ELIBIBLE FOR ANTIQUE AUTO PLATES

[WA5KRP]

This link is being passed around and I thought I'd share the adrenalin. #If anybody else has a link or two to similar stuff, I wish you'd share them. #I enjoy a rush.


F-14 Tomcat @ NAS Oceana 2005 Airshow (http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Oceana2005/Tomcats/index.html)


Hard to believe Grumman made the first prototype in '70 and delivered the first production model to the Navy on the USS Enterprise in September '74. #

I've taken my kids to airshows every year since they could sit in a stroller and they love aviation like I do. #Cotton, my boy at Baylor, is keeping up his grades and hopes to fly for the Navy. #GAWD I'd love that to happen! #A thrill is a thrill, even if it's viacrious.



WA5KRP
Texas

[k6pme]

Ah yes, the Tomcat. I just learned something new. I always thought that space between the engines was just to make room for the tailhook. I didn't realize that it provides 40% of the lift.

Nice aircraft. Too bad it's being retired.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[K9STH]

How about the B-52. There are now men flying that airplane who's grandfathers flew it when it was first out.

Glen, K9STH

[N8CPA]

Have you ever heard that Jimmie Stewart of acting fame flew a B-52 over Vietnam? I just heard that yesterday and have not yet verified it.

[KA4DPO]

My wife and I go to the Oceana airshow almost every year. I like VA Beach that time of year and the airshow is always fun.

The Tomcat is still a cool looking plane with a ton of weapons systems on board.

[KC0KBH]

Really awsome!!!!!!!!

"Elibible"? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[K9STH]

CPA:

Stewart definitely flew B-24 Liberators over Germany during World War II. I know he was at least a squadron commander and possibly even a wing commander. As for flying in a B-52 over Viet Nam I honestly don't know. However, since he ended up a Major General in the Air Force Reserve ("2 star general") it would be possible that he "hitched" a ride in a B-52 that went over North Viet Nam. I doubt very much that he was the command pilot, but it certainly is possible that he did make such a flight.

There is a series on the Military Channel (cable television channel) called Legends of Air Power that has a 30 minute program on Stewart's service in the Army Air Force and the United States Air Force. It gets shown every 2 or 3 months for a couple of days. They also have a program on my Congressman, Sam Johnson (who spent a much longer time as a "guest" of the North Vietnamese than John McCain and who also disagrees very much with McCain's "views" on things like prisoner questioning).

Glen, K9STH

[KC9ECI]

http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/bookrev/smith10.html

Quote[/b] ]Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot by Starr Smith. Zenith Press (http://www.zenithpress.com/Store/default.aspx), 729 Prospect Avenue, P.O. Box 1, Osceola, Wisconsin 54020, 2005, 288 pages, $21.95 (hardcover).*

In Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot, Starr Smith has written a fine book about a fine human being. It is a delightful yet troubling read. It is delightful in the sense that Smith is a gifted writer. Through the collection of insights and asides that accrue throughout the book, one gets a deep sense of Stewart as well as of wartime England with its bomber bases, aircrews, and their combat missions. It is troubling in the sense that the Hollywood of today suffers so in comparison to that of yesteryear. Few stars today have the personal qualities and accomplishments of a man such as Stewart—a degree in architecture from Princeton; a military career ranging from private to brigadier general in the Air Force Reserve in World War II, to a voluntary combat mission in Vietnam; a marriage that lasted 45 years; and the gift of an endowed scholarship to the US Air Force Academy.

Smith, himself a member of Tom Brokaw’s “greatest generation,” gives us a rare glimpse into one of its well-known personages and his little-known contribution to the war effort. His is a study in character and integrity we would do well to emulate. In this sense, we could all profit from this book—as could our children and grandchildren.

Sounds like a good book to locate and read.

[kb9lei]

Perhaps the confusion comes from the Jimmie Stewart movie "Strategic Air Command" where in the final scene as his character is saying his farewells, a squadron of B-52s flys over.

Probably had to be 52s, because Stewart's character flew a B-40 in the movie.

[K9STH]

LEI:

Stewart flew the B-36 and B-47 in the movie. The B-40 was never operational.

I believe that the aircraft that flew overhead in the movie were B-47 aircraft and not the B-52. The B-52 was not really operational when the movie Strategic Air Command was made.

The B-36 was the "pusher" type bomber with 6 piston engines in the wings and 4 jet engines on pylons (2 on each side under the wings). It was made by Consolidated. The B-47 had 6 jet engines (3 under each wing) and was made by Boeing. It was the first jet bomber that was employed in large numbers by the United States Air Force.

