Heavy Metal

3175375 said:
If you read the wiki page, one of the two executed a very tight turn using the thrust vectoring.
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lotta stuff i stilll had trouble undertstanding it. performed in an exemplary, spectacaular fashion overall. lotta lessons learned. especially safety related, its why we have the best fleet in the world.

searched for a x-31 summary. tangentially, they lost one of the planes (attached video- no life lost). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYf_8sXVQpU. learned valuable lessons.

for the nerds ; five minutes of reading.

X-31 Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability Demonstrator​


In Flight over Edwards Air Force Base, CA
The first X-31 (Bu. No. 164584) flew over Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 1993. Aircraft 584 completed 292 flights during the Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability (EFM) program before being lost on January 19, 1995 when icing in the nose probe caused the flight control computer to receive bad data. German test pilot Karl-Heinz Lang ejected after the aircraft became uncontrollable. The program continued, using the second aircraft (Bu. No. 164585).
NASA/Jim Ross.

Tight Turn over the Desert Floor by X-31
One of two X-31 Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability Demonstrator aircraft, flown by an international test organization at NASA’s Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, turned tightly over the desert floor on a research flight. The aircraft obtained data that may apply to the design and development of highly-maneuverable aircraft of the future. The X-31 had a three-axis thrust-vectoring system, coupled with advanced flight controls, to allow it to maneuver tightly at very high angles of attack.
NASA/Jim Ross
 
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U-534 was discovered in 1986 lying 67 meters deep in the Kattegat Sea near Anholt, Denmark. She had remained intact since being sunk in May 1945 and rumors of Nazi treasure led Danish businessman Karsten Ree to fund her recovery. The Dutch salvage company Smit Tak handled the operation, a complex task at that depth. Divers first cleared debris and carefully passed heavy lifting slings beneath the corroded hull. The submarine was then hoisted slowly using floating cranes, with constant monitoring to prevent collapse or twisting. Once raised, she was stabilized, partially drained, and placed on barges for transport. The operation revealed that U-534 still contained torpedoes, machinery, and personal effects but no gold or treasure.



After conservation work, she was taken to Birkenhead, England, in 1996 to become part of the Warship Preservation Trust. Years later, in 2008, engineers cut the submarine into five large sections using a diamond wire saw so that she could be moved and displayed at the Woodside Ferry Terminal. The cut allowed visitors to view her interior compartments while easing preservation. Despite heavy corrosion and internal damage, U-534 remains one of the few surviving Type IXC/40 U-boats ever recovered, a rare relic of the Kriegsmarine’s last days and a remarkable feat of underwater salvage engineering.

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3175375 said:
U-534 was discovered in 1986 lying 67 meters deep in the Kattegat Sea near Anholt, Denmark. She had remained intact since being sunk in May 1945 and rumors of Nazi treasure led Danish businessman Karsten Ree to fund her recovery. The Dutch salvage company Smit Tak handled the operation, a complex task at that depth. Divers first cleared debris and carefully passed heavy lifting slings beneath the corroded hull. The submarine was then hoisted slowly using floating cranes, with constant monitoring to prevent collapse or twisting. Once raised, she was stabilized, partially drained, and placed on barges for transport. The operation revealed that U-534 still contained torpedoes, machinery, and personal effects but no gold or treasure.
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on part of it, did they use "diamond saw" like they used on Kursk salvage,et ali.?


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Kursk submarine disaster - Wikipedia


Diamond-wire cutting is a brilliant #marinesalvage technique. An abrasive wire is wrapped under a shipwreck's hull, dragged back & forth, carving the wreck into pieces like a saw. The wire is coated in tungsten-carbide cement, diamond-crust, or widia metal.

MV Tricolor - Wikipedia(below)
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This aerial view of the Shuttle Enterprise from 1978 shows the shuttle orbiter being hoisted into Marshall’s Dynamic Test Stand for the Mated Vertical Ground Vibration test. The test marked the first time that the entire Space Shuttle – orbiter, an external tank, and two solid rocket boosters – were mated together. The purpose of the vibration tests was to verify whether the shuttle performed in its launch configuration as predicted.

