Post amazingly cool pictures of aircraft (Volume 2)
Discussion
The big aeroplane is the Convair B-36. It was the USAF's standard long range heavy bomber until replaced by the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
The smaller aeroplane is a test version of the Republic F-84F - redesignated RF-84K as it was based on the reconnaissance version of the F-84, the RF-84F. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, the USAF experimented with the concept of having parasite fighters carried in the bomb bay of bombers so that the fighters could provide escort protection as the bombers neared their targets. At that time, jet aircraft had very short ranges so they could not fly with the bombers all the way to the target and back.
Despite a number of different experiments, the concept proved very difficult and was eventually abandoned as jet engines became more fuel efficient and air to air refueling became the recognised way of giving jet aircraft extended range.
The smaller aeroplane is a test version of the Republic F-84F - redesignated RF-84K as it was based on the reconnaissance version of the F-84, the RF-84F. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, the USAF experimented with the concept of having parasite fighters carried in the bomb bay of bombers so that the fighters could provide escort protection as the bombers neared their targets. At that time, jet aircraft had very short ranges so they could not fly with the bombers all the way to the target and back.
Despite a number of different experiments, the concept proved very difficult and was eventually abandoned as jet engines became more fuel efficient and air to air refueling became the recognised way of giving jet aircraft extended range.
Eric Mc said:
Despite a number of different experiments, the concept proved very difficult and was eventually abandoned as jet engines became more fuel efficient and air to air refueling became the recognised way of giving jet aircraft extended range.
There was a suggestion once of sticking a Gnat on a Vulcan but I don't think anyone was silly enough to actually try it.james_TW said:
AlexC1981 said:
Six pusher propellers, jet engines, gun turrets and a parasitic fighter? Off the scale coolness. 
What's that then?Eric Mc said:
The big aeroplane is the Convair B-36. It was the USAF's standard long range heavy bomber until replaced by the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
See the FICON Project - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FICON_projectOn a related "B-36" note... The NB-36H nuclear powered plane[1]
[1] It didn't get as far as being nuclear powered, it flew with the reactor running but the project was scrapped due to the risks of radioactive contamination in event of a crash before they got as far as using the reactor to power the plane. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_NB-36H
A B-36 landed a bit short of Boscombe Down in 1952. I wasn't born then but my father who was an ambulance driver in the area said it was huge and also made a bit of a mess of the field, stories linked bellow.
https://www.a-e-g.org.uk/convairs-mighty-b-36.html
https://www.a-e-g.org.uk/convairs-mighty-b-36.html
Eric Mc said:
The big aeroplane is the Convair B-36. It was the USAF's standard long range heavy bomber until replaced by the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
I've just been reading up on it, I hadn't realised how interesting it was. Designed to bomb Japan from Hawaii, initially planned to enter service in August 1945, carried a bigger bombload than a B52. Eric Mc said:
And it looks like nuclear powered aircraft may be on the agenda again (which is STILL not a good idea).
Didn’t the Russians get one flying or partially powered at least by a nuclear reactor (not sure if it’s an urban myth), they solved the problem of having heavy lead shielding for the radiation protection by simply not having any and making the crew replaceable. Seems too stupid to be true but hey nothing would surprise me when it comes to military inventions.
A little like the laser weapon put in the back of an airliner to shoot missiles down, pointless. I remember attending a brief by one of the top military aviation think tank guys as part of a promotion lecture. His lecture was on this very idea. Totally pointless. Anyway I digress.
MB140 said:
Didn’t the Russians get one flying or partially powered at least by a nuclear reactor (not sure if it’s an urban myth), they solved the problem of having heavy lead shielding for the radiation protection by simply not having any and making the crew replaceable.
Seems too stupid to be true but hey nothing would surprise me when it comes to military inventions.
A little like the laser weapon put in the back of an airliner to shoot missiles down, pointless. I remember attending a brief by one of the top military aviation think tank guys as part of a promotion lecture. His lecture was on this very idea. Totally pointless. Anyway I digress.