The last B-36 has been restored but, so far, has not been permanently located. This was the aircraft that was at the Greater Southwest Airport in Fort Worth. The latest information is that it is in a hanger at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth.

Glen, K9STH

[kb9lei]

Glen:
Thanks for the memory upgrade. It gets harder and harder to remember history as you continue to live it!

[n0jaa]

I nominate the Lockheed P-3 Orion. #Navy and Coast Guard still uses them and NOAA keeps one as a back up for their WC-130.


Paul, N0JAA.


(edited for spelling)

[n0jaa]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Dec. 09 2005,21:35)]The last B-36 has been restored but, so far, has not been permanently located. #This was the aircraft that was at the Greater Southwest Airport in Fort Worth. #The latest information is that it is in a hanger at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth.

Glen, K9STH
Interesting, I didn't think there were any B-36's left at all! Did they restore it for display only, or do they plan to fly it?


Paul, N0JAA.

[n2nh]

I always liked the F-14 and the F-15, and the B-58 (first supersonic bomber). My all time favorite has been the F-104 Starfighter which is still being used by NASA.

[N8CPA]

I don't know about 36's and 37's but there used to be an Air Museum on the grounds of Port Columbus that had a B-17. #Every now and then, they'd let that birdie fly. #I don't know where she's hangared now since the museum closed, but every few years they bring her back into town and let the general public fly for a significant donation. #What a sight!--and I love the throaty racket her engines make during those flights.

[KD7NUW]

I wonder what happened to the B-36 that was on display at Chanute AFB. Does anyone know where they moved it too. I may have to drag out my pix of the C-141A that NASA used for tests. What a piece of junk it was to work on let me tell you. Them NASA boys sure didn't take very good care of their aero machine.

[K9STH]

JAA:

There were plans on flying the B-36 all of 3 miles! But the military was afraid that someone might use the aircraft to bomb someone! Actually, this was back in the 1970s.

As far as I know, the aircraft is to be displayed only. However, the engines are running, etc.

The aircraft was the "gate guardian" at Greater Southwest Airport which was adjacent to Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth. It was damaged on many occasions by vandals and over the years several different organizations have been involved in trying to get it restored.

According to this website

http://www.air-and-space.com/b-36%20survivors.htm

the Fort Worth B-36 is being moved from Fort Worth to the Pima Air Museum near Tucson, Arizona. There are several examples still in existence but none are flying at this time.

I saw the B-36 several times during the late 1960s and into the 1970s when it was displayed at the GSW Airport.

Glen, K9STH

[wv6z]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Dec. 07 2005,16:01)]http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/bookrev/smith10.html

Quote[/b] ]Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot by Starr Smith. Zenith Press (http://www.zenithpress.com/Store/default.aspx), 729 Prospect Avenue, P.O. Box 1, Osceola, Wisconsin 54020, 2005, 288 pages, $21.95 (hardcover).*

In Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot, Starr Smith has written a fine book about a fine human being. It is a delightful yet troubling read. It is delightful in the sense that Smith is a gifted writer. Through the collection of insights and asides that accrue throughout the book, one gets a deep sense of Stewart as well as of wartime England with its bomber bases, aircrews, and their combat missions. It is troubling in the sense that the Hollywood of today suffers so in comparison to that of yesteryear. Few stars today have the personal qualities and accomplishments of a man such as Stewart—a degree in architecture from Princeton; a military career ranging from private to brigadier general in the Air Force Reserve in World War II, to a voluntary combat mission in Vietnam; a marriage that lasted 45 years; and the gift of an endowed scholarship to the US Air Force Academy.

Smith, himself a member of Tom Brokaw’s “greatest generation,” gives us a rare glimpse into one of its well-known personages and his little-known contribution to the war effort. His is a study in character and integrity we would do well to emulate. In this sense, we could all profit from this book—as could our children and grandchildren.

Sounds like a good book to locate and read.
Yes it is a great book Tom and is available at Barnes & Noble, if you have that book store chain near you...... is a must read!

[WA5KRP]

Here's another B-36 website with some cool pics:

B-36 Peacemaker Museum (http://www.b-36peacemakermuseum.org/History/part1.htm)


WA5KRP
Texas

[n0jaa]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Dec. 10 2005,11:54)]JAA:

There were plans on flying the B-36 all of 3 miles! #But the military was afraid that someone might use the aircraft to bomb someone! #Actually, this was back in the 1970s.

