Showing posts with label airplane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label airplane. Show all posts
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
why were the B52 Stratofortresses cut up and thrown away?
Because of the nuclear disarmament treaty of 2011 for some reason they decided to point the finger at the b52's as the method for launching nuke weapons. As if subs can't do that. Anyway, it was a surprise to me, and I thought I'd share the info http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/b-52-bombers-cut-arizona-compliance-russian-treaty.html
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Did you know a U2 could land on an aircraft carrier for a refuel?
there was a bit of a story about the whole thing:
The landing followed a mission over northeast Russia . The U-2’s 80-foot wingspan meant it could only go a short distance before it collided with the superstructure of the ship. Because of the ship’s speed and a headwind, Beeler said he was able to touch down and come to a stop in about five feet. “When I came aboard they had a ceremony welcoming the Air Force into the Navy. I said, ‘I don’t have much I like about the Navy except one thing,’ ” he said. That one thing was the Navy pilots’ leather jackets. Before he left the ship the following day, the captain had given him one.
Monday, March 17, 2014
a B 29 is nearing the end of it's restoration, in Wichita Kansas. Named "Doc" for one of Snow Whites dwarves, it was found in the Mojave where it had been baking for 40 years
Jeff Turner, chairman of the nonprofit group Doc's Friends, said the goal of flying Doc to Oshkosh in 2014 is in sight, but as much as $2 million more needs to be raised to make it happen. The Doc project has been in Wichita since 2000, but only this year was it turned over to the new 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation. That lengthy gestation may be attributed to the stewardship of project organizer and founder Tony Mazzolini, who wanted to ensure any foundation taking on Doc had the right vision. "I needed to make sure I put the aircraft into the right hands for the future,'' Mazzolini explained. When refurbished, Doc will be only the second flyable B-29 in the world.
It will take an estimated $7 million to $9 million to finish the restoration, get the plane flying and secure a hangar, Turner said. “None of us are professional fundraisers,” Turner said. “We’re looking for people who want to step up.”
As the Air Capital of the World, Wichita has the aviation expertise to see the project through, officials said. “The aviation infrastructure here is very good,” Sarver said. “There’s a lot of talented people with the skills we need.” Still, the project needs volunteers with specific skills, such as aircraft electricians, sheet metal mechanics, another inspector and those with radial engine experience.
From : http://www.kansas.com/2014/01/01/3206432/hopes-high-that-restored-b-29.html
for more: http://www.b-29doc.com/
the Lonesome Polecat, was raised from a Swiss lake in 1952, put on display, and scraped in the 1970's because it hindered a building development
The plane sank largely intact to the bottom of the lake, where it stayed until 1952, when it was raised, restored and exhibited around the country. In 1966, it travelled to St Gallen, where a businessman planned to build a “bomber theme park”.
This never materialised, so in 1970 the plane went on display in St Moritz. But after a few years it was blocking a building development; since no buyer could be found, it was turned into scrap metal despite being of historical value.
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/warbirds-crashed-switzerland-wwii.html
this B 17 wreck was still there in New Guinea as of 2008
known as the Gray Ghost, or the Black Cat Pass B17... full information here: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-9234.html
Friday, March 14, 2014
Soviet bomber listed (even for a moment) on Ebay
Ebay pulled the listing already, but.. I gotta say, that is one impressive aircraft
A Tu-95MS, a cruise missile launching variant of the Bear built in 1987 that was retired by the Ukrainian Air Force after only 454 hours of flight time, has been posted for sale on the auction site by a German seller. http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/sale-ebay-one-lightly-used-soviet-bear-bomber-low-mileage.html
A museum is gathering as many B 17 parts as they can to build a B17... from scraps!
Champaign Aviation Museum of Ohio volunteers are piecing together various plane parts to bring back to life a vintage aircraft from the World War II era. A piece was found under the porch of an elderly woman in the next town. Another part was bought from a bar owner who had it hanging in Colorado. Another piece was used as a prop in a TV show way back 1960. The tail section was from a wreck site in Alaska.
The dozens of volunteers are piecing together the parts like a jigsaw puzzle at a small Ohio museum. Once the project is complete, a new and airworthy model of one of the world’s most famous military planes, the World War II bomber B-17.
The volunteers are working on a vintage plane based on a collection of 28,000 original Boeing Co. blueprints which the Smithsonian Institution provided generously. And they are making history.
a teacher at a local vocational school on aviation asks his students to help in the building of the Flying Fortress. The incomplete plane can be viewed by visitors when the museum is open.
The first five pieces were from five different sources. The other parts needed and cannot be found or restored had to be made from scratch. Randy Kemp, 56 years old, serves as the project manager who oversees the fabrication of new pieces. He also takes charge of around 100 volunteers who come and go. Some even come from as far as England to volunteer for the ambitious project.
Shiffer further said that the project will cost millions. Donations and fundraisers have contributed to the completion of the plane. The museum also plans to hold a benefit dinner in April at the museum. Amanda Wright Lane, a great grandniece of Orville and Wilbur Wright will be expected to appear in the dinner to give a talk.
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/ohio-museum-volunteers-building-vintage-wwii-plane.html
Monday, March 10, 2014
B 29s on Tinian in the Marianas
Some in good shape, some not so much
found on http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=ForumsPro&file=viewtopic&t=14428&finish=15&start=0
WW2 airfields in the Pacific
Isley Field Saipan
Catalina Island
Hellcats at Tarawa
Iwo Jima airfield
Above, Iwo Jima
Found on http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=ForumsPro&file=viewtopic&t=14428&finish=15&start=0
did you hear about the B 25s that were caught in the volcanic ash fall from Mt Vesuvius in 1944?
I thought I'd posted about this some years ago, but nothing popped up when I searched for it
found on http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=ForumsPro&file=viewtopic&t=14428&finish=15&start=0
About everything there is to know about the B25... including where all of the known ones are that fly, are on display, are getting restored
All this is just a small part of the info at http://www.skytamer.com/North_American_B-25D.html
they even wrote that Indonesia was flying B25s until 1979
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