|
|
05-15-2012, 12:23 PM
|
#1
|
Rivet Master
2010 27' FB Flying Cloud
Fraser Valley
, British Columbia
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,966
|
Trains, Planes, Automobiles, and Ships!
Airstreams obviously attract those who like to be on the move. I think it would be fair to say we admire all forms of locomotion.
Here are a few of my favourite airplanes.
The airplane with the most mispronounced name, but it is like sitting in the back seat of a 1939 Buick.....
I wrote an article about the Lanc for an aviation rag. While standing at the fence during the Abby Airshow, overheard many comments like "I wanted my grandchildren to see the sacrifices their grandfather made" or "My brother was a naviator on the Lanc - he never came home" or "My great uncle earned his Distinguished Flying Cross - 40 sorties on the Lancaster" etc. How many memories continued to spin long after the stilling of these propellers?.....
The airplane that taught the world how to fly.....
Finally......pretty smooth landing there "M"......
__________________
easily distracted by shiny objects
|
|
|
05-15-2012, 01:15 PM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
1973 27' Overlander
Loganville
, Georgia
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,741
|
I am not an expert on planes but this one would make a nice airplane camper. It is a De Havilland Caribou
__________________
Brian & Adrienne
|
|
|
05-15-2012, 01:45 PM
|
#3
|
Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
1977 31' Excella 500
Berkeley Springs
, West Virginia
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,637
|
Good Stuff
I flew a 1937 Waco UPF-7 biplane once. Pretty airplane. Very heavy in roll but light in pitch. Oh yeah, you say it like Rock-Oh but with a W instead of an R
Better still, I flew a 1941 Stearman PT-17 as well. I like the Stearman better than the Waco, even if it's slower. On the Stearman, everything was heavy, but it was harmoniously heavy. It had the inertial starter too, where you had to stick a glorified tire iron into a hole in the side of the bird and slowly spin this flywheel up to speed. You then jump in the cockpit and quickly flip the clutch to dump the flywheel energy into the motor to start it. I had her to a whopping 95mph (knots are for sailors ) in a slight dive....this is with the original Continental 220hp. Now put a P&W R-985 on her and double the power and now we're talking!
Of course, nothing beats the XB-70. Look it up. Pure awesome!
I'm working on the design of a plane that is basically a modernized Helio Courier. Great STOL on the low end but fairly quick cruise as well. I hope to have it done some time in the next 100 years....
see ya,
__________________
- Jim
|
|
|
05-15-2012, 01:57 PM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
1983 34' Excella
1967 24' Tradewind
Little Rock
, Arkansas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,825
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimGolden
I flew a 1937 Waco UPF-7 biplane once. Pretty airplane. Very heavy in roll but light in pitch. Oh yeah, you say it like Rock-Oh but with a W instead of an R
Better still, I flew a 1941 Stearman PT-17 as well. I like the Stearman better than the Waco, even if it's slower. On the Stearman, everything was heavy, but it was harmoniously heavy. It had the inertial starter too, where you had to stick a glorified tire iron into a hole in the side of the bird and slowly spin this flywheel up to speed. You then jump in the cockpit and quickly flip the clutch to dump the flywheel energy into the motor to start it. I had her to a whopping 95mph (knots are for sailors ) in a slight dive....this is with the original Continental 220hp. Now put a P&W R-985 on her and double the power and now we're talking!
Of course, nothing beats the XB-70. Look it up. Pure awesome!
I'm working on the design of a plane that is basically a modernized Helio Courier. Great STOL on the low end but fairly quick cruise as well. I hope to have it done some time in the next 100 years....
see ya,
|
OK, Stearman to XB-70. That pretty much covers the spectrum.
__________________
Vaughan
|
|
|
05-15-2012, 03:40 PM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
2010 27' FB Flying Cloud
Fraser Valley
, British Columbia
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,966
|
Hey! This isn't just about airplanes. Let's have some of those trains, cars, and boats/ships.
I like this because it's planes on a train.....
The quintessential Canadian experience, the CPR through the Rockies....
This is one kewl car, although I've never seen one in person.....
The beautiful but ill-fated Art Deco Normandie....
And one more airplane for the road. There's something about the music.....
