In the 1950s, Boeing's 707 was not the only four-jet commercial aircraft to enter service. Convair also competed with the 880 and 990 models and Douglas sold DC-8s. In the end, the 707 dominated the market. Not many of the competitors still fly, but NASA has flown a DC-8 for many years. It is now a relic of a previous age and just retired. Note that NASA's DC-8 has been upgraded with more modern turbofans.
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Always been a fan of the Shrike Commanders when it comes to small or regional planes. Friends ran the Taylor, AZ airport and had some they operated as a regional fleet. First plane I even got behind the controls of, even if it was just the yoke as I couldn't reach the pedals.
Llarry wroteIIRC, once the DC8 got to 220kts it could hold it until the OM. The kicker was it took forever to get down to 220.In the 1950s, Boeing's 707 was not the only four-jet commercial aircraft to enter service. Convair also competed with the 880 and 990 models and Douglas sold DC-8s. In the end, the 707 dominated the market. Not many of the competitors still fly, but NASA has flown a DC-8 for many years. It is now a relic of a previous age and just retired. Note that NASA's DC-8 has been upgraded with more modern turbofans.
NIevo wroteI had the privilege of watching Bob Hoover perform his aerobatic routineAlways been a fan of the Shrike Commanders when it comes to small or regional planes. Friends ran the Taylor, AZ airport and had some they operated as a regional fleet. First plane I even got behind the controls of, even if it was just the yoke as I couldn't reach the pedals.
in his Shrike at the Reno Air Races back in the mid ‘90’s.
For years the U.S. Air Force has announced plans to retire the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, only to delay the retirement. Unlike space-based recon systems, the U-2 can easily change its coverage, although it is vulnerable to modern high-performance surface-to-air missiles. But at the altitudes that it flies (over 70,000 feet) is can also cover items of interest from afar.
I was surprised to read in the annual almanac of the Air Force Association that the USAF intends to retire the U-2S this year. I would not be surprised if a few aircraft are somehow kept active for special situations, but perhaps this time they really mean it.
The U-2 force is relatively small: 27 single-seat U-2S aircraft and 4 twin-seat TU-2S training aircraft.
If this really is finis, the Dragon Lady will be greatly missed.
I was surprised to read in the annual almanac of the Air Force Association that the USAF intends to retire the U-2S this year. I would not be surprised if a few aircraft are somehow kept active for special situations, but perhaps this time they really mean it.
The U-2 force is relatively small: 27 single-seat U-2S aircraft and 4 twin-seat TU-2S training aircraft.
If this really is finis, the Dragon Lady will be greatly missed.
Llarry wroteFlew on DC-8 to Dhahran SA back in 1994 from Rhein Mein direct. Loud and if I remember it was reasonably quick. Not Convair 880 quick but that had no legs if memory serves me. I spent too much time in SA from 90-94. Leaving I took a cush Gucci Loafer flight to Rhein Mein. Loved being kicked back on a KC-10.In the 1950s, Boeing's 707 was not the only four-jet commercial aircraft to enter service. Convair also competed with the 880 and 990 models and Douglas sold DC-8s. In the end, the 707 dominated the market. Not many of the competitors still fly, but NASA has flown a DC-8 for many years. It is now a relic of a previous age and just retired. Note that NASA's DC-8 has been upgraded with more modern turbofans.
A couple of months ago, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider conducted inflight refueling with a KC-135R tanker. There are now two B-21s flying. They are planned to be updated to production configuration once the flight test program is complete.
While official sources have revealed very little about the aircraft, unofficial estimates include: length 54 feet and span 145-155 feet. Empty weight 70,000 pounds and max takeoff weight 180,000 pounds. Power is provided by two Pratt & Whitney PW9000 turbofans -- rated at 27,000 pounds of thrust each and providing better fuel economy that the 1980s four-engined B-2A. There is a single weapons bay that carry up to 20,000 pounds of conventional or nuclear weapons.
The first delivery to the USAF Global Strike Command is scheduled for next year. B-21s are scheduled to replace B-1Bs at Ellsworth AFB, North Dakota, and Dyess AFB, Texas and ultimately will replace the B-2As at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. The USAF hopes to be able to afford at least 100 and as many as 145 B-21s, in which case they may ultimately replace B-52s as well.
