeing creation, the B-52 Stratofortress, for the upcoming project.

The anticipated contract was substantial, attracting ambitious proposals from various U.S. aircraft manufacturers. Douglas Aircraft Company, based in Santa Monica, California, presented an impressive design: the Model 1211-J. This bomber concept was remarkable, at least theoretically.

Equipped with four turboprop engines, the Model 1211-J was a giant, measuring 160 feet in length with a 227-foot wingspan, comparable in size to the Convair it aimed to succeed. It was engineered to carry a new 43,000-pound conventional bomb but was also capable of transporting nuclear weapons.

Uniquely, it could accommodate its fighter escorts, carrying them as parasitic crafts under its enormous wings. Various fighters were proposed for this role, including Douglas' innovative ogival-wing jet, the F4D Skyray.

The plan was for these fighters' jet engines to boost the bomber during takeoff. Moreover, refueling operations for the fighters were to be conducted while they were docked on the mothership's underwing pylons.

 

[amazinblue82]

How the B-52 emerged....

On January 26, 1950, General Curtis E. LeMay, the commander of the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command, was present at a conference to deliberate over the next U.S. l.....

View attachment 730149

When you absolutely, positively have to remind someone "who's bad".

With 20/20 hindsight, it's easy to say "what were we thinking" when making this choice 70 years ago. we surely would not know the B-52 might last us 100 years. guess better to be lucky than smart sometimes.

17 min. video on what's plan for the "old guy" next 30 years. Topic (i.e., the choice of a B-36 replacement) is here in 3-4 posts but vid summarizes it pretty good if you have the time/interest.

 

[amazinblue82]

Masterpiece or Mistake? I conclude it was both, but more of the former.

A WW II development, it never flew in anything that saw combat. Eventually made obsolete by jets, it actually in total was no better than its less powerful piston cousins. All that power was sacrificed for reliability and operating costs.

The Pratt Whitney Wasp Major. Mightiest Piston Engine Ever. Each one was 71 liter displacement, 4,300 horsepower, band 3,800 lbs.

13 min. video at bottom does really good job putting together in one source whats here in 5-6 posts.

I am a fan of this engine. I saw one in static display operation and in flight 30 years ago. It left an impression lets say.

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How the Pratt & Whitney Wasp family of engines came to be.

Fascinating 18 minutes if this kinda thing interests you. For me, its the technology and the business strategy together that these folks (Pratt Whitney leaders, et.al., ) executed. I was never an engineer, but I am a trained capitalist pig .

 

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From the early 1970's, the German Air Force has trained F-4 pilots in the United States through a contract program with the USAF. This was performed by the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB until 1992 when it was moved to Holloman AFB and placed within the 49th TFW (later simply 49th Fighter Wing). The German pilots are assigned to the German Air Force Flying Training Center with the actual flying performed by the 20th FS, though for a short time in the early 1990s the 9th FS was also equipped with F-4s. Most aircraft used are F-4Fs, however the GAF has also contracted the use of F-4Es and owns several very late model F-4Es (serials 75-0628 to 75-0637).

At its home base of Holloman AFB, F-4F Phantom 72-1257 displayed some added artwork: on the right side is a "Phantom Man" dressed in a great coat and adorned with a WWI "pimple head" spiked helmet. The right side carries a sticker commemorating 25 years of joint training.

 

[amazinblue82]

100 year old Willys four stroke, no valves (actually they were sleeve valve engines, no rockers, or push rods).

Willys made a bunch of 'em (other WW vehicle OEM's, and aircraft too) even up to 8 cylinder designs.

I never heard of these engines. Didnt know the technology did in fact proliferate 100+ years ago and ran quite far into the 20th century).

 

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From the early 1970's, the German Air Force has trained F-4 pilots in the United States through a contract program with the USAF. This was performed by the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB until 1992 when it was moved to Holloman AFB and placed within the 49th TFW (later simply 49th Fighter Wing). The German pilots are assigned to the German Air Force Flying Training Center with the actual flying performed by the 20th FS, though for a short time in the early 1990s the 9th FS was also equipped with F-4s. Most aircraft used are F-4Fs, however the GAF has also contracted the use of F-4Es and owns several very late model F-4Es (serials 75-0628 to 75-0637).

At its home base of Holloman AFB, F-4F Phantom 72-1257 displayed some added artwork: on the right side is a "Phantom Man" dressed in a great coat and adorned with a WWI "pimple head" spiked helmet. The right side carries a sticker commemorating 25 years of joint training.

View attachment 730406
View attachment 730407View attachment 730408

One other thing is that the German Air Force did this training with the F-4F ICE aircraft, 80 I believe that included production licenses for the Hughes Aircraft APG-65 radar and AMRAAM missiles. Flight testing was conducted at Point Mugu with 3 jets….

 

[Old Mike]

One other thing is that the German Air Force did this training with the F-4F ICE aircraft, 80 I believe that included production licenses for the Hughes Aircraft APG-65 radar and AMRAAM missiles. Flight testing was conducted at Point Mugu with 3 jets….

The Luftwaffe also has around 20 MiG 29s they inherited from the East Germans after unification. The U.S. and NATO were thus able to gain full knowledge of its capabilities

 

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P-38 Lightning in German markings, flown to Milan (Italy) and handed over intact by USAAF Martin James Monti.

Martin James Monti - Wikipedia

 

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Look, up in the sky! It's a helicopter! It's a plane! It's Sikorsky S-72 RSRA(Rotor Systems Research Aircraft ) 1984!

Sikorsky S-72 - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[67newport]

BRAND NEW! Ford Built B-24 "Liberator " pulled onto the runway at Fords Willow Run Bomber Plant in Michigan, 1944.

 

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On August 23, 1954, the prototype Lockheed YC-130 Hercules made its first flight from Burbank, California, to Edwards Air Force Base. Piloted by Stanley Beltz and Roy Wimmer, the four-engine turboprop transport flew for 61 minutes and performed without major issues. The aircraft, designated YC-130 53-3397, featured the distinctive “Roman nose” profile of its early design, a rounded forward fuselage that would be altered in later production models for improved avionics accommodation and aerodynamics. This successful test marked the beginning of one of the most enduring and versatile military aircraft programs in aviation history.

The development of the Hercules began in 1951 when the United States Air Force issued a requirement for a rugged, medium transport capable of operating from short and unprepared airstrips. Lockheed’s proposal, designed by a team led by Willis Hawkins, sought to maximize cargo flexibility with a rear loading ramp, high wings for ground clearance, and four Allison T56 turboprop engines for reliable performance. The “Roman nose” of the prototype reflected early design compromises and housed navigation equipment in a bulbous radome, a feature that quickly became obsolete as technology advanced during flight testing.

The success of the first flight validated Lockheed’s innovative approach, leading to the immediate continuation of the test program and eventual full-scale production. The Hercules entered service in 1956 and went on to serve in more than 60 nations, with variants adapted for transport, search and rescue, aerial refueling, and gunship roles. While the “Roman nose” disappeared in subsequent iterations, the core design proved so adaptable that the C-130 remains in production decades later, its reputation for durability and versatility making it a cornerstone of tactical airlift operations worldwide.