Messages

721

Combat Warplanes / Re: Afganistan before WW2

« on: June 23, 2008, 02:18:23 PM »

find this at the RAF Museum site

http://navigator.rafmuseum.org/results.do?view=detail&db=object&pageSize=1&id=1407

and this

http://www.hawkerhind.co.uk/

722

Combat Warplanes / Re: Afganistan before WW2

« on: June 23, 2008, 01:54:28 PM »

Here's a start

The history of the Afghan National Air Corps began on 22 August 1924 as the Afghan Air Force, being founded with a few aircraft obtained from Russia as early as 1921. This small force was destroyed in 1929, and not reconstituted again until 1937. It was renamed the Royal Afghan Air Force in 1947 along with political changes in the country, a title it retained until further political upheaval in 1973.

1919 to 1929: Bristol F.2 Fighter
1921 to ?: Nieuport 24
1921 to 1925: Sopwith 1½ Strutter
 
1924 to 19291924 to ?: de Havilland DH.9
1924 to 1926: de Havilland R-1
1924 to 1928: Junkers F.13fe
1925 to 1929: Junkers A.20
1928 to ?: Bartel BM 4b
1928 to ?: Junkers G.24ge
1928 to 1929: Potez 25
 
1937 to 19671937 to ?: Hawker Hart
1937 to 1941: Breda Ba.25
1937 to 1941: IMAM Ro.37
1937 to 1957: Hawker Hind

Source - Wikipedia

723

Warplane Art / Re: Galland Bf109E

« on: June 23, 2008, 09:28:02 AM »

That I do like 

724

Warplane Art / Re: Galland Bf109E

« on: June 21, 2008, 02:56:59 PM »

 

725

Combat Warplanes / Re: Cockpit-Fest 2008

« on: June 21, 2008, 01:09:37 PM »

Aircraft specs:

Type:              Light assault plane / strategic reconnaissance
Manufacturer:     Northrop-Douglas [USA]
Crew:             2 [pilot and observer/gunner/bomb-aimer]
Size:                 Wing span:    14.05 m, Length:    9.06 m, Height:    2.97 m
Engine:             Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp, 1065 hp
Max. Speed:     416 km/hr [cruising speed 330 km/hr]
Weight:             2,390 kg [empty], 3,580 kg [loaded, full ordinance]
Ceiling:              assault:  7,700 m [25,500 feet], recce:   8,800 m [29,250 feet]
Max. range:     2,000 km
Armament:     4 off 7.9 mm machineguns in the wings
                        1 off 7.9 mm manually operated machinegun rear
                        600 kg bombs, in following configurations:
                         - 20 x container of 13 parachute bombs
                         - 2 x 200 kg
                         - 4 x 100 kg
                         - 8 x 50 kg
                         - 2 x 300 kg
In service:     November 1939 - 1940
Number in service:     17 [12 operational; 5 in stock]

Source and more information - http://www.waroverholland.nl/index.php?url=/uk_weap015.html

726

Warplane Art / Re: Galland Bf109E

« on: June 21, 2008, 11:44:53 AM »

Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland (19 March 1912 – 9 February 1996) was a World War II German fighter pilot and commander of Germany's fighter force (General der Jagdflieger) from 1941 to 1945. Galland joined the Luftwaffe in 1933, and despite suffering injuries, including a damaged eye, in two crashes, he continued his military career.

In 1937 he was one of 20,000 German military personnel to see action in the Condor Legion, providing Galland with valuable combat experience. Galland transferred to a fighter unit in 1940 and quickly reached Ace status during the Battle of France.

In November 1941, with his score standing at 94 Galland became General der Jagdflieger at the age of 29. Galland continued to test fly many types of German aircraft, occasionally flying combat missions when he could.

In January 1945, Galland, along with other Luftwaffe officers were sent back to operational units after questioning the competence of Hermann Göring. Galland surrendered to United States Army forces in May 1945.

He claimed a total of 104 victories in 705 missions and was awarded the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz) with oakleaves, swords and diamonds, one of only 27 recipients of the highest German military decoration. His victory claims were all against the Western Allies.

Source and more information - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Galland

Sorry my friend, another great set of profiles 

727

Combat Warplanes / Re: NASA Aircraft Images

« on: June 20, 2008, 01:43:47 PM »

And if you read the infomation, no copyright control 

728

Combat Warplanes / NASA Aircraft Images

« on: June 20, 2008, 12:21:52 PM »

This collection contains digitized photos of many of the unique research aircraft flown at NASA Dryden Flight Research Centerat Edwards, California. These images date from the 1940s to the present. No copyright protection is asserted for these photographs.

