Mine is the A-10 thunder bolt 2
The warthog
I worked on a mountain top home for a year. A- 10 pilots would land at an airport near by 2 x a month.
They would buzz us while working on the home .
It was awesome.
Those are a cool jet, I like reading the stories about them making it back to base with one wing and crazy stuff like that!
That would be the sr-71 blackbird, never seen one in person, she’s a oldie now, but have they made a aircraft faster yet? And it’s a spy jet not a fight jet !
Quote from: Bruno of NH on December 02, 2021, 12:36:15 PM
Mine is the A-10 thunder bolt 2
The warthog
I worked on a mountain top home for a year. A- 10 pilots would land at an airport near by 2 x a month.
They would buzz us while working on the home .
It was awesome.
They are so quiet for a jet. No wonder they are feared, you can't hear them coming.
The B2 bomber is a crazy looking plane to see in real life.
The F15 is the best looking jet.
I finally got to see a F35 this summer. That is one loud jet, reminds me of my McCullough super 250. It will melt ear drums.
A-10s are amazing but there was never one that landed with its wing shot off. In 1991 one was shot with a SAM missile that tore a piece off the back edge of the left-wing near the fuselage. It was ugly but not fatal to a hog like the A10.
HemlockKing,
I know it is a long haul but if you are ever in the middle of Kansas, the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson has a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird on display in the main entrance where you can walk right up to it. They also have a flown Liberty Bell 7 capsule, the mockup X-1 that was used in "The Right Stuff", a Titan rocket, German, American and Russian space artifacts, a Space Shuttle mockup, etc.. And if you have time in your day, you can tour the salt mine, 650' below ground level.
Quote from: Bruno of NH on December 02, 2021, 12:36:15 PM
Mine is the A-10 thunder bolt 2
The warthog
I worked on a mountain top home for a year. A- 10 pilots would land at an airport near by 2 x a month.
They would buzz us while working on the home .
It was awesome.
Yeah, the flying tank. I was working in aircraft hydraulics when that bird was developed and we made the speed brake actuator and several other major valves and actuators on it. When the plane got into production our VP of Engineering pulled some strings and got copies of all the sales and military promotional films for us to watch. They showed all the limits of that plane as well as the live firepower it could lay down on ground targets and much of the fancy avionics. It was a beast. The first planes were built on Long Island, not far from where I worked. We would see them in the air fairly regularly headed out for test flights or delivery.
The ship was built around the cannon. Every major component in it had reference dimensions to the centerline of that cannon.
It was an F15 that landed with one wing. Put enough thrust behind it and a brick becomes aerodynamic.
FWIW the pilot later said if he had known he only had one wing he would have punched out but leaking fuel obscured his view of the damage.
Quote from: Tom the Sawyer on December 02, 2021, 02:52:28 PM
HemlockKing,
I know it is a long haul but if you are ever in the middle of Kansas, the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson has a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird on display in the main entrance where you can walk right up to it. They also have a flown Liberty Bell 7 capsule, the mockup X-1 that was used in "The Right Stuff", a Titan rocket, German, American and Russian space artifacts, a Space Shuttle mockup, etc.. And if you have time in your day, you can tour the salt mine, 650' below ground level.
Thanks for that info Tom, haven't been to kansas, but if someday I do that will certainly be a destination for me!
I've seen quite a few in my travels to military bases and ranges. I've been on the targeted side of A-10's for a day, where they would track me and my buddy with the Gatling gun, then roll on one wing and wave. The pilots would come so close I could count the fasteners in the airframe. They are exceptionally quiet when you're in front of them, but will roll your eardrums when you are on their backside.
I thought the F17 stealth fighters were about a cool as I'd ever seen, we were on the tower with the Fire Department watching them come in, and it looked like they couldn't fly. We joked with the Fire Chief, he said they were supposed to come in with near empty tanks to relieve pressure on the landing gear, but every now and then they would actually come in deadstick where they were on Empty. I asked what happens when that happens, he said the pilot gets grounded. I mentioned that was pretty tough, being told to come in basically empty, but if actually empty then the penalty was severe. He said "Yeah, so what? These are the best of the best, they are supposed to be able to manage it." Nuff said.
