Post amazingly cool pictures of aircraft (Volume 2)
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Lightning v Spitfire
In 1963 with Indonesia (then equipped with NA Mustang fighters) threatening the former British colony of Malaysia, the RAF felt they needed to perform combat trials using the Lighning F3 against a contemporary propeller fighter.
Spitfire XIX PS853 was quickly made airworthy and trails began. The Firestreak air to air missile on the F3 would not lock onto the low heat signature of the Spitfire, so it was "guns only" using the two 30mm Aden.
No turning fight, the Spitfire would win ! Slashing dive and climb attacks only was the methodology that was chosen.
The crisis blew over and no RAF intervention proved necessary...but an interesting "what if" !
(Photograph taken during the trial).
In 1963 with Indonesia (then equipped with NA Mustang fighters) threatening the former British colony of Malaysia, the RAF felt they needed to perform combat trials using the Lighning F3 against a contemporary propeller fighter.
Spitfire XIX PS853 was quickly made airworthy and trails began. The Firestreak air to air missile on the F3 would not lock onto the low heat signature of the Spitfire, so it was "guns only" using the two 30mm Aden.
No turning fight, the Spitfire would win ! Slashing dive and climb attacks only was the methodology that was chosen.
The crisis blew over and no RAF intervention proved necessary...but an interesting "what if" !
(Photograph taken during the trial).
MartG said:
Lightning v Spitfire
In 1963 with Indonesia (then equipped with NA Mustang fighters) threatening the former British colony of Malaysia, the RAF felt they needed to perform combat trials using the Lighning F3 against a contemporary propeller fighter.
Spitfire XIX PS853 was quickly made airworthy and trails began. The Firestreak air to air missile on the F3 would not lock onto the low heat signature of the Spitfire, so it was "guns only" using the two 30mm Aden.
No turning fight, the Spitfire would win ! Slashing dive and climb attacks only was the methodology that was chosen.
The crisis blew over and no RAF intervention proved necessary...but an interesting "what if" !
(Photograph taken during the trial).
In the mid 1970s there looked a distinct possibility that Ark Royal's Phantoms might come up against Guatemalan Mustangs.In 1963 with Indonesia (then equipped with NA Mustang fighters) threatening the former British colony of Malaysia, the RAF felt they needed to perform combat trials using the Lighning F3 against a contemporary propeller fighter.
Spitfire XIX PS853 was quickly made airworthy and trails began. The Firestreak air to air missile on the F3 would not lock onto the low heat signature of the Spitfire, so it was "guns only" using the two 30mm Aden.
No turning fight, the Spitfire would win ! Slashing dive and climb attacks only was the methodology that was chosen.
The crisis blew over and no RAF intervention proved necessary...but an interesting "what if" !
(Photograph taken during the trial).
Link to an article about the world record 22 aircraft loop by 111 squadron
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-black-arrows-a...
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-black-arrows-a...
For many years Sqn Ldr Topp's a/c resided at RAF North Luffenham where it was mocked up as a MiG19 and used as an airfield decoy. It has since been rebuilt and now lives at Wattisham along with the F4 that used to be the Brampton gate guardian.
http://www.wattishamstationheritage.org/hunter-xg1...
http://www.wattishamstationheritage.org/hunter-xg1...
Vulcan test bed XA903 testing the afterburner of the Panavia Tornado engine, the Rolls Royce/Turbo Union RB199. At one point a 27mm Mauser gun cannon pod was fitted alongside to monitor the effects of gun propellant smoke ingestion into the engine. Photograph taken in the 1970`s. (The pod extreme left of picture is a Viper turbojet, used as an APU).
Last week I visited Aeroscopia in Toulouse, with the girlfriend, seeing Concorde brought a huge lump to my throat. I took the day of to see the last public flights with my friends watching the flights in and out of Edinburgh. I remember an announcement saying the arrival was slightly delayed because they had diverted to overfly the pilot house, does any one know if this is true? Then when concord departed we where at the end of the runway people had climbed up the light towers to get a better view the fences where lined with people it was an amazing moment. I have seen a picture of this hear on PH but could not find it to complete the story.
Carl one of my best friends who was with me that day, is now dead. It's rare that I miss him or feel as much joy as much as I did when I saw Concorde on Saturday.
PS if you are ever in Toulouse Aeroscopia is heartily recommended.