While the B-21 can carry a variety of weapons, it appears that the primary strategic armament will be the new AGM-181 Long Range Standoff Weapons (LRSO), which has a nuclear warhead and a range of about 1,500 miles.
Meanwhile, testing of the new upgraded B-52J suffered a setback recently when the B-52H that was testing the J model's new radar crashed, killing all aboard. The replacement F130 engines have yet to fly on the B-52. The plan is to retain two units with B-52Js at Minot AFB, North Dakota, and Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
While official sources have revealed very little about the aircraft, unofficial estimates include: length 54 feet and span 145-155 feet. Empty weight 70,000 pounds and max takeoff weight 180,000 pounds. Power is provided by two Pratt & Whitney PW9000 turbofans -- rated at 27,000 pounds of thrust each and providing better fuel economy that the 1980s four-engined B-2A. There is a single weapons bay that carry up to 20,000 pounds of conventional or nuclear weapons.
The first delivery to the USAF Global Strike Command is scheduled for next year. B-21s are scheduled to replace B-1Bs at Ellsworth AFB, North Dakota, and Dyess AFB, Texas and ultimately will replace the B-2As at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. The USAF hopes to be able to afford at least 100 and as many as 145 B-21s, in which case they may ultimately replace B-52s as well.
While the B-21 can carry a variety of weapons, it appears that the primary strategic armament will be the new AGM-181 Long Range Standoff Weapons (LRSO), which has a nuclear warhead and a range of about 1,500 miles.
Meanwhile, testing of the new upgraded B-52J suffered a setback recently when the B-52H that was testing the J model's new radar crashed, killing all aboard. The replacement F130 engines have yet to fly on the B-52. The plan is to retain two units with B-52Js at Minot AFB, North Dakota, and Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
F22 vs KC46A Enlisted Boomer gets screwed. Anyone else have any thoughts on this event.
M-technik-3 wroteThe report mentioned that the boom operator put the boom in an outF22 vs KC46A Enlisted Boomer gets screwed. Anyone else have any thoughts on this event.
of trim condition, resulting in the boom striking his KC46A after the
boom disconnected from the F-22. Sounds like remedial training
event. 🤔
It sounded like they had issues from the start with a hydraulic issue and should not have performed an AR at all. I don't know their MEL so I can't speak if it was allowed.
It's the end of an era in U.S. naval aviation as the Grumman C-2A Greyhound is retired. The last carrier landing by the type took place on June 26th aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN 68), itself facing imminent retirement. Transport duties to and from carriers at sea will now be exclusively performed by CMV-22B tiltrotor aircraft.
The C-2A has been in service since the 1960s.
The C-2A has been in service since the 1960s.
Llarry wroteFunnily enough, my FO today was a COD driver who got out a couple of years ago and got hired by us.It's the end of an era in U.S. naval aviation as the Grumman C-2A Greyhound is retired. The last carrier landing by the type took place on June 26th aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN 68), itself facing imminent retirement. Transport duties to and from carriers at sea will now be exclusively performed by CMV-22B tiltrotor aircraft.
The C-2A has been in service since the 1960s.
We were discussing the COD and the Osprey taking over today and he mentioned that the carrier fini-flight was yesterday, with the final flight sometime next month.
He was..... not super impressed with the Osprey.
Can't say that I blame him.
R.
We took a short road trip for dinner this afternoon, and went to a place called Flight Deck Restaurant in Lexington, SC. I had a good ribeye steak with collard greens, but am posting about it here because I was so astonished by this restaurant's *huge* collection of aircraft models and memorabilia that I forgot to take a picture of my dinner!
Embedded in epoxy in our table was a patch for the 465th Tactical Training Squadron and a brief B-17 history:
A few samples of some framed photos:
I could get lost in this place for hours, because it's like a museum of everything aviation.....
Embedded in epoxy in our table was a patch for the 465th Tactical Training Squadron and a brief B-17 history:
A few samples of some framed photos:
I could get lost in this place for hours, because it's like a museum of everything aviation.....
A line-up of shiny stealth fighters is impressive, whether parked in a long row or taxiing in an "elephant walk'.
But how many of those many aircraft can actually takeoff and engage in the mission? Ah, that's a different matter.
The Government Accountability Office reports that quite a few F-35s of all services are not fully mission capable. In fact, some recent F-35s have been delivered to the services without their advanced APG-85 radars, making those aircraft little more than airfield decorations.