We also have a SR71 Blackbird here in Huntsville on display. It's pretty cool, but I think the absolute coolest fighter plane I've ever seen was either the P51 Mustang, or the old Corsair prop planes. We occasionally watched them do mock dogfights, and it is amazing to think about being in that kind of gun dogfight.
The people who fly any kind of military aircraft are special people.
I read an A-10 Did land with no canopy, front landing gear and not much of a nose left.
The gun malfunctioned and exploded.
The pilot was ok .
The Green Mountain Boys have F-35's in Burlington Vt
There was some lawsuits about the noise but they did let them in.
I call it the sound of freedom
Not a jet but the B17 is my favorite plane of all
The A-10 fleet are getting new wings,new radar system and updated avionics.
Ones that have been sitting are being overhauled as well.
Also a new kit added to each engine.
When I thought I was gonna go to the Air Force academy, I wanted to fly the A10. Instead I went to college and then joined the fire dept. I love the A10. A few years ago I was at a training at Fort Leonard Wood in MO and kept hearing this distinct sound that sounded like "brrrrrrt". I knew that was what the canon on the A10 was supposed to sound like, but I was shocked to hear it for myself.
As much as I like the A10, the F14 was my favorite fighter of all time. It still makes me sad that they are all gone. The only operational ones left are in Iran I think. The US shredded every last one that is not in a museum with all the guts gone and I think they did something to them to make sure they could never be fixed. As a kid born in 1974 I was just the right age to be in awe of the Tomcat when Topgun came out.
Quote from: firefighter ontheside on December 02, 2021, 05:06:33 PM........ As a kid born in 1974 I was just the right age to be in awe of the Tomcat when Topgun came out.
OK, that right there got me. just a year after this I was running a Big Ash NC Jig Borer making flight control manifolds for that plane as well as several other parts. I knew I was old, but I didn't think I was
THAT old.
We had an A10 pilot who had a place near us on the lake. He would fly one around here fairly often, until he left for a long stay in South Korea. He would show off what it could do, which is pretty impressive.
It's a scary thing when one does a tight turn at less than a thousand feet, and comes straight towards you!!!!
A friend of mine was a command Sgt major at ft drum NY. The a10s would do target practice there and he'd take me out so we could watch. Quite impressive.
My favorite jet is the f-4 phantom seconded by the prop driven A-1 sky raider.
On the subject of the A-10, I am told that it is the ONLY plane in the Army inventory. And that's only because of some sort of oversight on the big folks part. I can't remember exactly what I was told but all of the fixed wing stuff is supposed to NOT be in the Army, although choppers are allowed. I always thought that A-10's were the coolest thing. Takes a lickin and keeps on tickin ;) Other branches are allowed whatever they think that their pilots can handle.
Yeah, everybody is a kid to somebody else.
I believe all of the A-10s are flown by the Air Force and not the Army, even though its a flying tank.
My youngest son and I were fishing at Lake Stockton in MO a month ago and I heard a loud roar. I looked up the lake and here came 2 Warthogs on a low level flyover of the lake. It was really cool. I was hoping they would make another pass, but they never did.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36921/received_622692238926570.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1638491030)
The A-10 is assigned to the Air Force. It is the only aircraft in their inventory that was designed and used strictly CAS (Close Air Support) and used mostly in support of infantry and other ground troops. It's secondary mission is to serve as a command platform directing support on ground operations. I think that version is called an OA-10. It's ben called a warthog, flying tank, tank buster, flying pig, and several other things. If you ever seen what one can do to an APC is one pass it will make you shudder. The ordinance they carry is amazing in both quantity and variety.
I like warthogs
I told my wife if I could come back as a animal, I would be half rhino half warthog :D
Quote from: firefighter ontheside on December 02, 2021, 07:20:07 PM
Yeah, everybody is a kid to somebody else.
Yeah, I get that. It is not that my thought was about you being younger than me, for a change it just struck me that I have gotten SO old. I'm not sure how that happened or where the time went. I was in my 20's back in those days. Geez.
F-86 Sabre, Old but still a looker and enthusiastically reported by pilots as a sweet flying machine.
,
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20727/f86.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1638498232)
D
QuoteThat would be the sr-71 blackbird, never seen one in person, she's a oldie now, but have they made a aircraft faster yet? And it's a spy jet not a fight jet !