__________________
easily distracted by shiny objects
|
|
|
05-15-2012, 03:48 PM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
2010 27' FB Flying Cloud
Fraser Valley
, British Columbia
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,966
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lothlorian
I am not an expert on planes but this one would make a nice airplane camper. It is a De Havilland Caribou
|
Loth, I went to a DC-3 fly-in - one couple did just that. Turned a DC-3 into a flying RV. And we think Airstreaming is expensive!!!
__________________
easily distracted by shiny objects
|
|
|
05-15-2012, 03:51 PM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master
2010 27' FB Flying Cloud
Fraser Valley
, British Columbia
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,966
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimGolden
I flew a 1937 Waco UPF-7 biplane once. Pretty airplane. Very heavy in roll but light in pitch. Oh yeah, you say it like Rock-Oh but with a W instead of an R
Better still, I flew a 1941 Stearman PT-17 as well. I like the Stearman better than the Waco, even if it's slower. On the Stearman, everything was heavy, but it was harmoniously heavy. It had the inertial starter too, where you had to stick a glorified tire iron into a hole in the side of the bird and slowly spin this flywheel up to speed. You then jump in the cockpit and quickly flip the clutch to dump the flywheel energy into the motor to start it. I had her to a whopping 95mph (knots are for sailors ) in a slight dive....this is with the original Continental 220hp. Now put a P&W R-985 on her and double the power and now we're talking!
Of course, nothing beats the XB-70. Look it up. Pure awesome!
I'm working on the design of a plane that is basically a modernized Helio Courier. Great STOL on the low end but fairly quick cruise as well. I hope to have it done some time in the next 100 years....
see ya,
|
Jim, I'm not a pilot so always enjoy these views from the cockpit. I took some flying lessons but....don't laugh....was always airsick! Now I'm just an airplane geek who seldom leaves the ground.
Looked up the XB-70. Amazing!
All the best with your Helio, and happy contrails!
__________________
easily distracted by shiny objects
|
|
|
05-16-2012, 05:39 AM
|
#8
|
"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
|
From a great Airstream'n album....
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
|
|
|
05-16-2012, 06:58 AM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
1992 34' Excella
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 563
|
Beechcraft Staggerwing
If you want to see the most beautiful cars ever built, go to the Auburn-Deusenberg-Cord Museum in Auburn, IN. I think the Cord Convertible Coupe is the most beautiful car ever built but you may find another model that you like even more.
__________________
Crusty
"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."
Lake Travis, TX
"Rancho Deluxe"
|
|
|
05-16-2012, 08:21 AM
|
#10
|
"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
|
Great Museum for sure....but
Partial to one built right here in Buffalo...
"The Silver Arrow"
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
|
|
|
05-16-2012, 09:46 AM
|
#11
|
4 Rivet Member
2002 22' International CCD
San Luis Obispo
, California
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 418
|
Wow, this might be the funnest thread ever!
__________________
Wayne
2002 22' CCD
2008 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi
|
|
|
05-16-2012, 06:44 PM
|
#12
|
Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
1977 31' Excella 500
Berkeley Springs
, West Virginia
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,637
|
Boy, these are all good!
I always liked the Auburn 852 (I think that's the model...), the boat tailed speedster. Beautiful cars. There was a junkyard near me when I was a kid that had a Packard Clipper in it. That thing was really cool too. Had a straight-8 engine and the hood was about 8' long. Inside looked like a Victorian era coach fit for British royalty. It even had curtains
Beech Staggerwings are very pretty. Some guys made a modern knockoff of it; I think it was called the Lionheart or similar. Very nice looking plane.
I really like the 4-8-4 steam trains built by Norfolk and Western (they actually built their own engines as opposed to buying them from Baldwin, etc.) I forget the name they had for them, but they were really streamlined. They had large diameter drive wheels and could cruise pretty easily at 90mph and could top over 100mph. They ran them from Norfolk through WV and into NJ and NY or so, hauling both passengers and freight. They built them in the early 50's and, as I understand it, were the last of the great steam Expresses. I know there's at least one left and they keep it down in Roanoke I believe. I have the MTH O-gauge version of it. Pretty sweet!
