US Military aircraft and picture stories

[ROBERT CROSS]

...but it sure IS fly'n.

Bob
🇺🇸

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHk13Xa8dqI

[SPARKLE19]

My assignment out of AT “B” school was to VP-40 at Sangley Point, Philippines. The squadron flew SP-5B aircraft, strictly a seaplane (no wheels) and although the base had a runway its claim to fame was a seaplane ramp. The aircraft had to have pontoon mounted wheels attached and be towed ashore. I flew as a radioman. Crews normally had two radiomen and the off duty chore was to be on lookout for lost souls at sea. One of the photos shows a JATO jet assisted take off. The JATO bottles were 1000 pounds of thrust each and provided about 15 seconds of power to enable the aircraft to get off of rough seas quickly. I left the squadron just before it began transitioning to P3 aircraft and repositioning to California. This was 1962.

[jimmini]

Civil Air transport (CAT) was a Nationalist Chinese airline later owned by the CIA,that supported USA covert operations in East and Southeast Asia. "Worlds most shot-at airline". 1946-1968.
Some of their military surplus aircraft in their 2nd life.

(1) C-46 and PBY in Hong Kong 1950s
(2) C-46 in Japan 1950s note B-26 ? in back ground.
(3) C-46 and C-119 The C-119 where used to support the French at Dien Bien Phu Mar -May 1954 redone with French colors flown by CAT pilots.
(4) C-47 Note fine maintenance stand.
(5) CAT Surplus C-54 as passenger aircraft.
They also had a Navy LST Chun 118 ship that was used for aircraft maintenance shop and a PT boat made in to a yacht.

[skyguyscott]

Military surplus aircraft re-purposed for use in a civilian market

It Does indeed seem that the so-called civil aviation industry relies heavily on government subsidies one way or another. The old joke is everyone since Wilbur and Orville have been trying to figure out a way to make money in aviation.

[jimmini]

Originally Posted by skyguyscott

Military surplus aircraft re-purposed for use in a civilian market

It Does indeed seem that the so-called civil aviation industry relies heavily on government subsidies one way or another. The old joke is everyone since Wilbur and Orville have been trying to figure out a way to make money in aviation.

Surplus is king.After WW I surplus airplanes went to barnstormers, WW II planes sold cheap. Some times the fuel in them was worth more than they sold for,or so the stories go.
Then all the airlines sold off the piston planes for freighters and fire fighting. Look where all the B 747,757 and 767 are now surplus to Cargo aircraft and beer cans.
After 68 years in aviation I have made a living, BUT I know more people that have gone broke than have got rich.If it was not for the rich that want in the rest of us might not even have made a living.

[Julie-Bob]

Originally Posted by jimmini

Civil Air transport (CAT) was a Nationalist Chinese airline later owned by the CIA,that supported USA covert operations in East and Southeast Asia. "Worlds most shot-at airline". 1946-1968.

Some of their military surplus aircraft in their 2nd life.



(1) C-46 and PBY in Hong Kong 1950s

(2) C-46 in Japan 1950s note B-26 ? in back ground.

(3) C-46 and C-119 The C-119 where used to support the French at Dien Bien Phu Mar -May 1954 redone with French colors flown by CAT pilots.

(4) C-47 Note fine maintenance stand.

(5) CAT Surplus C-54 as passenger aircraft.

They also had a Navy LST Chun 118 ship that was used for aircraft maintenance shop and a PT boat made in to a yacht.

Like your photo of a great airplane (work horse). I worked for Capitol Air that flew LOGAIR with them. I worked at Tinker Air Force Base OK. The PW 2800 engines where a great engine. That was in 1962

[skyguyscott]

It’s easy to get into aviation and end up with $1 million. You just have to start with 10 million.

[BlackAces]

I found this on display at the Nellis, AFB. It had probably had, at one time or another been a "Red Flag" aircraft.

(RED FLAG is a contested combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. It is coordinated at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and conducted on the vast bombing and gunnery ranges of the Nevada Test and Training Range.)

[skyguyscott]

Originally Posted by BlackAces

I found this on display at the Nellis, AFB. It had probably had, at one time or another been a "Red Flag" aircraft.

While I am sure our military went over the aircraft very thoroughly for intel, I would be surprised if they actually flew the aircraft in combat training due to the necessity of having to have a lot of spare parts and maintenance expertise to keep it in top flying condition, to say nothing of having a bunch of trained pilots familiar enough with its own set of symptoms & quirky Behavior.

But, for a while there in the 90s, when the Russian federation was toying with capitalism, I did wonder whether or not they would be willing to sell an export version of some of their fighters to the west. At least one western entity did pick up a used AN-124 but I believe that company is no longer around.

[Vitaver]

All of you who have served: THANK YOU!!

[kb0zke]

Earlier this year we visited the Nuclear Museum in Albuquerque. The inside was closed, but the aircraft outside were available to walk around. They have not only a B-52 but also a B-47. That was what was stationed at Lincoln AFB when I was growing up. They even have a Soviet-era aircraft (forgot which one). As I left I mentioned that they needed to get two more bombers, a B-58 and an XB-70. They agreed, but wondered where they would put them.

