When aircraft had style plus just cool aircraft

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:40 am

The Vickers Viscount gets my vote for best looking turboprop of that era:

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:47 am

As far as turboprop airliners go I am partial to the NAMC (Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation) YS-11. To date, the YS-11 is the only successful commercial aircraft to have been manufactured by a Japanese firm, either before or after World War II. 182 were produced in total, of which 82 were exported to 15 countries. Mid Pacific Airlines was a new airline trying take away the monopoly of the two local giants Hawaiian, and Aloha Airlines. This was back in the early 1980s and with the efficiency of the turboprop this airline was always cheaper to fly so I flew them every chance I got. Something about the low rumble of a propeller (as opposed to the high pitch scream of a jet) which really gets my blood flowing. Interesting side note: Jiro Horikoshi the designer of the YS-11 also designed among other planes the famous Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter.

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:14 pm

One of my uncles was a pilot in the Imperial Japanese Army, and flew one of these the Mitsubishi Ki-46 III Dinah during the war. The Mitsubishi Ki-46 'Dinah' was the Japanese Army's main reconnaissance aircraft of the Second World War, and was one of the most aerodynamically perfect aircraft of its era. I was very fast for it's time and very few allied fighters could catch it.
My dad took part in the invasion of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines on January 9, 1945, and after the war he found out that his brother-in-law flying a Ki-46 was the pilot that spotted the invasion fleet.
I always though the Ki-46 a very nice looking aircraft.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:45 pm

The Dinah was a great looking a/c. AFA IJNAF the Aichi B7A Grace may be my favorite overall:

The painting was done by Shigeo Koike. Among other things, he did (and maybe still does) the box art for Hasegawa Models.

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:35 pm

I always liked the technology blend on this cold war era bomber.. Tu-95 Bear Looks like a B-52 with props!

Turbo engines w/ counter rotating twin props...Another noisey plane!
There's a photo I wish I could find, as it was a cold war classic photo of a Tu-95...Taken by USAF and when enlarged a Rusky can be seen in the observation blister holding up a bottle of Coke for the camera...

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:42 pm

Another view

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:51 pm

Ben_Rumson wrote:There's a photo I wish I could find, as it was a cold war classic photo of a Tu-95...Taken by USAF and when enlarged a Rusky can be seen in the observation blister holding up a bottle of Coke for the camera...

I may have that one on my home comp. I'll have to look this weekend.

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:05 pm

I alway found this plane very interesting- the Russian Tupolev Tu-4 a copy of the Boeing B-29, especially the turboprop versions.

Here's a Chinese "AWACS" version

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:37 pm

Ji,

You got a pic of the big flying boat the Japanese used during WWII? I think Yamamoto was in one that got shot down, but I'm positive.\
All I know is it was a BIG old airplane.

Joe

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 4:04 pm

Joe, Yamamoto was in a Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber outfitted for VIP work when his flight was jumped by Tex Johnson's (IIRC) P38s:

The two main Japanese flying boats were the Kawanishi H6K "Mavis":

And the Kawanishi H8K "Emily":

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 4:34 pm

awp101,
Thanks for correction my faulty memory about Yamamoto.

The aircraft I was thinking of was the Emily.

Joe

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:39 pm

The Kawanishi H8K "Emily" is widely regarded as the best flying boat of the war. Its extremely heavy defensive armament earned it deep respect among Allied pilots. 2 of these planes were involved in the little known second attack on Pearl Harbor on March 4, 1942. This was the longest distance ever undertaken by a two-plane bombing mission, and the longest bombing sortie ever planned without fighter escort. Due to heavy overcast, and a island wide blackout they were not able to see their target so one planed dropped it bomb load north of Honolulu on Mt. Tantalus nearly missing a High School (Roosevelt High in Papakolea) the other plane dropping it's bombs in the Pacific before both planes flew back to their base in the Marshall Islands. The same overcast prevented defending P-40s from locating the 2 flying boats.

Back in the early 60s when my family lived in Japan whenever my dad went to Yokosuka Navy Base to spend time on his boat he kept moored there he would always let us go visit the Kawanishi H8K Emily on display at Yokosuka park minus it's wings. It was open to visitors and I remember many times my brother and me climbing thru that plane pretending we were pilots or crew. I have pictures somewhere of me and my brother onboard that old Emily. If I find it I'll post it. An awesome plane in it's heyday.

http://www.aviastar.org/air/japan/kawanishi_h8k.php

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:44 pm

Grizz wrote:
Friends Call Me Ji wrote:Something about aircooled radial engine that gives a plane added class...

A radial engined Kitfox also a thing of beauty and function: http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/
I'll see your Kitfox and raise you a Zenair STOL 701:

Grizz

But it doesn't have a radial engine.