On the ocean liners, I'd have to go with the S.S. United States. The Big U is just awesome! When I hit the lottery for $300M, I'm going to buy it (it's sitting in Philly deteriorating right now) and repower it with a nuclear reactor and return it to more than it's former glory. But even as it was, United States had 275,000 hp and could go faster in reverse than just about any current tub liner can go in forward. And going forward, The Big U could do over 40 knots (that's 47mph for those of us who aren't sailors...) She was built to U.S. Navy standards and so really was built like a battleship. At least a cruiser anyway
As for planes though, the XB-70 is hard to beat. North American Aviation (same guys who brought us the P-51 Mustang) was tasked with building a Mach 3 (2000mph+) super bomber during the cold war. They didn't have ICBM's yet. Couldn't build it from aluminum because at those speeds (faster than a .30-06 bullet) the friction from the air rubbing against it would heat the skin up hotter than the melting point of aluminum. They wound up coming up with a stainless steel honeycomb material. Most of the XB-70 was made of stainless steel. First time I went to the USAF Museum at Wright Pat (a totally awesome experience, and not that far from Jackson Center....if you go to one you should definitely go to the other...I've been to both haha) I went directly to the X-planes section. I'm looking all over for the big bomber. Finally in frustration, I ask a lady working there "Where is the Valkyrie? I came to see the XB-70!" She sort of grinned and said "Look up." DOH!!!!!!!!!!!!! They parked all the other X-planes UNDER it! The thing is a beast! I used to work for Boeing. This plane is nearly the size of a 777. The air intakes are tall enough you could walk into them. And the really cool feature is the outer wing tips which fold down to cup the planes own shock wave underneath it. So it basically "surfs" on it's own shockwave. That provides a ton of lift, which means the wings don't need to make as much lift, which means you have less induced drag, which means you can go faster. Freaking awesome machine!
The mark of a cool machine is if it (A) Goes really fast (B) Is really loud, or (C) Burns a lot of gas Any two of these are sufficient, but all three and you've got a winner!
Of course my good bud's dad had a buddy who bought himself a surplus P-51 Mustang in 1951 or thereabouts. Fellow paid $2000 for the Mustang, and proceeded to spend $3000 in high test gasoline for it in the first month...in 1951 dollars. He promptly sold the Mustang. Well, my three criteria sounded good in theory anyway....
Yes, I am an airplane geek
All things shiny and silver are cool!
__________________
- Jim
|
|
|
05-16-2012, 07:16 PM
|
#13
|
"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
|
Jim,
"J" Class 4-8-4.
Went on a Railfan excursion on the #911 a few years back, 100mph on the Level Line between Buffalo and Cleveland....SOOPER trip.
Check out the N&W prints by O. Winston Link.
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
|
|
|
05-16-2012, 07:19 PM
|
#14
|
Retired.
Currently Looking...
.
, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimGolden
I really like the 4-8-4 steam trains built by Norfolk and Western (they actually built their own engines as opposed to buying them from Baldwin, etc.) I forget the name they had for them, but they were really streamlined. They had large diameter drive wheels and could cruise pretty easily at 90mph and could top over 100mph. They ran them from Norfolk through WV and into NJ and NY or so, hauling both passengers and freight. They built them in the early 50's and, as I understand it, were the last of the great steam Expresses. I know there's at least one left and they keep it down in Roanoke I believe. I have the MTH O-gauge version of it. Pretty sweet!
|
That is called a J. There is one remaining on permanent display at the museum in Roanoke, #611. They were dynamically balanced to operate at speeds of 140 mph+, it's too bad there were no stretches of railroad straight and long enough to reach that design speed. The main driving wheels were 70" in diameter. I have an HO scale model of it sitting on my mantel. Two bits of trivia, N&W never named their engine classes, they were almost exclusively lettered, such as A, Y, J, K, etc. The second is the original name of Roanoke was Big Lick.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
|
|
|
05-17-2012, 12:36 AM
|
#15
|
Rivet Master
2010 27' FB Flying Cloud
Fraser Valley
, British Columbia
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,966
|
More O. Winston Link
"Hot Shot Eastbound" - an amazing photo!
