The Airplane Thread

[Llarry]

The first Australian-designed combat aircraft in many years: The Boeing-Australia MQ-28A Ghost Bat unmanned combat air vehicle.

[M-technik-3]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

The photo of Snort making that pass reminds me of another a knife-edge pass that did not end well. Bud Holland, a pilot who was know for playing by his own rules, went too far this time and crashed his B-52, killing himself and his crew.

That's the USAF Survival school in the background. Where all aircrew go through.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Speaking of formation...


Attachment 3039659

This photo intrigued me, so I did some research: The pods are Vinten VICON photo recon pods. The white wings also interested me -- I assume for nuclear flash since the CF-104 had a nuclear mission (ah, the bad old days!) I did some digging into CF-104 images looking for photos of various external stores and found some, but did not find the nuclear bomb shapes used for practice; photography of those was probably restricted. The most common centerline store was a practice bomb dispenser, probably with 4-6 little practice bombs that had similar ballistics to the real thing when dropped.

Any semi-serious student of Canadian combat aircraft would profit from visiting:
https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/boo...warplanes-2009 or perhaps buying the gentleman's book; I think I blundered into photos contained in the book.

The most logical nuclear bomb used by the CF-104 would probably be the Mark 28EX (EX for external carriage.) A photo of the similar Mk 28RE is attached. (Note: I have only used open unclassified sources in this post!)

[Lady Jane]

Sikorsky–Boeing SB-1 Defiant

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikors...g_SB-1_Defiant

[Lady Jane]

This photo also got me researching and a bit of History.

This CF-104 is flying the colors of RCAF 3 Wings formerly based in Zwiebruken, Germany and eventually melded with other Squadrons in Germany.

The Squadrons based in Marville, Grotenquin and Metz based in France were moved to RCAF Lahr and RCAF Soellingen in Germany after a pissing contest between France, NATO and the US over nuclear storage.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Here's a picture of little me on Base. I was about 13 or 14 yrs old and already 5'7" growing like a weed.

...and apparently also sporting handcuffs behind your back, from one of your youthful misadventures.....

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

This photo also got me researching and a bit of History.

This CF-104 is flying the colors of RCAF 3 Wings formerly based in Zwiebruken, Germany and eventually melded with other Squadrons in Germany.

The Squadrons based in Marville, Grotenquin and Metz based in France were moved to RCAF Lahr and RCAF Soellingen in Germany after a pissing contest between France, NATO and the US over nuclear storage.

Attachment 3149937

The nuclear bombs dedicated for NATO aircraft are still at the USAF-maintained storage facilities these many years later. I believe that withdrawal of those nuclear weapons from Europe has been considered many times, but each time there has been concern over sending the wrong signal to Russia. And now with V.V. Putin declaring that he is moving nuclear weapons to Belarus the need is even greater to demonstrate NATO resolve.

Another little bit of trivia from the Canadian warplanes book: The original designation of the 104s was CF-111 but that was used only briefly.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Llarry

The nuclear bombs dedicated for NATO aircraft are still at the USAF-maintained storage facilities these many years later.

In fact, apparently the weapons stored at European and Turkish air bases are to be upgraded to the latest B61-12 guided bomb. See the attached.

[Llarry]

A bit more on Australia's MQ-28A unmanned combat air vehicle: It is scheduled to be built in Australia and to be operational by 2024-25 and the U.S. is considering buying some.

No details yet on armament, if any.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

...and apparently also sporting handcuffs behind your back, from one of your youthful misadventures.....

And at 5' 7" probably taller than all the boys in school.

[Llarry]

Those who have followed this thread may remember my post about the three USN P-3As that were loaned to the CIA; two went to Taiwan for a while then came back and were ultimately converted to SIGINT collection EP-3Bs.

Here's an interesting photo of the Naval Air Station Alameda, California, at the height of the Vietnam war with four carriers in port -- USS Ranger CVA 61 on the left, USS Hancock CVA 19 in the middle and USS Coral Sea CVA 43 on the right, plus a former escort carrier now used as an aircraft transport aft of Coral Sea. But then I noticed what appears to be three black P-3s parked a few hundred yards from the carrier piers. Hmmm... waiting for somebody to decide what to do with these odd airplanes that came back from the CIA?

