The General Airplane Thread

[ScottPuss20]

I'm going to the Avalon Airshow again this year, should be fun if the weather isn't crap.

 

[Carlos]

It's funny where one's photos might turn up!

Very cool! Delft is only a few miles from here I know some guys from previous school who went there to study airplanes (mechanics).

I'm going to Spangdahlem next week if weather is okay. 12 Warthogs should arrive there soon so going to try and take photos of them

 

[Carlos]

A-10 emergency landing at Schiphol Airport. Hydraulic problems they say. First time A-10 at Schiphol?

They better fix it fast otherwise I have two A-10's less to spot next week in Spangdahlem.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Went to see The Theory of Everything and spotted the famous Casino Royale 747 in the background of one of the shots due to its twin-mounted engines.

I could almost say that was the highlight of the movie!

 

[ScottPuss20]

I'm going to the Avalon Airshow again this year, should be fun if the weather isn't crap.

Few highlights from 2013-

 

[Carlos]

@CLowndes888 Where are the other highlights?

 

[GTP_Nail]

A fellow racer, @euclid58 , just linked me this thread, knowing my background. I have just spent two hours catching up with two years of you posts....pretty impressive. I'll add personal pix from years ago from time to time. I am an ex USAF FAC (OV-10), Tanker Driver (KC-135) and what we jokingly called a Phantom Phyler (F4E).

This is an OV recently restored by a retired fellow FAC that flew with me in SEA in '73. The bird was a gutted frame that arrived on two trucks from the California CDF who flys them as Fire Directors (Fire FACs) during forest fires. This one was a pile of bits on the ramp that had been k-balled until there were no worthy spares left in it. The restoration/re-manufacture was accomplished by retired and off duty USAF and civillians at Hill AFB in Utah and took, I think, three years.

If you look closely, my "Bud's" name is on the rail. When they finished the job they all voted to put his name on it because, not only was he a damn good scrounger of bits for the birds, but he flew her (as did I ) in Combat in Laos and Cambodia.
Attaboy to (then) Captain Randy Roberts, Nail-38.

Of course we never saw one that looked this pretty....

 

[Carlos]

Awesome to see such planes restored! Post more photos if you want 👍

I think I have seen such a plane last year on an air show.

Looking forward to your photos @Nail-27 !

 

[aerolite]

Too funny Ned, @Nail-27 JT @euclid58 linked me to this thread as well and I have just spent time going through every page as well and was going to tell you about it!

Great pics and stories guys but it seems the thread is predominately airliners and fighters, there has to be some General Aviation (read small airplane) fans out there. I run a business in Ont. Canada (www.aeroliteflight.ca) where I build experimental kit airplanes for customers. I've been a Tool&Diemaker for 34 years and also manufacture parts for the aviation industry. I fly for recreation and am fortunate to get to fly in many different types.

I'll start off my first post with a video that takes you back to that magical time when you first leave the earth in a simple flying machine, enjoy!

 

[ExigeEvan]

@CLowndes888 - Great pictures! Wish we had blue skies like that at RIAT and Farnborough!

 

[GTP_Nail]

Awesome to see such planes restored! Post more photos if you want 👍

I think I have seen such a plane last year on an air show.

Looking forward to your photos @Nail-27 !

That is a German Air Force OV that was use for target towing. There was also a model with a baby jet on the wing top behind the cockpit called the OV-10 BZ. The Cargo bay door was clear plastic and a tow operator sat in the cargo compartment controlling the target.
To my knowledge they were never used for anything else other than Liason. I was a FAC with the 20th Tass with Sembach in the summer of 78 flying the same planes that were returned from Thailand in fall of 75. During the tour I got bounced by a Luftwaffe B model while I was sight seeing along the Rhine..we went two turns..he waggled his wings and broke off.
Notice no sponsons. I wonder if that is a repainted USAF 230 drop tank or a special one for the B.
I had heard that one or two of them were doing the European show circuit...great to see one still flying. It was, without doubt, the most fun plane I ever flew, and the combat mission in Cambodia in that baby fighter was the BEST tour I had....ever.

 

[GTP_Nail]

Picture from the past for today. This is actually a picture taken by a USAF Combat Photog in @1970. I have a framed print on the wall in the " I love me Room" (Military version of a man cave...lol)

Taken leaning around the front ejection seat with a big fisheye. It really shows the GREAT vis from the OV cockpit.

 

[aerolite]

@Nail-27 Ned, if your -27 and your bud is -38, what does Nail stand for? Or is that top secret

 

[Swagger897]

So I took my sister's GoPro up in the air with the same friend of the rental 172. I would post it but it's an hour long and corrupted.....

Anyways, here is my best (The original is almost 1/10 a gig):

 

[GregTheStig]

Not sure if this has ever been posted here before, but this one has been making its way around the interwebs recently.

IMG_7080 by welshi23, on Flickr

 

[GTP_Nail]

That "Big Bird" In the grass above is most likely on the low level routes in Scotland or Wales I have flown one of the many Scottish Routes long ago in the pit of an RAF F4 on one of the routine Exchange Weeks between Nato units. It was my first ride in the Phantom ( as the Brits call the F-4....). It was one of the only times that I was "concerned" in an aircraft ( that was under control). Scared..no...it was horrendously FUN...if you are SCARED you best be in the process of landing or ejecting .

I really like the picture of the cockpit above...I have pix of the Bronco and the Phantom instrument panels which I'll post some time when I'm at my PC.