__________________
easily distracted by shiny objects
|
|
|
05-17-2012, 04:21 AM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
1977 31' Excella 500
Berkeley Springs
, West Virginia
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,637
|
Yep, J Class. That's it! I need to run down to Roanoke (I live only 3 hours from there) and check that out. I've seen it on Youtube videos. What a beautiful engine!
We did go up to Strausburg PA to their train museum a while back. They have a lot of nice stuff up there.
Bob, that's awesome you got to ride that fast on one! I think the fastest I've been on a steam train was about 35mph. The ones at Cass, WV, are lucky to hit 12mph...but those are Shay engines with the big jackscrew that drives all the wheels so they can climb steep grades.
I've seen that photo in a WV magazine....supposedly it was taken at a drive in somewhere in southern WV in the 50's and the train went by during the movie. At least that's what the magazine said....
__________________
- Jim
|
|
|
05-17-2012, 04:56 AM
|
#17
|
"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fly at Night
"Hot Shot Eastbound" - an amazing photo!
|
This photo is in "The Last Steam Railroad in America", all Link prints, if you look real close you can see his reflection in the rear view mirror.
Very interesting photograph contrasting the "jet age" with the era of Steam Trains.
Whats really amazing is how he set-up his night shots with hundreds of synchronized arrays of flash bulbs and reflectors.
Another famous photo....
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
|
|
|
05-17-2012, 09:23 AM
|
#18
|
Rivet Master
1992 34' Excella
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 563
|
Sailboats
__________________
Crusty
"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."
Lake Travis, TX
"Rancho Deluxe"
|
|
|
05-17-2012, 10:44 AM
|
#19
|
Moderator Emeritus
1964 26' Overlander
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Anna
, Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,708
|
For me, one of the most memorable automobiles has to be the Tucker. I will never forget seeing one for the first time . . . it was at the Momence, IL Gladiola Antique Car Show around 1977. The car was whisper quiet as it was driven onto the show field . . . it was either jonquil yellow or spring yellow.
My second choice for most memorable automobile would be the Studebaker Lark VIII Convertible. My friends call my 1960 Lark VIII Regal Convertible homely (its unrestored), but it is so homely that I find it cute.
My neighbors had owned a white 1960 Lark VIII convertible through the early 1970s; and I gradually came to admire the car . . . purchased a jonquil yellow convertible like the one in the advertising postcard above (mine needs total restoration).
I have always enjoyed train travel, and was introduced to that mode of travel as a child when we traveled from Kankakee, IL to Carbondale, IL on a frequent basis as it took so much less time than driving (before Interstate 57 opened). My most memorable train is the Bay Ara Rapid Transit traings. My cousin introduced me to BART travel in the late 1970s, and I always make it a point to take the BART somewhere when I visit the San Francisco Bay Area.
My favorite form of boat for travel is the horse-drawn barge. There are several of these attractions operating in the Upper Midwest, and I had the opportunity to take one of the tours while on the 1999 VAC Wagon Wheels Caravan.
Kevin
__________________
Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC #7864
AIR #827
1964 Overlander International
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
|
|
|
05-17-2012, 10:45 AM
|
#20
|
Retired.
Currently Looking...
.
, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
|
If you are interested in those photos, the O Winston Link museum is next door to the museum that houses the J.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimGolden
Yep, J Class. That's it! I need to run down to Roanoke (I live only 3 hours from there) and check that out. I've seen it on Youtube videos. What a beautiful engine!
We did go up to Strausburg PA to their train museum a while back. They have a lot of nice stuff up there.
Bob, that's awesome you got to ride that fast on one! I think the fastest I've been on a steam train was about 35mph. The ones at Cass, WV, are lucky to hit 12mph...but those are Shay engines with the big jackscrew that drives all the wheels so they can climb steep grades.
I've seen that photo in a WV magazine....supposedly it was taken at a drive in somewhere in southern WV in the 50's and the train went by during the movie. At least that's what the magazine said....
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS
This photo is in "The Last Steam Railroad in America", all Link prints, if you look real close you can see his reflection in the rear view mirror.
Very interesting photograph contrasting the "jet age" with the era of Steam Trains.
Whats really amazing is how he set-up his night shots with hundreds of synchronized arrays of flash bulbs and reflectors.
Another famous photo....
Bob
|
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|