As far as I know, the aircraft is to be displayed only. #However, the engines are running, etc.
I can't begin to imagine the tremendous amount of work required to restore ONE R-4430, let alone SIX of them!!

I have torn down radial engines before ("relatively" small R-985's), but to rebuild a 36-cylinder radial engine... OUCH!!!


Paul, N0JAA.


(Correction: I made an oops! The B-36 used six Wasp Major 28-cylinder R-4360 engines. That's STILL a lot of pistons!!)



Cessna 257 to Tower... where am I???"

[kb9lei]

Just to keep this going..how many of you have taken time while in Dayton to visit the AF Museum? As long as you don't take in one of the IMAX movies, it is FREE.

A couple of years back, when it was torrentially rainy at Hamvention (as opposed to just the normal rainy for Dayton), my son and I went. It is a great way to spend several hours and many of the aircraft mentioned in this thread are on display.

[W9AFB]

Quote[/b] (KD7NUW @ Dec. 10 2005,07:20)]I wonder what happened to the B-36 that was on display at Chanute AFB. #
There's no more B-36 at Chanute. The largest bombers there are a B-58 and B-47. There's a B-36 at the USAF muesum at Wright Pat.

[K9STH]

All of the piston engines in the Fort Worth B-36 worked the first time that they were tried (after many years of sitting). The restorers used 55 gallon drums of fuel sitting on the ground under the wing to provide fuel. They definitely did not want to put any fuel in the on-board tanks.

Glen, K9STH

[WA5KRP]

WOWEEKAZOWEE............I found in today's email the following from a member of the QRZ.com Gallery of Rogues. #To me, it's the kind of message that keeps me coming back to the internet and to this forum. #I hope you enjoy it as much as I do:

Quote[/b] ]
HI DAN,
I just read the History of the last B 36 you posted ,very enjoyable,sure brought back many memories.
When I was stationed at Travis AFB south of Sacramento,the base was a combination SAC (Strategic Air Command ) and MATS (Material Air Transport Service) and ADC (Air Defense Command) I was with the ADC we had F102 All Weather Interceptors in our fighter squadron,and SAC had the B-36, while MATS flew the big C124's.

Anyway to make a long story longer, our CO was good buddies with the CO at SAC,so he thought some of us would appreciate seeing how the other half lived,so he arranged a for 10 of us enlisted to fly as guests aboard a SAC training mission in the B-36.

It was a short mission I was told,because of all the VIP's on board. It was state side and only 18 hours long.

We were hustled out to the air craft BOY!! That sucker is big when you are standing under the wing. We were issued a chute and an oxygen mask as we would be flying at 45K plus on most of the flight.
Of course my heart was pounding,and I was gawking at the big bird not paying that much attention to the NCO who was briefing us. I noticed the fuselage had riveted patch's in several places behind the wing, I assumed this bird had seen action and they patched the bullet holes. We were required to demonstrate how to put the chute on,of course I had never had one on before and was not paying attention,so I was totally confused. One of the Staff sergeants noticed I was having trouble so he came over and helped me get squared away. I ask him about the bullet holes,and he laughed and said that was close but what really happens at the altitude they fly if the engine leaks a drop of oil it immediately freezes and the prop sends it like a bullet through the skin of the A/C . I began to understand this was not a cake walk.

I was assigned the position of the normal ECM guy in the tail section,the ECM gear had been removed,just the cabin altimeter and the intercom headphones #was there. We got strapped in and the plane started to taxi to the end of the runway. The compartment NCO hollered over and said to put on the head phone to hear what was going on.

We got lined up and the pilot ran each engine up,and the tail started to wobble back and forth in the prop wash. Finally the pilot brought all 6 props and 4 jets up and we started to roll,the pilot notified the tower we were on the roll. I was told later the brakes can not hold it back when the full power is applied.

I was sitting facing forward and when he released the brakes it threw me back against the seat,and there I sat until we were airborne. First time I had witnessed that kind of power,what a thrill,even better that a motor cycle.