The GAO reports that the USAF is doing better than the Marines or Navy in keeping their F-35s fully mission-capable, but none of the services seems to be doing well. The Air Force has 500 total "operational" F-35As, but a 30 percent FMC rate means that only about 150 of those are available for combat missions at any given time!
But how many of those many aircraft can actually takeoff and engage in the mission? Ah, that's a different matter.
The Government Accountability Office reports that quite a few F-35s of all services are not fully mission capable. In fact, some recent F-35s have been delivered to the services without their advanced APG-85 radars, making those aircraft little more than airfield decorations.
The GAO reports that the USAF is doing better than the Marines or Navy in keeping their F-35s fully mission-capable, but none of the services seems to be doing well. The Air Force has 500 total "operational" F-35As, but a 30 percent FMC rate means that only about 150 of those are available for combat missions at any given time!
That's not impressive. My question is why are we taking delivery of jets that are not completed? Never mind google took care of it. APG-81 outdated and possibility of 300 jets being delivered with ballast vs radar.
Llarry wroteI see Ospreys around here quite often. Actually, I can hear them comingIt's the end of an era in U.S. naval aviation as the Grumman C-2A Greyhound is retired. The last carrier landing by the type took place on June 26th aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN 68), itself facing imminent retirement. Transport duties to and from carriers at sea will now be exclusively performed by CMV-22B tiltrotor aircraft.
The C-2A has been in service since the 1960s.
long before I see them. Given their poor accident record, I would not fly
on one.
Talk about freaky coincidence. This news story popped up a few hours ago, and immediately caught my attention:
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15959187/Student-pilot-instructor-leaps-Argentina.html
Anyway, the reason why this caught my attention was that my old man owned a Cessna 150 over fifty years ago, and the last time I queried the tail number that plane was de-registered and exported to Argentina...where this incident took place! I had to do an hour's worth of digging on the web to find the serial number of my old man's plane and its new Argentina tail number, and this was not his plane.
Condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the pilot.....
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15959187/Student-pilot-instructor-leaps-Argentina.html
Anyway, the reason why this caught my attention was that my old man owned a Cessna 150 over fifty years ago, and the last time I queried the tail number that plane was de-registered and exported to Argentina...where this incident took place! I had to do an hour's worth of digging on the web to find the serial number of my old man's plane and its new Argentina tail number, and this was not his plane.
Condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the pilot.....
Earlier today: "Greek F-16 fighter jet crash-lands at busy Zakynthos airport" (ZTH). Pilot is safe (climbed outside the cockpit post landing – footage shows him walking towards a van). No landing gear could be deployed. Distress situation (onboard fire - technical fault).
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrxz18720eo
Crash zone caution: risk of H-70 release (hydrazine is a volatile and highly toxic monopropellant used in the Emergency Power Unit (EPU) of F-16 aircraft).
0:10 - 0:45: pilot walking away from the accident:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrxz18720eo
Crash zone caution: risk of H-70 release (hydrazine is a volatile and highly toxic monopropellant used in the Emergency Power Unit (EPU) of F-16 aircraft).
0:10 - 0:45: pilot walking away from the accident:
In late 2023, NATO announced a plan to replace their vintage E-3A AWACS aircraft with six Boeing E-7A Wedgetails. This year they have revisited that decision and now plan to replace the E-3s with up to ten SAAB GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft. The GlobalEye is based on the Bombardier 6000/6500 airframe and NATO hopes to take delivery of the GlobalEye and retire the E-3 as early as 2030.
Llarry wroteI wonder if this is in response to Sweden finally joining NATO in 2024?????In late 2023, NATO announced a plan to replace their vintage E-3A AWACS aircraft with six Boeing E-7A Wedgetails. This year they have revisited that decision and now plan to replace the E-3s with up to ten SAAB GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft.
vreihen16 wroteI think that could very well be so. In addition, rocky relations with the USA might be impacting the situation.Llarry wroteI wonder if this is in response to Sweden finally joining NATO in 2024?????In late 2023, NATO announced a plan to replace their vintage E-3A AWACS aircraft with six Boeing E-7A Wedgetails. This year they have revisited that decision and now plan to replace the E-3s with up to ten SAAB GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft.
...plus Boeing not even being able to deliver a pizza on-time recently.....