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Let’s take a look at VX-4/VX-9 for the history on where the Black jet came from.

We merged the cover photo to compare them all at once as a history lesson just like VX-4 & VX-5 who merged to become VX-9! In the 90’s..

Hugh Hefner’s (Playboy Magazine) DC-9 in the mid to late 60’s was known as the “Big Bunny”.

Playboy being bigger than ever, Hugh wanted something the world would never forget, maybe a black painted jet with a bunny on tail, it would than become the premier jet to fly in the world as even Elvis Presley would lease Big Bunny for Tours.

VX-4 Evaluators saw the worlds reaction to Big Bumny and scrambled to paint their premier jet black as well with a bunny! “Vandy One” is born as an F-4 Phantom.

However, once the F-14 was introduced to the fleet a few years later, it would take over the role as the premier test airplane of VX-4, which meant it would now receive the black paint and the Bunny.

As the F-14D came along in the early 90’s with VX-9, it eventually too would be the next carrier of the black paint (BuNo 164604) which is no longer black on display at NAS Oceana.

F-14A BuNo 159853 is currently displayed at . Defense Supply Center Richmond, Richmond, VA.

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Heavy Metal - NOT!

In the 1940s, Crosley’s COBRA engine (short for COpper BRAzed) became one of the most unusual automotive innovations in history. Built almost entirely from stamped sheet metal joined with copper brazing, it weighed just 133 pounds — less than half the mass of typical cast-iron engines of the era. Yet despite its featherweight design, it could deliver reliable performance for small cars, generators, and even military equipment.

Powel Crosley Jr., the visionary behind the project, sought to make automobiles more affordable and efficient during wartime metal shortages. His creation powered the Crosley CC sedan, the first postwar American compact car, achieving up to 50 miles per gallon — decades ahead of its time. Though production challenges and durability issues eventually ended its run, the COBRA engine remains a symbol of fearless engineering and creative problem-solving that pushed automotive design forward.

Crosley - Wikipedia

Details on Crosley CC Models 1946 - 1948

Tin block info:

The Mighty Tin

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3175375 said:
Heavy Metal - NOT!

In the 1940s, Crosley’s COBRA engine (short for COpper BRAzed) became one of the most unusual automotive innovations in history. Built almost entirely from stamped sheet metal joined with copper brazing, it weighed just 133 pounds — less than half the mass of typical cast-iron engines of the era. Yet despite its featherweight design, it could deliver reliable performance for small cars, generators, and even military equipment.

Powel Crosley Jr., the visionary behind the project, sought to make automobiles more affordable and efficient during wartime metal shortages. His creation powered the Crosley CC sedan, the first postwar American compact car, achieving up to 50 miles per gallon — decades ahead of its time. Though production challenges and durability issues eventually ended its run, the COBRA engine remains a symbol of fearless engineering and creative problem-solving that pushed automotive design forward.

Crosley - Wikipedia

Details on Crosley CC Models 1946 - 1948

Tin block info:

The Mighty Tin

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fascinating.
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Check out this video from this search, crosley cobra engine
 
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The Avro-740 was a proposed 70-seat trijet airliner concept in the late 1950s, designed by Avro as a competitor to the De Havilland Comet and the upcoming Boeing 727. The project was dropped when Hawker Siddeley merged with Bristol and decided to focus on developing the de Havilland Trident instead…

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nice plane! 1950's British were civilian styling leaders (Hawker Siddeley, Armstrong, Vickers, de Havilland etc.,). America won the tri-power race was with the 727. long story short, but Brits tanked their industry. relatedly, tragically flawed, the de Havilland Comet - Wikipedia was first passenger jet in the world.

trijet development is actually fascinating. if you have 10 mins. to kill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trijet# for interesting history as to why this 747 design ultimately lost out to wing engine designs over tail designs. .


https://www.key.aero/article/vickers vc11 tri-jet in late 1950's
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First Boeing 727 trijet takes off from Renton Airport on its maiden flight in 1963.
 