Grew up looking at pictures and watching video's of the SR-71 Blackbird, my opinion by far one of the most outrageous planes ever built. No other aircraft could fly at a SUSTAINED Mach 3.2, and at 78,000+ feet. :o
Interesting history the aircraft was designed on paper with a slide rule (long before the computers of today) by a true genius named Kelly Johnson. He also designed the P-38 lightning, one of the most radically different fighter planes of it's day. He had a hand in some 40 different airplane designs for commercial and military purposes during his career. He also was a founding member of "Skunk Works", the secretive program that developed high tech aircraft from the cold war up to the stealth fighter age.
Skunk Works has a jet in the works that only makes a dull thud when it breaks the sound barrier.
That's a game changer
The heat friction from the speeds of Mach 3.3 caused the titanium to expand so much that it had to be built loose, on ground it would leak fuel, take off with 1/4 tanks and immediately refuel after getting into flight
I will say that when you are on the ground and a A-10 comes in supporting you, it is a mighty welcome sight. It will at that point become your favorite fixed wing bird. Another is the Apache and Cobra helicopters. Absolutely amazing what those two birds can do when supporting ground troops. I have also always been impressed with the C-130. The places I have seen that bird land and pick us up is truly impressive, not to mention all the different applications they have for them.
we have a Cosmosphere Museum here in Hutchinson. part of the college, but also World renowned.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1e/c4/7d/1ec47d8fc14103094c88d7cc1f12cbf8.jpg)
Cosmosphere | Hutchinson, Kansas (https://cosmo.org/)
if we ever have and event here, it is a neat spot to see.
Quote from: Raider Bill on December 02, 2021, 06:10:55 PM
A friend of mine was a command Sgt major at ft drum NY. The a10s would do target practice there and he'd take me out so we could watch. Quite impressive.
My favorite jet is the f-4 phantom seconded by the prop driven A-1 sky raider.
I like the A-1 Sky Raider, I was a crew-chief on an A1 (tail number 555) when I was stationed in Thailand, back in 69-70.
Their primary mission was SAR (Search Air Rescue)!
I saw one come back after a mission with a hole up through the wing that 3 of us on a maintenance stand could stand inside of!
They're tough, and retired!
My favorites would be the A10 and SR71 and the engineering behind them.
I liked the comment on one of the A10 videos:
"If you hear the Brrrrt, he wasn't aiming at you.
Doug in SW IA
How about the B-52 and arc light in VN. Also the cobra chopper.
P 51 Mustang.
Quote from: YellowHammer on December 02, 2021, 03:17:01 PM
I think the absolute coolest fighter plane I've ever seen was either the P51 Mustang, or the old Corsair prop planes. We occasionally watched them do mock dogfights, and it is amazing to think about being in that kind of gun dogfight.
I agree on the Corsair - it is in my humble opinion the best and neatest looking aircraft ever made!
All business yet so very unique looking and fast and deadly for it's time..
Both a beauty and a beast all rolled into one!
Ask the Japanese all about "Whistling Death" and what they thought about them..
@realzed (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=38403) "Blacksheep Squadron" TV show as a kid, pappy boyington! I loved that show. OOH RAH! Flying Marines, airborne nightmares to the enemy hehehe!
My favorite is also the SR-71. As an Air Route Traffic Controller for the FAA, they flew into my air space from time to time. They always came from the west at 100,000 ft. Plus. Their altitude was classified, thus not shown on their computer tag. We never knew how fast they were going because the computer couldn't lock on to them to get the speed. If we needed to get their actual altitude because there was another one operating within one half of the United States, there was a code book available with that information. We never talked to them, just monitored their flight. When they came from the West, and making a 180 degree turn to go back over the Pacific Ocean, they started their turn as soon as they crossed the coast line. They were going so fast, they couldn't complete their turn until over eastern Wyoming.
Does anyone know how many SR-71's were manufactured?
GAB
GAB, I don't know.
But I like this one air_plane
32 SR-71's were built, 12 were lost in accidents, and a few ended up on display or in museums after they were retired. None were ever shot down, standard procedure was for pilots to outrun missiles that were fired at them. :o
My favorite for looks has always been the P-38, i think if it had had a redesign(more powerful engines) in 1942 it could of out flown even the P51 but it had great firepower. Right Yamamoto??!!