I think I'll take a DeHavilland Beaver (with floats of course)

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:21 pm

One of the prettiest airliners ever, La Belle Caravelle:

Oly

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:09 am

What's not to like about the Grumman F8F Bearcat?

gak · Post by **gak** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:47 am

Deleted to fix photo

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:56 am

Go ahead and watch this one full screen

:
http://vimeo.com/18135369

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:13 am

awp101 wrote:Go ahead and watch this one full screen :
http://vimeo.com/18135369

Thank you awp101. Many memories in that video. I spent alot of my childhood around the Sentimental Journey right there where the video was shot at Falcon field in Mesa. She was dilapadated back in the 70's and sat next to an old B-25.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:20 am

The B17 Chuckie is/was based not too far from me at Meacham Field. I haven't seen it out in a number of years and something in my brain keeps telling me it may have been sold or re-located while I was gone in the late 90s.

Every so often I'll see or hear a Mitchell shooting the pattern over there. I don't know if it's based there, a transient or if someone brings it there for annual service.

I need to buckle down and find my B25 books. I also need to track one down on the Air Apaches that I found online a few years ago.

The heavies had the headlines in the ETO but the work of the mediums in the PTO really fascinates me. Skip bombing...

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:23 am

Ben_Rumson wrote:I always liked the technology blend on this cold war era bomber.. Tu-95 Bear Looks like a B-52 with props! Turbo engines w/ counter rotating twin props...Another noisey plane!

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:29 am

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:39 am

gak · Post by **gak** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:05 am

C. Cash wrote:
awp101 wrote:Go ahead and watch this one full screen :
http://vimeo.com/18135369
Thank you awp101. Many memories in that video. I spent alot of my childhood around the Sentimental Journey right there where the video was shot at Falcon field in Mesa. She was dilapadated back in the 70's and sat next to an old B-25.

Same here! Spent many a day out at Falcon, air shows and just hangin' out. Used to watch the B-17s come and go in their slurry bomber duty. Home on break from school, from my folks' deck--front row seat!--in the foothills of the Superstitions, used to watch the 17s bank in very close to the mountain face to drop their load on fires. As a former B-17 pilot, I think those experiences left a lump in my father's throat, though he did his best to conceal it! He loved seeing the old birds fly again, and of course a thrill for me to see as well as enjoy expert narration. When allowed to reminisce in the pilot's seat of one 17 at Falcon (may have been Sentimental)--it was fully fitted, but painted not the present-day shiny bare aluminum--he told me it'd take him about 5 minutes of re-familiarization to taxi that plane and take off! I had no doubt.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:11 am

awp101,

Boy howdy that Ruskie bird has long legs!

That pic is now my desktop picture.

Joe

GonnePhishin · Post by **GonnePhishin** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:21 am

Here's another one for 'ya:

Republic XP-72, with a top speed of 500mph in level flight. Had it gone into production it would have been the fastest piston engined fighter in the world

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:23 am

Joe, I've got more on my desktop at home. I'll try and make an album to post this weekend.

FWIW this is the background on my work 'puter:

_AJM5551-2.jpg

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:12 pm

gak wrote:
C. Cash wrote:
awp101 wrote:Go ahead and watch this one full screen :
http://vimeo.com/18135369
Thank you awp101. Many memories in that video. I spent alot of my childhood around the Sentimental Journey right there where the video was shot at Falcon field in Mesa. She was dilapadated back in the 70's and sat next to an old B-25.
Same here! Spent many a day out at Falcon, air shows and just hangin' out. Used to watch the B-17s come and go in their slurry bomber duty. Home on break from school, from my folks' deck--front row seat!--in the foothills of the Superstitions, used to watch the 17s bank in very close to the mountain face to drop their load on fires. As a former B-17 pilot, I think those experiences left a lump in my father's throat, though he did his best to conceal it! He loved seeing the old birds fly again, and of course a thrill for me to see as well as enjoy expert narration. When allowed to reminisce in the pilot's seat of one 17 at Falcon (may have been Sentimental)--it was fully fitted, but painted not the present-day shiny bare aluminum--he told me it'd take him about 5 minutes of re-familiarization to taxi that plane and take off! I had no doubt.

Very cool gak! We may have crossed paths there. Remember the Constellations out there, and the big Sikorsky's? We lived over near the old Skaggs/Utotem, but my Dad flew for Don Gunnerson out there at Falcon and so was always out there and down at Chandler airfield. The Constellation that crashed on approach came right over our house in a ball of fire....remember that very vividly. By the time we jumped in the truck and had a clear view, there was already smoke coming from the airport. http://www.arizonawrecks.com/visitthewr ... onnie.html
That is neat about your Dad and the 17's. God Bless him and those like him!