They flew a Tu-95 with a reactor on board but never powered by it, but made the US think they did hence the big spend in the US.Seems too stupid to be true but hey nothing would surprise me when it comes to military inventions.
A little like the laser weapon put in the back of an airliner to shoot missiles down, pointless. I remember attending a brief by one of the top military aviation think tank guys as part of a promotion lecture. His lecture was on this very idea. Totally pointless. Anyway I digress.
This was widely reported as being nuclear powered and the US believed it - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myasishchev_M-50
FourWheelDrift said:
MB140 said:
Didn’t the Russians get one flying or partially powered at least by a nuclear reactor (not sure if it’s an urban myth), they solved the problem of having heavy lead shielding for the radiation protection by simply not having any and making the crew replaceable.
Seems too stupid to be true but hey nothing would surprise me when it comes to military inventions.
A little like the laser weapon put in the back of an airliner to shoot missiles down, pointless. I remember attending a brief by one of the top military aviation think tank guys as part of a promotion lecture. His lecture was on this very idea. Totally pointless. Anyway I digress.
They flew a Tu-95 with a reactor on board but never powered by it, but made the US think they did hence the big spend in the US.Seems too stupid to be true but hey nothing would surprise me when it comes to military inventions.
A little like the laser weapon put in the back of an airliner to shoot missiles down, pointless. I remember attending a brief by one of the top military aviation think tank guys as part of a promotion lecture. His lecture was on this very idea. Totally pointless. Anyway I digress.
This was widely reported as being nuclear powered and the US believed it - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myasishchev_M-50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR5gefU87TY
andym1603 said:
No pictures. Just seen an Osprey flying east to west over Inverness, also earlier on a large transport circling over the town as well. Is there an exercise on never heard of an Osprey this far north before?
On the news. 2 Ospreys up here on a training exercise. Pictures in article.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-i...
Dr Jekyll said:
Eric Mc said:
The big aeroplane is the Convair B-36. It was the USAF's standard long range heavy bomber until replaced by the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
I've just been reading up on it, I hadn't realised how interesting it was. Designed to bomb Japan from Hawaii, initially planned to enter service in August 1945, carried a bigger bombload than a B52. 
I was just speaking to one of the Sgts in our ops room who told me his grandad died recently and left him something in his will.
He pulls this out the draw. An original design draft for the Lincoln Mk1. Turns out his Grandad worked with the lead designer (Roy Chadwick).
It’s beautiful to see such old documents but it’s a shame it’s in such poor condition but never the less thought some of you might like to see it.
He pulls this out the draw. An original design draft for the Lincoln Mk1. Turns out his Grandad worked with the lead designer (Roy Chadwick).
It’s beautiful to see such old documents but it’s a shame it’s in such poor condition but never the less thought some of you might like to see it.
MB140 said:
I was just speaking to one of the Sgts in our ops room who told me his grandad died recently and left him something in his will.
He pulls this out the draw. An original design draft for the Lincoln Mk1. Turns out his Grandad worked with the lead designer (Roy Chadwick).
It’s beautiful to see such old documents but it’s a shame it’s in such poor condition but never the less thought some of you might like to see it.
Very interesting. I wonder if the museum at Woodford would like to see it? They are looking after Avro heritage.He pulls this out the draw. An original design draft for the Lincoln Mk1. Turns out his Grandad worked with the lead designer (Roy Chadwick).
It’s beautiful to see such old documents but it’s a shame it’s in such poor condition but never the less thought some of you might like to see it.
louiechevy said:
A B-36 landed a bit short of Boscombe Down in 1952. I wasn't born then but my father who was an ambulance driver in the area said it was huge and also made a bit of a mess of the field, stories linked bellow.
https://www.a-e-g.org.uk/convairs-mighty-b-36.html
“The Boscombe Down controller said ‘You are two miles from touchdown, on centre line’. The pilot responded ‘I’ve landed’ and, after a slight pause, ‘My, isn’t your field rough’.” https://www.a-e-g.org.uk/convairs-mighty-b-36.html
Great article, thanks for posting it.
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