Aircraft Pic & Vid Thread

[Swampfox762]

Major Charles J. Loring, Jr.

Major Loring was from Portland, Maine. A fellow New Englander and we are so proud of him. Loring AFB (no longer active) is named for him. Sad to say, that means we know where this story is going.

Late in the morning of November 22, 1952, Loring led a flight of four F-80s on patrol over Kunwha. Upon radioing a forward air controller, he was told a T-6 Texan flying over Sniper Ridge had spotted a concentration of artillery near the ridge which was pinning down UN ground troops on the ridge. He was also told the artillery concentration was surrounded by a heavy presence of anti-aircraft guns. Loring ordered the flight to the location, spotting the artillery concentration.

Immediately after Loring began his dive bombing run, he was spotted by the anti-aircraft batteries. The Chinese crews operating them were highly skilled, and even at a distance, the batteries fired an extremely accurate barrage which struck Loring's aircraft several times on the nose and fuselage. The fire disabled the aircraft. His wingmen, noting the damage, suggested he abort the bombing mission, as the flight was not far behind the lines and Loring's aircraft could have attempted the return trip. Instead, Loring ceased radio contact, and resumed what appeared to be the standard bombing mission. At 4,000 feet (1,200 m), however, Loring accelerated his aircraft at a 40-degree angle in what appeared to be a controlled maneuver, lining up the Chinese batteries. The other pilots reported they watched, stunned, as Loring dove his damaged aircraft into the battery position. Loring was killed instantly in the impact, but his action resulted in the complete destruction of the battery position.

Edited February 16, 2021 by Swampfox762

[Swampfox762]

"Night Witches" is the English translation of Nachthexen, a World War II German nickname, for the female military aviators of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, known later as the 46th "Taman" Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, of the Soviet Air Forces. The regiment was formed by Colonel Marina Raskova and led by Major Yevdokia Bershanskaya.

The regiment flew harassment bombing and precision bombing missions against the German military from 1942 to the end of the war. At its largest size, it had 40 two-person crews. It flew over 23,000 sorties and is said to have dropped 23,000 tons of bombs. It was the most highly-decorated female unit in the Soviet Air Force, each pilot having flown over 800 missions by the end of the war and twenty-three having been awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union title. Thirty of its members died in combat.

[Paul53]

Curious about what's happening here. Wings in the low and slow position, flaps and slats deployed, but are the afterburners on?

[GT4494]

The "dirtier" the airplane is, the more power it takes to keep it in the air...  

[Al Czervik]

1 hour ago, Paul53 said:

Curious about what's happening here. Wings in the low and slow position, flaps and slats deployed, but are the afterburners on?

Pretty normal for the aircraft to be so configured at the end of the runway on takeoff with the gear all put away.

[Al Czervik]

[Al Czervik]

[gwalchmai]

8 hours ago, Al Czervik said:

That shows how versatile Mitchell's design was. That Gryffin has over twice the power as the Spit's original engine. 

[Swampfox762]

[Swampfox762]

[Swampfox762]

[NPTim]

On 2/15/2021 at 11:06 AM, Swampfox762 said:

Pardon me, taco bell.

[Swampfox762]

Bill Dana

• 5 rocket plane 16 times from 1965 to 1968.
• In 48 years as a test pilot, he flew more than 8,000 hours in 60-plus aircraft.
• He reached a speed of 3,897 mph and an altitude of 306,900 feet in the X-15.
• This great height — nearly 59 miles high — technically qualified him for the Astronaut Badge, although he was not formally recognized as an astronaut until 2005.
• He once said, “The horizon appeared as a ring of bright blue around the shell of the earth, with darkness above. I knew I’d gotten all the altitude I needed to qualify as a space adventurer.”
• Dana is survived by his wife, Judi, whom he married in 1962, and four children: Sidney, Matt, Janet and Leslie.

Edited February 17, 2021 by Swampfox762

[Swampfox762]

[Swampfox762]

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[Swampfox762]

General Airborne Transport XCG-16

[Swampfox762]

Potez 630

[Swampfox762]

[Swampfox762]

[Swampfox762]

The lockheed WTF

[Swampfox762]

Northrop HL-10

[Swampfox762]

[Swampfox762]

[Swampfox762]