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:06 am

awp101 wrote:

She's sure got an attitude. But I'll see your Bear and raise you a Peacemaker

:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruE8yhkHke8

gak · Post by **gak** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:49 am

C. Cash wrote:
Very cool gak! We may have crossed paths there. Remember the Constellations out there, and the big Sikorsky's? We lived over near the old Skaggs/Utotem, but my Dad flew for Don Gunnerson out there at Falcon and so was always out there and down at Chandler airfield. The Constellation that crashed on approach came right over our house in a ball of fire....remember that very vividly. By the time we jumped in the truck and had a clear view, there was already smoke coming from the airport. http://www.arizonawrecks.com/visitthewr ... onnie.html
That is neat about your Dad and the 17's. God Bless him and those like him!

Thanks! He was a pilot through and through. The last eight or ten years of service was mostly desk duty--very high responsibility and he excelled as he did his pilot duty, but desk nonetheless and it rankled him.
I do remember the Connies, and recollection of a crash. I'm bringing up the link right now.
Speaking of...I was at the "Transpo '72" -- huge international transportation expo and air show - at Dulles when one of the Thunderbirds crashed his F4. Huge ball of fire and sadly the pilot did not survive (I think ejected successfully but got drawn into the mess). I wasn't that far away, and while it crashed away from the crowd--just beyond IIRC--from my perspective it looked like they were in deep trouble. I remember thinking it was one of the British Red Arrows - as they were flying there around the same time also.

Oh yes, I think I do remember Sikorskies.
Great to hear from an ol' Falconite! I'm overdue a re-visit!

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 12:04 pm

The unmistakeable sound of style and panache. She flew over my house a couple years ago.

Sentimental Journey 1.JPG

Sentimental Journey 2.JPG

Sentimental Journey large_web.jpg

Someday I want to be able to afford to take a flight in this airplane.

Joe

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:05 pm

awp101 wrote:
Ben_Rumson wrote:I always liked the technology blend on this cold war era bomber.. Tu-95 Bear Looks like a B-52 with props! Turbo engines w/ counter rotating twin props...Another noisey plane!

The Bear really was amazing. Those counter rotating props spun very slowly and that aircraft was capable of normal military jet cargo aircraft Mach speeds (look at that swept wing). With PROPS!! Makes me smile every time.

My hat is definitely off to the outstanding Cold War era Soviet aerospace design teams. They really were innovative and some of the Soviet aircraft are just flat out fascinating.

I see the big Antonov AN-124 out and about quite a lot and it's always a joy to watch one take off. The engines on the B-777 are so large that there just aren't many ways to transport them (they are larger around than the fuselage of a B-707 or B-757 for example). I'm told that one often used method is contracting with Volga-Dnepr to move them via AN-124.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Antonov_An-124.jpg

Cheers,
Oly

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:32 pm

Not that my cranky old box will cooperate and play it, but does any body have a link to videos of the Tu-95 Bear?

Joe

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:45 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMb9OmXDj4g

txpete · Post by **txpete** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 5:23 pm

the biggest plane I have flown in and you can take your "ride" with you

kasTX · Post by **kasTX** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:58 pm

Grizz wrote:
A-20 was his visceral favorite strictly in terms of a fun, "natural flyer."
gak: A-20 ???

My Dad was a test pilot for Douglas and flew A-20s off the line in Dagget. Lots of trips to the coast to clear the machine guns, with some antics only funny to pilots thrown in...

I was reading his logs and saw that he did a lot of ferry work and vip trips in DC-3s.

Where did your Dad work? It's possible they crossed flight paths somewhere.

Have you been in AZ long enough to remember Bonanza Airlines? Dad was Chief pilot there for a lot of years, were you around then?

Grizz

Well that's interesting. My grandfather flew A-20s and A-26s off the assembly line for Doublas during the war. I understand he was fond of the A-20 as well. My father has memories of him buzzing the ranch in one. He also flew old N30000 (DC-3) between Los Angeles and Chicago.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:46 am

kasTX wrote:
Grizz wrote:
A-20 was his visceral favorite strictly in terms of a fun, "natural flyer."
gak: A-20 ???

My Dad was a test pilot for Douglas and flew A-20s off the line in Dagget. Lots of trips to the coast to clear the machine guns, with some antics only funny to pilots thrown in...

I was reading his logs and saw that he did a lot of ferry work and vip trips in DC-3s.

Where did your Dad work? It's possible they crossed flight paths somewhere.

Have you been in AZ long enough to remember Bonanza Airlines? Dad was Chief pilot there for a lot of years, were you around then?