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Here's an interesting photo of the Naval Air Station Alameda, California, at the height of the Vietnam war with four carriers in port -- USS Ranger CVA 61 on the left, USS Hancock CVA 19 in the middle and USS Coral Sea CVA 43 on the right, plus a former escort carrier now used as an aircraft transport aft of Coral Sea.

Why "runway" numbers on carriers?

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Why "runway" numbers on carriers?

Not runway numbers but hull numbers. Only on the bow. Langley was CV 1 and Gerald R. Ford is CVN 78. Two future carriers have already been assigned names and numbers: John F. Kennedy CVN 79 and Doris Miller CVN 80.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Not runway numbers but hull numbers. Only on the bow. Langley was CV 1 and Gerald R. Ford is CVN 78. Two future carriers have already been assigned names and numbers: John F. Kennedy CVN 79 and Doris Miller CVN 80.

Okay, got it. I should have paid better attention to your descriptions of the carriers. D'oh...

But what a great honor for the Miller family to have a carrier named after their heroic son. The very first one after an enlisted man.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Miller
https://www.bing.com/search?q=doris+...ANNTA1&PC=U531

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Not runway numbers but hull numbers. Only on the bow. Langley was CV 1 and Gerald R. Ford is CVN 78. Two future carriers have already been assigned names and numbers: John F. Kennedy CVN 79 and Doris Miller CVN 80.

Actually the above is a bit imprecise; aircraft carriers also display their numbers on either side of island structure. Here's a photo of three carriers at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego with the numbers visible.

In port, the numbers are lighted up. When I was on a cruiser, I noticed that when our high-power air search radar swept by the carrier's island, the light bulbs outlining the number flickered.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Actually the above is a bit imprecise; aircraft carriers also display their numbers on either side of island structure.

And despite all those BIG numbers, some still managed to land on the wrong carrier and paying the price.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Llarry

...In port, the numbers are lighted up. When I was on a cruiser, I noticed that when our high-power air search radar swept by the carrier's island, the light bulbs outlining the number flickered.

We got busted back in the late 70's for having our air-search radar on when it was supposed to be off due to our proximity to the coast. Apparently, we interfered with CH 13's transmission and caused the channel to be unwatchable.

We also had such precise Gunner's Mates that we sunk the target sled! That cost the ships rec fund a pretty penny. They however, never destroyed the balloon they were supposed to destroyed!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

our air-search radar...interfered with CH 13's transmission and caused the channel to be unwatchable.

No great loss, I suspect.

[Llarry]

The Royal Norwegian Air Force anchors the northern end of the NATO alliance and is among the most modern air forces in the world.

The RNoAF has two F-35A Lightning squadrons in Norway and a training squadron with 10 aircraft at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, USA. They have completely retired their former F-16s.

In 2021-22 the RNoAF took delivery of 5 Boeing P-8A patrol aircraft.

They also have 4 C-130J transports.

Norway was one of many countries that ordered the NH90 maritime helicopter and has been extremely dissatisfied with that helo. In fact in 2022, Norway withdrew the NH90 from use and demanded that all helos be returned to the manufacturer for a refund. They quickly ordered 6 Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters as partial replacements, but will not see those helos for several years, leaving them in a bind for maritime helicopters. They do, however, have Leonardo AW101 helicopters for SAR duty.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Norway was one of many countries that ordered the NH90 maritime helicopter and has been extremely dissatisfied with that helo. In fact in 2022, Norway withdrew the NH90 from use and demanded that all helos be returned to the manufacturer for a refund. They quickly ordered 6 Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters as partial replacements, but will not see those helos for several years, leaving them in a bind for maritime helicopters.

A little more investigation reveals that Norway is not the only country to be dissatisfied with the NH90. Australia plans to retire their fleet in a few years and has ordered MH-60Rs for the Navy and UH-60Ms for the Army. Others are unhappy with the running costs, etc. This looks like a largely failed program to me.

[Lady Jane]

Junkers A50 Junior.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_A50

[M-technik-3]

Dad was US Navy on the Ranger during Vietnam. I was product of 30 days R&R aka Leave.