But as a Canadian, my favorite will always be the Avro Arrow. It never went into serious production because Ike sold PM Diefenbaker a load of BS and sold us that turkey called the Bormac missile. Then all engineers moved to the US and put developments from it into the F-14, F-15, etc
Quote from: Resonator on December 03, 2021, 11:33:50 AM
32 SR-71's were built, 12 were lost in accidents, and a few ended up on display or in museums after they were retired. None were ever shot down, standard procedure was for pilots to outrun missiles that were fired at them. :o
Thanks,
GAB
I've read about the Arrow @K-Guy (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=35658) . That would have been a great matter of national pride that got "shot" down even though it apparently would have been a great plane.
I've heard some aviation experts say that they figured with upgrades it could of been a top fighter into the 90's.
Have you all heard or read the story of Clint Eastwood crashing in an A-1 Skyraider when he was in the Army.
Quote from: Resonator on December 03, 2021, 11:33:50 AM
32 SR-71's were built, 12 were lost in accidents, and a few ended up on display or in museums after they were retired. None were ever shot down, standard procedure was for pilots to outrun missiles that were fired at them. :o
And to add to that comment only 125 pilots were qualified to fly the SR-71 ever
Quote from: K-Guy on December 03, 2021, 11:41:57 AM
My favorite for looks has always been the P-38, i think if it had had a redesign(more powerful engines) in 1942 it could of out flown even the P51 but it had great firepower. Right Yamamoto??!!
But as a Canadian, my favorite will always be the Avro Arrow. It never went into serious production because Ike sold PM Diefenbaker a load of BS and sold us that turkey called the Bormac missile. Then all engineers moved to the US and put developments from it into the F-14, F-15, etc
It just read up about the Avro Arrow
Boy Canada dropped the ball bad on the one .
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-day-clint-eastwood-almost-drowned-after-crashing-in-a-us-navy-skyraider-off-the-coast-of-northern-california/
Messerchmitt 109 !!
Quote from: doc henderson on December 03, 2021, 04:00:22 PM
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-day-clint-eastwood-almost-drowned-after-crashing-in-a-us-navy-skyraider-off-the-coast-of-northern-california/
Think how much history would have changed if he hadn't survived.
Quote from: Bruno of NH on December 03, 2021, 03:35:14 PM
Quote from: K-Guy on December 03, 2021, 11:41:57 AM
My favorite for looks has always been the P-38, i think if it had had a redesign(more powerful engines) in 1942 it could of out flown even the P51 but it had great firepower. Right Yamamoto??!!
But as a Canadian, my favorite will always be the Avro Arrow. It never went into serious production because Ike sold PM Diefenbaker a load of BS and sold us that turkey called the Bormac missile. Then all engineers moved to the US and put developments from it into the F-14, F-15, etc
It just read up about the Avro Arrow
Boy Canada dropped the ball bad on the one .
Your Right Bruno, but there was a little politics going on between the US of A and Canada.
My buddy has 5 Avro Aero jet boats from the early 60's. It was another item that they were developing along with the planes
McDonald F-4
Have said for years if I ever made big $$ I would buy myself an F4.
With a prop. The Grumman F6F Hellcat
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20727/1151px-A_F6F-3_Hellcat_from_VF-5_makes_condensation_rings_aboard_USS_Yorktown_CV-10_20_November_1943_520641.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1638721589)
D
Quote from: HemlockKing on December 03, 2021, 12:56:24 PM
Quote from: Resonator on December 03, 2021, 11:33:50 AM
32 SR-71's were built, 12 were lost in accidents, and a few ended up on display or in museums after they were retired. None were ever shot down, standard procedure was for pilots to outrun missiles that were fired at them. :o
And to add to that comment only 125 pilots were qualified to fly the SR-71 ever
I'm curious - was Chuck Yeager one of them?
GAB
When I win the Lottery, I'm getting a P51, and a T38.
Aircraft Sales » T-38 For Sale » Van Nuys » KVNY Thornton Aviation (https://www.thorntonaviation.com/aircraft-sales/)
You can even get monthly payments on this P51:
https://www.controller.com/listings/for-sale/north-american/p-51-mustang/aircraft
P5M pig boat, Spent 4 years taking care of the air frame on them.