F-4 Phantom chasing the Gemini 4 launch
First, they tried an F-104. “Not enough wing or thrust,” recalls Jack Petry, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. When NASA engineers were launching rockets at Florida’s Cape Canaveral in the 1960s, they needed pilots to fly close enough to film the missiles as they accelerated through Mach 1 at 35,000 feet. Petry was one of the chosen. And the preferred chase airplane was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom.
“Those two J79 engines made all the difference,” says Petry. After a Mach 1.2 dive synched to the launch countdown, he “walked the [rocket’s] contrail” up to the intercept, tweaking closing speed and updating mission control while camera pods mounted under each wing shot film at 900 frames per second. Matching velocity with a Titan rocket for 90 extreme seconds, the Phantom powered through the missile’s thundering wash, then broke away as the rocket surged toward space. Of pacing a Titan II in a two-seat fighter, Petry says: “Absolutely beautiful. To see that massive thing in flight and be right there in the air with it—you can imagine the exhilaration.”
First, they tried an F-104. “Not enough wing or thrust,” recalls Jack Petry, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. When NASA engineers were launching rockets at Florida’s Cape Canaveral in the 1960s, they needed pilots to fly close enough to film the missiles as they accelerated through Mach 1 at 35,000 feet. Petry was one of the chosen. And the preferred chase airplane was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom.
“Those two J79 engines made all the difference,” says Petry. After a Mach 1.2 dive synched to the launch countdown, he “walked the [rocket’s] contrail” up to the intercept, tweaking closing speed and updating mission control while camera pods mounted under each wing shot film at 900 frames per second. Matching velocity with a Titan rocket for 90 extreme seconds, the Phantom powered through the missile’s thundering wash, then broke away as the rocket surged toward space. Of pacing a Titan II in a two-seat fighter, Petry says: “Absolutely beautiful. To see that massive thing in flight and be right there in the air with it—you can imagine the exhilaration.”
Edited by MartG on Wednesday 5th September 12:25
MartG said:
F-4 Phantom chasing the Gemini 4 launch
First, they tried an F-104. “Not enough wing or thrust,” recalls Jack Petry, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. When NASA engineers were launching rockets at Florida’s Cape Canaveral in the 1960s, they needed pilots to fly close enough to film the missiles as they accelerated through Mach 1 at 35,000 feet. Petry was one of the chosen. And the preferred chase airplane was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom.
“Those two J79 engines made all the difference,” says Petry. After a Mach 1.2 dive synched to the launch countdown, he “walked the [rocket’s] contrail” up to the intercept, tweaking closing speed and updating mission control while camera pods mounted under each wing shot film at 900 frames per second. Matching velocity with a Titan rocket for 90 extreme seconds, the Phantom powered through the missile’s thundering wash, then broke away as the rocket surged toward space. Of pacing a Titan II in a two-seat fighter, Petry says: “Absolutely beautiful. To see that massive thing in flight and be right there in the air with it—you can imagine the exhilaration.”
Another interesting factoid about early spaceflight I wasn't aware of.First, they tried an F-104. “Not enough wing or thrust,” recalls Jack Petry, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. When NASA engineers were launching rockets at Florida’s Cape Canaveral in the 1960s, they needed pilots to fly close enough to film the missiles as they accelerated through Mach 1 at 35,000 feet. Petry was one of the chosen. And the preferred chase airplane was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom.
“Those two J79 engines made all the difference,” says Petry. After a Mach 1.2 dive synched to the launch countdown, he “walked the [rocket’s] contrail” up to the intercept, tweaking closing speed and updating mission control while camera pods mounted under each wing shot film at 900 frames per second. Matching velocity with a Titan rocket for 90 extreme seconds, the Phantom powered through the missile’s thundering wash, then broke away as the rocket surged toward space. Of pacing a Titan II in a two-seat fighter, Petry says: “Absolutely beautiful. To see that massive thing in flight and be right there in the air with it—you can imagine the exhilaration.”
Edited by MartG on Wednesday 5th September 12:25
I know they have used aircarft to photograph, film and later video launches but I hadn't realised they had actually tried chasing the rocket.
I expect a technique like this could not be used for Space Shuttle launches because the exhaust plume was too toxic and corrosive.
AN124 getting a bit sideways landing at Brize.
AN 124 landing at RAF Brize Norton. by Jim Pritchard, on Flickr
AN 124 landing at RAF Brize Norton. by Jim Pritchard, on FlickrEdited by Trevatanus on Friday 7th September 11:47
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