Multiple resolutions are available. All are 24-bit color JPEGs

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/index.html

729

Combat Warplanes / Re: Aircraft photos

« on: June 17, 2008, 11:03:56 AM »

A lot of WW2 photos!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/farinihouseoflove/

Excellent link, great find No.1 

730

Combat Warplanes / Re: ILA 2008

« on: June 15, 2008, 07:43:05 PM »

Great shot of the Spitfire 

731

Combat Warplanes / Re: Cockpit-Fest 2008

« on: June 14, 2008, 11:55:24 PM »

Some more shots from the Cockpit-Fest,

This one a did like.

732

Combat Warplanes / Cockpit-Fest 2008

« on: June 14, 2008, 11:50:54 PM »

Here are some shots I took at Cockpit-Fest 2008 at Newark Air Museum, this is an annual display of visiting cockpits from around the country.

You have full access to the cockpits, even getting the chance to sit in them 

Some shots of the aircraft at the museum.

733

Combat Warplanes / Re: Maiden flight of new fighter jet

« on: June 13, 2008, 01:28:07 PM »

So Harrier counting down its days in RAF...

In early 2008, the Harrier fleet is undergoing a mid-life upgrade that will see the GR.7s modified as GR.7As, GR.9s or GR.9As, while the two seat T.10s become T.12s.
The GR.7A has a Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk.107 power plant in place of the GR.7’s Mk.105, adding 3,000lb (13.4kN) of thrust. A total of 40 such modifications will be made. in addition, around 70 GR.7s, GR.7As and T.10s will benefit from an avionics and weapons upgrade to become GR.9s and T.12s, the new baseline standard for the Harrier fleet. GR.7As which have gone through both the avionics and engine upgrades are known as GR.9As.

The In early 2008, the Harrier fleet is undergoing a mid-life upgrade that will see the GR.7s modified as GR.7As, GR.9s or GR.9As, while the two seat t.10s become T.12s. the GR.7A has a Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk.107 power plant in place of the GR.7’s Mk.105, adding 3,000lb (13.4kN) of thrust. A total of 40 such modifications will be made. in addition, around 70 GR.7s, GR.7As and T.10s will benefit from an avionics and weapons upgrade to become GR.9s and T.12s, the new baseline standard for the Harrier fleet. GR.7As which have gone through both the avionics and engine upgrades are known as GR.9As.

The Joint Force Harrier (JFH) is also responsible for providing aircraft for the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers. Along with the Herrick commitment, this means that JFH is amongst the RAF’s most frequently deployed assets. Although a second naval squadron, 801 NAS, stood up on 1 October 2006, it will not become separate and operational until at least 2010. Training for RAF and Fleet Air Arm pilots is undertaken by 20(R) squadron at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire.

Source - RAF Website

I think that the Harrier will be around for a number of years yet 

734

Combat Warplanes / Maiden flight of new fighter jet

« on: June 13, 2008, 09:05:21 AM »

The successful first flight of a supersonic fighter jet, the next generation of Navy and RAF jump-jets, took place yesterday, 11 June 2008, at Lockheed Martin's Texas plant.
The F35B, a stealth fighter-bomber, made a conventional take-off and landing, and climbed to 15,000 feet (4,572 metres) for a series of handling, engine and other systems checks. It landed successfully after 46 minutes in the air.

The supersonic stealth fighter-bombers will form the next generation of Navy and RAF jump-jets and the F35B is one of three variants of the US Department of Defense Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) project. The MOD is a partner in the JSF programme and is investing £1.8 billion developing the aircraft.

The F35B was flown by a British pilot, BAE Systems employee and former RAF Harrier pilot, Graham Tomlinson.

The Joint Strike Fighter is the aircraft of choice to fulfil the MOD's Joint Combat Aircraft requirement and fly off the two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers.

735

Combat Warplanes / B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Crash Technical Report

« on: June 11, 2008, 11:36:02 AM »

US Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber crashed on Feb. 23 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

A video and full report on the crash can be found at

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/exclusivevids/ExclusiveVideo_B2Spirit_StealthBomber_CrashReport_198060-1.html