The answer to the question of the NAIL call sign. It was traditional that all FACs ( forward air controllers) flew with their own call sign for their entire tour(s). The reason was obvious..with a list of call signs one could tell exactly who you were dealing with. Was this guy a NEWBY or an OLD HEAD....which could become important depending on the action that was about to take place. The NAILS were all members of the 23d Tactical Air Support Squadron, based at Nakhom Phanom Thailand (NKP) from 1966-1975. Their mission was flying the Ho Chi Minh Trail, all of Laos, and then later Cambodia. They started in Cessna O-1 Bird dogs, then in 67 changed to the interim Cessna O-2a Super Skymaster (AKA The Duck) , and then the awesome North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco. To this day we call each other by our call signs..it was yours for life. I was Nail-27. One of them....anyway.

 

[Carlos]

That's Mach Loop! Very awesome place, still need to go there for some photos.. My colleague has been there last year but the weather was bad. I'll throw some pics from his Facebook page.

Hilarious shot:

Some other nice shots

 

[GTP_Nail]

That's Mach Loop! Very awesome place, still need to go there for some photos.. My colleague has been there last year but the weather was bad. I'll throw some pics from his Facebook page.

Hilarious shot:

Some other nice shots

I love the picture of the GIB holding the sign....most funny...and true. Those guys have metallic lower frontal anatomy. They called us Nose Gunners....or ...Idiots with absolutely no Imagination. Low level flying ( the only way to try to avoid enemy fire) was an absolute hoot....and an aquired skill...and I still can't believe they paid us to do it.

 

[GTP_Nail]

Too funny Ned, @Nail-27 JT @euclid58 linked me to this thread as well and I have just spent time going through every page as well and was going to tell you about it!

Great pics and stories guys but it seems the thread is predominately airliners and fighters, there has to be some General Aviation (read small airplane) fans out there. I run a business in Ont. Canada (www.aeroliteflight.ca) where I build experimental kit airplanes for customers. I've been a Tool&Diemaker for 34 years and also manufacture parts for the aviation industry. I fly for recreation and am fortunate to get to fly in many different types.

I'll start off my first post with a video that takes you back to that magical time when you first leave the earth in a simple flying machine, enjoy!

Aero that was quite simply the best expression of the pure joy of flight that those who are not privilidged to experiance shall never know. I have never seen such a lack of aprehension....I'll bet there is a flying machine in her future....one that goes upside down.

Again thank you...that was quite moving to see the pure joy in a childs face ....and I thought my love affair with flight was intense...until now...

 

[GregTheStig]

.

Yep, it was definitely Mach Loop. I've seen a few videos of that run from the cockpit and it looks intense. It's definitely on my bucket list.


An awesome shot of a Growler from one of my favorite photographers.

VAQ-132 "Scorpions" Growler by mvonraesfeld, on Flickr

 

[aerolite]

As this thread is under GTP and most car guys like engines, I thought I would post these few pics. It's an experimental 6 cyl IO-540 Lycoming engine that I'm putting in the plane I'm building right now. Fuel injected, 540 cubic inch, 260 hp. It's about as big a piston engine as you would put in a small aircraft. Install is not finished yet, I start with just the bare engine with nothing on it.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Re: Mach Loop Photography

Sadly, a lot of the photographers are being forced to hold back some of their best photos as it's starting to damage the careers of the some the pilots that fly the circuit. Things like signs and inverted flight are great for the photographer, but when these go public the pilot oftens faces a disciplinary.

What were previously open forums for these images are no closed or heavily moderated to prevent the 'Daily Fail' getting an image.

 

[GTP_Nail]

You are correct in that unwanted publicity can ruin a career. That was one joy of flying anywhere in Europe...they loved us and liked to have us there and treated us like kings. It is always nice to know that someone was out there watching you do your job. Somewhere I have a signed photo sent to me by a teenager who lived on the mountain ridge over Aviano of me inverted pulling down to the base going over the edge of his house's pasture.

Meanwhile here is a great Blues vid. Love the guys expression and his performing his "grunts" to ward off G's...they do not wear G suits.

 

[Carlos]

Was a bit bored, wanted to photograph something so went to the airport. First time spotting big birds, normally only military stuff. Had fun though..

^ Oldskool KLM livery

Failed to land

^ Second go at it with less winds

And one of the same..

 

[Carlos]

Loved the video of the Angels Nail-27. Would like to see them in real life some day. I watched this video over and over and over;

The pilot on the right (viewers left), how he throws his plane under there, man I sometimes do formation flying with some other guys in the simulator but usually when we get as close as the Angels do, we collide

Oops!

Pacific air drill;

 

[Swagger897]

Going out on one from ATL-PIT tomorrow..
At 7:25
A.M.
Meaning I have to leave the house at 5:30.
A.M.
Meaning I have to take a shower.
In the A.M......

 

[Rage Racer]

Yakovlev Yak-9 in Japanese Air Force.
Now you've seen everything.

 

[Swagger897]

Pictures from the trip...

Porsche HQ...

 

[GTP_Nail]

Here's mine for the day.....when we took off at oh dark thirty from Ubon in South Western Thailand it would be dark...there were no towns and there were no lights. After about 40 minutes the Sun would start to rise in the East over Vietnam. This picture was taken by a young Lt. Of another young Lt as they headed into their separate assigned areas.

Many years later it became titled....Good morning Cambodia

 

[GTP_Nail]

Yakovlev Yak-9 in Japanese Air Force.
Now you've seen everything.

But the yak has the US marking of EXPERIMENTAL on the canopy rail. Is this normal in other countries...and the guys in the background are not Asiatic. Wonder what the real story is...and it has been taken down to bare alunimum....is someone trying to make it look like a Japanese WW2 fighter for an air show?