Once we were a couple of K off the ground the pilot brought the nose up to what felt like a 45 degree angle and we really climbed,amazing for a big bird like that. We climbed out until we were over San Francisco,about 150 miles away,he then did a wide turn and headed East.
I had been watching the cabin altimeter,as we climbed,and of course looking over all my new surroundings. I'm not sure just where all we went ,there were too many things to observe to keep track.
I noticed the guys on each side who were sitting in the machine gun #bubble,they were watching the flaps on the back of the wing,which moved in and out. They were cooling vents for the big recepts. There were colored diamonds painted along the slats and they would report to the pilot as to the status of the diamonds.
What caught my eye was at the change of the watch the new guy would almost sit on the lap of the guy sitting then with a quick move he would unbuckle and the new guy would buckle up in a very fast and smooth operation. I was told they had lost a couple of guys when the bubble would burst and everything not strapped down went out that port.

By this time we were over or approaching Salt Lake City, Utah. Sitting at my post I noticed that my altimeter was starting to climb at a very fast rate. I observed it for a minute or two then got concerned,I ask the Compartment NCO if that was natural. He said it was,what was going on the Bombardier had control of the ship,as he was making a simulated bomb run on SLC. As he backed off the engines to make the run the leaks in the A/C was more than the engines could pressurize,so we were losing pressure,and oxygen as well. The NCO said if it got bad we could go on oxygen,so I pulled out my mask to have it ready.
Close inspection showed the mask was full of holes, like the moths had held a banquet in my mask, now I am really watching that altimeter spin,the NCO seeing what was going on mentioned and pointed to the walk around bottles secured to the bulkhead.

We completed the run and later ran a couple more then we dropped Chaff some where over Wyoming. I began to move around the compartment and noticed the upper gun turret. The Gun was removed but the mount was there and by climbing up you could see the tail section as it flapped back and forth and of course you could see the ants on the ground,which of course were cattle out on the snow covered plains of Montana.
The Honcho NCO spotted me up there and proceed to chew my butt explaining what would happen if that bubble were to pop.

I think he was getting fed up with these green horns aboard. He asked the pilot if I could come forward and see what was going on,he said OK.

There are 4 major sections of a B-36, the nose section with the gunner and the bombardier,then the flight section up a couple of steps to the forward flight deck,the pilot and co pilot and behind him is the navigator and engineer.
Section 3 is separated by a small tunnel to which the RECON and camera section was located,beneath the tunnel is the forward Bomb bay. You can see through the doors straight down as you go through the tunnel.
After the camera section is the rear and big bomb bay,and that connects the tail section through a long tunnel for the ECM positions.

The compartment NCO was anxious for me to go forward,he explained you get in the tunnel on your back and lay on a sled,then you pull yourself forward with a rope suspended in the tunnel. So in I went and they piled my chute on top of me and closed the hatch. Damn it was cold no heat in there,but there was windows you could look into the bomb bay and out the closed doors through the cracks.
I pulled my self to the other end,and reached over my head to grasp the handle and it was not there.I fumbled around but could not figure out how to open the forward hatch. So back I went but now I could not reach the hatch door because of my chute. I managed to kick the door until some one heard me and explained my problem. The NCO said to go back and they would be expecting me at the other end,so back we went again and they opened the hatch and helped me drag out the chute. Not much going on in the camera section,so I proceeded to go forward through the second tunnel.

In the forward section it was really crowded. It seems in addition to the 10 VIP's on board there were several flight crew who were along to get their flight time for the month,they were stretched out all over.
There are a couple of steps down to the nose section and a couple of steps up to the flight deck. Colonels, Majors,all kinds of people laying around trying to sleep. I started to go into the nose section and stepped on a Colonel, who was sleeping.He was not happy about my intrusion,so I decided maybe the flight deck might be a better choice.

Talk about visibility from up there you can almost see the end of the world,so after about a half hour I started back to my position at the ECM post.

The rest of the flight was interesting,as I mentioned it was a short training flight,some of the crew said they go for 24 hour plus most of the time.
We flew over Nevada,Utah, Colorado,Wyoming, Montana, Idaho,up to Seattle then down the coast to home.

Once we got close to home I again put on the intercom headphones,much to my surprise it was just in time to hear the pilot request an instrument approach from RAPCON (Radar Approach Control)
I had read about what was going to happen but had never witness the procedure. They brought us right down to touch down on the centerline of the runway.
As anyone familiar with the B-36 you can recognize the sound of one for many miles away,but if you want an experience you should hear those props when they are reversed and you are inside.......
#
The flight took place in about 1957, but I remember the thrill to this day.

Thanks again Dan for the stuff on the Mighty Peacemaker the B-36.

Lemme thank everybody that makes this forum possible to share these kind of stories. #As for the sonuvbitch that sent it to me, he remains anonymous like the rest of the Rogues. #



WA5KRP
Texas