Post amazingly cool pictures of aircraft (Volume 2)
Discussion
Jonmx said:
Yes it's just an old 747 with some stickers on it, but I think it's cool!
It becomes much cooler still when you point out the background story that it is piloted by the band's lead singer (an experienced airline pilot) and carries all of Iron Maiden's crew and equipment on their world tour.
The BBMF's own PA474 when she was loaned out to Cranfield to test wing designs post-war.
Air-to-air refuelling dates back to the 1920s I believe. Initially with 'gas cans' passed between aircraft. Use of inter-aircraft hoses soon became the favoured method. It was developed in the early days to set and extend endurance records...
Eric Mc said:
Sir Alan Cobham was the pioneer who carried out these trials. His company still exists - following multiple permutations - providing trials support to HM Armed Forces.
I had a disagreement with an american chap on Facebook recently about in Flight refuelling.I was sure it was a British invention, he says not.
Wikipedia "proved" him correct. However, I realise that, just because it's on the internet, it does not make it fact.
I would guess that the first experiments in air to air refueling were indeed American. There was a record breaking 150 hour flight conducted by the USAAC in 1929.
I think that this flight predates the Alan Cobham experiments.
As you can see, the method being used is pretty crude - but it is air-to-air refueling.
Like a lot of technology, different organisations in different parts of the world were thinking about these ideas at roughly the same time.
I think that this flight predates the Alan Cobham experiments.
As you can see, the method being used is pretty crude - but it is air-to-air refueling.
Like a lot of technology, different organisations in different parts of the world were thinking about these ideas at roughly the same time.
Eric Mc said:
I would guess that the first experiments in air to air refueling were indeed American. There was a record breaking 150 hour flight conducted by the USAAC in 1929.
I think that this flight predates the Alan Cobham experiments.
As you can see, the method being used is pretty crude - but it is air-to-air refueling.
Like a lot of technology, different organisations in different parts of the world were thinking about these ideas at roughly the same time.
Thanks Eric.I think that this flight predates the Alan Cobham experiments.
As you can see, the method being used is pretty crude - but it is air-to-air refueling.
Like a lot of technology, different organisations in different parts of the world were thinking about these ideas at roughly the same time.
Air to air refueling really became important with the advent of jets in the early post war years.
Both the USA and Britain were testing different techniques - Britain the probe and drogue system (based on Cobham's work) and the US with the flying boom system.
In the end, both techniques have become fairly standard with different air arms all around the world.
Both the USA and Britain were testing different techniques - Britain the probe and drogue system (based on Cobham's work) and the US with the flying boom system.
In the end, both techniques have become fairly standard with different air arms all around the world.
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