[21Airstream]

My guess is the “64” on that bird represents the “64th Aggressor Squadron.

[Escape_Plan]

Originally Posted by kb0zke

they needed to get two more bombers, a B-58 and an XB-70. They agreed, but wondered where they would put them.

Good Luck on the XB-70, there is one left (USAF S/N 62-0001) and it's on permanent display at the Wright-Patterson USAF Museum in Dayton, OH.

The good news is, the museum is not far from Jackson Center. So, if you happen to be visiting JC, take a another day (or three) and go through the museum. You won't regret it. I've been to Wright-Pat probably a dozen times or more and always enjoy it. Of note, I live near DC and the Smithsonian Air&Space cannot hold a candle to Wright-Pat.

[Escape_Plan]

Originally Posted by Escape_Plan

Of note, I live near DC and the Smithsonian Air&Space cannot hold a candle to Wright-Pat.

I forgot to mention another great aviation museum also near DC, the Udvar-Hazy Center is near Dulles Int'l Airport, about an hour west of DC. It, too, is a great aviation museum. There is no entrance fee, but Parking is $15.00.

[jimmini]

Originally Posted by Julie-Bob

Like your photo of a great airplane (work horse). I worked for Capitol Air that flew LOGAIR with them. I worked at Tinker Air Force Base OK. The PW 2800 engines where a great engine. That was in 1962

Oh the old LOGAIR day I remember them.
My first flight when I was in the Air Force in 1953 was from Oakland to Amarillo AFB TX to go to jet mechanics school on a contract C-46 with a stop in Winslow AZ

[BlackAces]

Originally Posted by skyguyscott

While I am sure our military went over the aircraft very thoroughly for intel, I would be surprised if they actually flew the aircraft in combat training due to the necessity of having to have a lot of spare parts and maintenance expertise to keep it in top flying condition, to say nothing of having a bunch of trained pilots familiar enough with its own set of symptoms & quirky Behavior.

But, for a while there in the 90s, when the Russian federation was toying with capitalism, I did wonder whether or not they would be willing to sell an export version of some of their fighters to the west. At least one western entity did pick up a used AN-124 but I believe that company is no longer around.

"Approximately 60 countries over four continents have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations six decades after its maiden flight. It made aviation records, became the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history."

https://www.airforcemag.com/article/usafs-aggressors/

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by BlackAces

If anyone has visited the USS Midway museum at San Diego, CA you may recall its designation as being CV-41. I made two long deployments on the Midway from 1970 to 1973. At that time its designation was CVA-41.

Aboard the Midway I was a member of fighter squadron 151 (F4 aircraft). During my sea tour with that squadron I was the Check Crew supervisor for both deployments.

Our workcenter was located on the 01 level in hangar bay 2. It was one of the few places on the Midway where an F4 could be completely jacked off the deck to perform scheduled maintenance on landing gear systems.

Our sister squadron, VF-161 would also jack their aircraft there. Aircraft carrier hangar bays are primarily used to perform all sorts of aircraft repairs, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.

During transits, hangar bay 2 carried 120 man motor launches and officer “P” boats, used to transport personnel to and from fleet landings when the carrier was at anchor. During Vietnam deployments those boats were off loaded at Subic Bay in the Philippines to provide more hangar space for aircraft maintenance.

Most people never assigned to an aircraft carrier have never seen a hangar bay full of aircraft in need of some sort of maintenance.

I took these pictures from the balcony leading into our workcenter. The year was 1972 and we were mid-way through an eleven month Vietnam deployment


Attachment 375383 Attachment 375384

Back in the 1970's I had 3 buddies who worked for a civilian contractor in San Diego (I'm blanking on the company name) that designed, built & maintained the service training modules/rigs for the F-4's nose/radar/etc. & some of the Tower equipment at the NAS Miramar. They were draftsmen for their design, & later went on base to service the equipment & training modules.

I don't think that there were any of the F-4 training rigs shipboard - only onshore at NAS Miramar, & maybe NAS North Island & MCAS El Toro, & possibly at other NAS/MCAS nationwide where they flew the F-4 & probably at the NAS Pensacola &/or other AIT Stations for the Techs.

Cheers!
Tom
///////

[BlackAces]

Once we spent a few weeks at the RV Park aboard Ellsworth, AFB at Box Elder. They have a huge Aviation Museum with inside and outside displays. They also provide tours of the base including the flight line areas.

I took hundreds of pictures at the museum and around the base. Here are a few of them.

[BlackAces]

These aircraft are on display at the US Army aviation museum, Fort Rucker, AL.

[BlackAces]

When this (F8U) was near its retirement it was the US Navy's last gunfighter. However, guns were once again part of the weaponry for USN fighter aircraft when the F-14 aircraft was added to the Navy inventory.