Grizz
Well that's interesting. My grandfather flew A-20s and A-26s off the assembly line for Doublas during the war. I understand he was fond of the A-20 as well. My father has memories of him buzzing the ranch in one. He also flew old N30000 (DC-3) between Los Angeles and Chicago.

Do you know which plant he worked at? Dad worked at Daggett CA.

What did your grandad do after the war, did he fly for airlines?

It's possible those two knew each other.

Grizz

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:44 am

txpete wrote:the biggest plane I have flown in and you can take your "ride" with you

I know there are Soviet planes that are bigger, but still the "King" in my book.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:25 pm

Ben_Rumson wrote:There's a photo I wish I could find, as it was a cold war classic photo of a Tu-95...Taken by USAF and when enlarged a Rusky can be seen in the observation blister holding up a bottle of Coke for the camera...

I couldn't find it on my home comp, I might have seen it in one of my books. Not sure when I can get to those...

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:53 pm

Thanks for checking!

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:25 am

Fast forward to 2:25 to see tail gunner waving at F-15 pilots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMb9OmXDj4g

Newtmaker · Post by **Newtmaker** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:53 am

When I was the Photo Officer on the USS Enterprise we equipped most of the fighter and attack pilots with 35mm cameras to use for "targets of opportunity." The Bear overflights were especially interesting and many good photo's ensued over the two years I was on board. Most memorable was a tailgunner holding up a can of Pepsi and Coke

In today's digital era and everybody having their own camera gear, I am sure there are untold volums of pics and movies out there that they probably cannot share for very obvious reasons!

Walt

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:14 pm

P51 and Spit:
http://youtu.be/HOm4nOTHMlc

kasTX · Post by **kasTX** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:19 pm

Do you know which plant he worked at? Dad worked at Daggett CA.

What did your grandad do after the war, did he fly for airlines?

It's possible those two knew each other.

Grizz

It turns out my grandfather flew out of Santa Monica. He did not fly for the airlines after the war. He ended up with Douglas because he was one of the few people that had multi-engine experience before the war.

So the two may not have flown out of the same airport, but it is interesting that they both flew VIP transport. My grandfather flew N30000 (Douglas VIP transport) which was apparently something of an institution in the company, though I don't know why. You can check your father's logbook for that N-number. My grandfather's last name was Scott, in case you find that in the logbook.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:47 pm

Thanks for that info. The plane you referred to is civilian with the N designation. The planes Dad flew had the military designations, C54x and A20 were the main ones. Even the ones marked 'special', which I guess might be passenger transportation, are all in military designated aircraft.

Somewhere I have a Douglas org-chart that shows Dad in the flight test dept. I don't know where it is but if I find your Gramp's name on it I'll try to remember to copy it to you.

Thanks again for the update. Very fun stuff to discover.

Grizz

kasTX · Post by **kasTX** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:42 pm

Out of curiosity I did a search on N30000 and found this:

http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2005 ... ic-number/

So you father could have flown that airplane after all! Strange stuff.

I would really like to see that roster of the Douglas flight test department. My grandfather lived a very interesting life and seemed to be surrounded by an equally interesting group of people. My father may remember some of the names.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:41 am

Douglas DC-6

(Not bad for my 4000th post...

)

GonnePhishin · Post by **GonnePhishin** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:14 am

awp101,

I have an Uncle who used to fly DC-6's and DC-7's for Universal and Zantop airlines out of Ypsalanti Michigan back in the late 1960's and early 70's. He used to say they were pretty dependable and rugged airplanes to fly.
Jets are nice but IMO nothing compares to a piston engined airplane first coughing and starting up.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 11:10 am

hey kasTX

thanks so much for that link. aircraft live interesting lives, if such can be ascribed to an aircraft. kind of like boats that way. Pilots loved the 3, but they also love speed, at least my Dad did. There was never such a thing as too fast.

I would really like to see that roster of the Douglas flight test department. My grandfather lived a very interesting life and seemed to be surrounded by an equally interesting group of people. My father may remember some of the names.

I will copy you with that when I re-discover its whereabouts.

Regards,
Grizz

gak · Post by **gak** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 11:17 am

The DC-6 (later joined by the 7) was the main workhorse for United and Pan Am, etc., in the 50s, while TWA focused on the Constellation. The 6 was also the main military transport well into the 60's. In 1962, when I was eight, our family flew to Japan (where my father had already been for nine months) in the Air Force variant C-118. Facing backwards in paratroop jump seats, a/c on the fritz, 36 hours from Travis AFB (near the Bay Area) to Tokyo, with brief refueling stops in Honolulu and Wake Is. What a trip. Family was miserable, I was in seventh (sixth?) heaven!

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:19 pm

Got drafted into the Army 1967...Flew up to Ft Hood from Central CA in a non military DC 6...My first flight in an "Airliner"...