Airplanes

[St. Helens]

Collecting models of them and drawing them is my hobby.

This thread is for those who enjoy the topic of aviation - military or civilian. I noticed there isn't really any threads here on this topic.

You can share links to articles if you want as long as they don't contain any profanity.

 

[Valletta]

Collecting models of them and drawing them is my hobby.

This thread is for those who enjoy the topic of aviation - military or civilian. I noticed there isn't really any threads here on this topic.

You can share links to articles if you want as long as they don't contain any profanity.

I have been privileged to meet some incredibly brave pilots. There was a small private gathering in my state and I was able to meet General Robbie Risner. There were a number of pilots there and they were in awe of him, he performed one of the greatest feats of aerial bravery I am aware of. He was a great promoter of determining the fate of missing pilots. There is a recent outstanding book called "Finding David," Risner was the commander of the missing pilot highlighted in the book.

 

[Michie]

Collecting models of them and drawing them is my hobby.

This thread is for those who enjoy the topic of aviation - military or civilian. I noticed there isn't really any threads here on this topic.

You can share links to articles if you want as long as they don't contain any profanity.

We have Air Force veterans in the family. Would love to hear your stories.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

While in the Military I was in Missile Systems. We targeted and loaded the launch codes into the Minuteman III missiles in Minot AFB.
I have been looking for a model of the missile for some years. Maybe even the LF (launch facility).
I may end up making my own.

 

[St. Helens]

I am a Navy veteran, I actually repaired aircraft. The one in particular that I worked on was the A-6 intruder.
These two aircraft are from the squadron I was in - the VA-128 Golden Indruders.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

I love airplanes and would love to learn to fly but being diabetic, that's unrealistic now. I used to build WW2 planes and I devoured WW2 flying history books.

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

I am a Navy veteran, I actually repaired aircraft. The one in particular that I worked on was the A-6 intruder.
These two aircraft are from the squadron I was in - the VA-128 Golden Indruders.
View attachment 310519

I love the photo! it must have been hard, but rewarding, work, working on the Intruders.

 

[St. Helens]

I found it dirty but rewarding to work on the A-6. The A-6 was not a glamor girl like the F-14. The A-6 was old by the time I came on the scene in 1991 after have just finished the A-6 framp school at NAS Whidbey Island. She was a leaky aircraft. I was an Avionics technician. One of my jobs was inspecting the navigation radar - the doppler that was on the underbelly. It folded out in an assembly called the 'birdcage'. I had to wipe out the doppler radome of the oils and hydraulic fluid that puddled there.

 

[disciple Clint]

Collecting models of them and drawing them is my hobby.

This thread is for those who enjoy the topic of aviation - military or civilian. I noticed there isn't really any threads here on this topic.

You can share links to articles if you want as long as they don't contain any profanity.

I wished I still had the model I built of the Grumman F9F Panther, as a kid I hung it from the ceiling of my room and dreamed of the day I would become a Blue Angel.

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

I found it dirty but rewarding to work on the A-6. The A-6 was not a glamor girl like the F-14. The A-6 was old by the time I came on the scene in 1991 after have just finished the A-6 framp school at NAS Whidbey Island. She was a leaky aircraft. I was an Avionics technician. One of my jobs was inspecting the navigation radar - the doppler that was on the underbelly. It folded out in an assembly called the 'birdcage'. I had to wipe out the doppler radome of the oils and hydraulic fluid that puddled there.

That sounds really messy, and I wouldn't be surprised if the oils and hydraulic fluid stank too. Since the A-6 was old when you worked on her, I'm guessing that the radar was quirky, and tricky to get working right.

 

[St. Helens]

She was a quirky plane after making hundreds of carrier traps. That was hard on an aircraft.

 

[St. Helens]

Trapping is very hard on a jet.

It is a controlled crash. Soon the airframe developed leaks along the seams. We used to say that if she didn't leak she was empty!

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

Ouch! When I watch YouTube videos of carrier traps, I wince at how rough they look! I think that what you said about the jet being empty if she isn't leaking fits for the Tomcat as well as the Intruder, from what I've read.

I've read too about how Navy aircraft have much beefier landing gear and tailhooks, and beefed-up airframes, to handle the stresses of cat shots and traps.

 

[JustSomeBloke]

SR-71 Blackbird Launch

 

[JustSomeBloke]

Wright Brothers First Flight, 1903

 

[GreekOrthodox]

Has anyone taken a "pilot a jet fighter" bucket list flight?

Fly a fighter jet

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

Has anyone taken a "pilot a jet fighter" bucket list flight?

Fly a fighter jet

I haven't; I don't think I could handle the G forces!

 

[Wyatt A.]

I've had that airplane doing circles for the last couple of days and also got that helicopter. You can kind of see in one of the pictures a big dark spot on the bottom of one of the wings. Looks like carbon. I can see it better in other pictures I took. Is that a Herculese?

 

[Valletta]

I wished I still had the model I built of the Grumman F9F Panther, as a kid I hung it from the ceiling of my room and dreamed of the day I would become a Blue Angel.

Don't forget Blue Angel Harley Hall, say some prayers for him and for his family. There was a report of a Blue Angel being paraded through the streets of Hanoi, and the government "effort" to find out what happened to him is a disgrace.

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

I've had that airplane doing circles for the last couple of days and also got that helicopter. You can kind of see in one of the pictures a big dark spot on the bottom of one of the wings. Looks like carbon. I can see it better in other pictures I took. Is that a Herculese?

View attachment 316137 View attachment 316138 View attachment 316139

I'm not very good at ID'ing transport aircraft or helicopters (I'm much better at fighter jets), but I think that plane could well be a Hercules. I think the dark spot on the wing could be the US Air Force roundel in low vis colours:

Unfortunately, I can't help with identifying the helicopter; sorry!