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this was a Freddie Laker creation. could be why the hard times since Sir Freddie has shuffled off this mortal coil.

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Aviation Traders Carvair - Wikipedia, Freddie Laker - Wikipedia

General characteristics
  • Crew: 2 or 3
  • Capacity:
    • Maximum seating 85 passengers or
    • five cars and 22 passengers or
    • 19,335 lb (8,770 kg) cargo
  • Length: 102 ft 7 in (31.27 m)
  • Wingspan: 117 ft 6 in (35.81 m)
  • Height: 29 ft 10 in (9.09 m)
  • Wing area: 1,462 sq ft (135.8 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 9.45:1
  • Airfoil: NACA 23016 at root, NACA 23012 at tip
  • Empty weight: 41,365 lb (18,763 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 73,800 lb (33,475 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 2,993 imp gal (3,594 US gal; 13,610 L)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney R-2000-7M2 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radial engines, 1,450 hp (1,080 kW) each
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic, 13 ft 1 in (3.99 m) diameter
Performance
  • Maximum speed: 250 mph (400 km/h, 220 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 207 mph (333 km/h, 180 kn) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) (econ. cruise)
  • Stall speed: 119 mph (192 km/h, 103 kn) (wheels and flaps up)
  • Never exceed speed: 275 mph (443 km/h, 239 kn)
  • Range: 2,300 mi (3,700 km, 2,000 nmi) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) with maximum payload, 3,455 mi (3,002 nmi; 5,560 km) with 10,000 lb (4,500 kg) payload and max fuel
  • Service ceiling: 18,700 ft (5,700 m)
  • Rate of climb: 650 ft/min (3.3 m/s)
  • Takeoff distance to 50 ft (15 m): 4,200 ft (1,300 m)
  • Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m): 3,120 ft (950 m
 
On this day in aviation: October 26th, 1962 – The very last Boeing B-52 off the production line is delivered to the US Air Force.

On 19 February 1965, General Curtis E. LeMay testified to Congress that the lack of a follow-up bomber project to the B-52 raised the danger that "The B-52 is going to fall apart on us before we can get a replacement for it."

Captain's Log, Stardate 43125.8.
In preparation for the decommissioning ceremony for the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D, we have the exceptional honor of being escorted by one of the newly re-engined Federation ships...the B-52X.

First flown on April 15th, 1952, the B-52 has been in continuous service, undergoing multiple upgrades during its lifetime. The now re-engined B-52X is expected to serve up to stardate 53000.0 and beyond if no suitable replacement is available.
www.Sierrahotel.net

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3175375 said:
On this day in aviation: October 26th, 1962 – The very last Boeing B-52 off the production line is delivered to the US Air Force.

On 19 February 1965, General Curtis E. LeMay testified to Congress that the lack of a follow-up bomber project to the B-52 raised the danger that "The B-52 is going to fall apart on us before we can get a replacement for it."

Captain's Log, Stardate 43125.8.
In preparation for the decommissioning ceremony for the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D, we have the exceptional honor of being escorted by one of the newly re-engined Federation ships...the B-52X.

First flown on April 15th, 1952, the B-52 has been in continuous service, undergoing multiple upgrades during its lifetime. The now re-engined B-52X is expected to serve up to stardate 53000.0 and beyond if no suitable replacement is available.
www.Sierrahotel.net

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how 'bout that.

a B-52 that still flies 300 years from now. warp-capable no less. a lotta sci-fi magical engineering to make that happen. more of a testament to the real-life longevity story of that platform. it could stay relevant for 50 more years past today.

the idealistic nerd in me would love to see a B-52 go into warp, but alas ...

:thumbsup:
 
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