Quote from: Tom King on December 05, 2021, 12:53:37 PM
When I win the Lottery, I'm getting a P51, and a T38.
Aircraft Sales » T-38 For Sale » Van Nuys » KVNY Thornton Aviation (https://www.thorntonaviation.com/aircraft-sales/)
Well I sure hope you are buying tickets as it improves your chances of success.
GAB
Quote from: Southside on December 05, 2021, 10:53:07 AM
Have said for years if I ever made big $$ I would buy myself an F4.
The F-4 is the only plane, that I am aware of, that has a bottom mounted compensated fuel probe in one of the tanks.
GAB
Quote from: GAB on December 05, 2021, 01:59:24 PM
Quote from: Southside on December 05, 2021, 10:53:07 AM
Have said for years if I ever made big $$ I would buy myself an F4.
The F-4 is the only plane, that I am aware of, that has a bottom mounted compensated fuel probe in one of the tanks.
GAB
What dat mean?
It means I will be able to perform a negative 3G inverted dive at a distance of 1 meter while "communicating" with a Mig pilot. :D
F6F Hellcat took over the skies of the Pacific from the Zero.
So many cool ones to choose from.
P-51 first, A-10 second.
Quote from: Chuck White on December 03, 2021, 08:11:51 AM
Quote from: Raider Bill on December 02, 2021, 06:10:55 PM
A friend of mine was a command Sgt major at ft drum NY. The a10s would do target practice there and he'd take me out so we could watch. Quite impressive.
My favorite jet is the f-4 phantom seconded by the prop driven A-1 sky raider.
I like the A-1 Sky Raider, I was a crew-chief on an A1 (tail number 555) when I was stationed in Thailand, back in 69-70.
Their primary mission was SAR (Search Air Rescue)!
I saw one come back after a mission with a hole up through the wing that 3 of us on a maintenance stand could stand inside of!
They're tough, and retired!
Where were you at in Thailand. I was in Nakom Phanom during that time frame. Longest bunch of PSP that I ever saw. Oil made it unbearably slick. I was a weapons guy for 22 years. Miss a lot of the people. Of all the aircraft that I worked, the A1 and the B52G were my favorites.
Quote from: Raider Bill on December 02, 2021, 06:10:55 PM
My favorite jet is the f-4 phantom seconded by the prop driven A-1 sky raider.
A-1 sky raider pilot MOH. Bernard Fisher, Medal of Honor, Vietnam War - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhX17rXFVsM&list=RDCMUCFggYNhgU-m4W-meF9BXbCw)
Humility and courage personified.
We heard about the incident within hours but many years before hearing of the Medal of Honor and close details.
Our hospital was just west of da nang air base so we had f-4s and a-7s 24/7, quiet wasn't part of the game plan.
My all time favorite aircraft is a Boeing 707 Freedom bird.(eastbound)
Quote from: ron barnes on December 08, 2021, 07:48:29 AM
Quote from: Chuck White on December 03, 2021, 08:11:51 AM
Quote from: Raider Bill on December 02, 2021, 06:10:55 PM
A friend of mine was a command Sgt major at ft drum NY. The a10s would do target practice there and he'd take me out so we could watch. Quite impressive.
My favorite jet is the f-4 phantom seconded by the prop driven A-1 sky raider.
I like the A-1 Sky Raider, I was a crew-chief on an A1 (tail number 555) when I was stationed in Thailand, back in 69-70.
Their primary mission was SAR (Search Air Rescue)!
I saw one come back after a mission with a hole up through the wing that 3 of us on a maintenance stand could stand inside of!
They're tough, and retired!
Where were you at in Thailand. I was in Nakom Phanom during that time frame. Longest bunch of PSP that I ever saw. Oil made it unbearably slick. I was a weapons guy for 22 years. Miss a lot of the people. Of all the aircraft that I worked, the A1 and the B52G were my favorites.
I was also at Nakhon Phanom, NKP, aka Naked Fanny!
I was there from April 1969 - April 1970
I was assigned to the 609 SOS (Special Operations Squadron), working on A-26's until their retirement, then I was reassigned to the 1st SOS and worked on the A-1 E's
I like the F111s. watched them take off an land while out on the flight line working in the pavements and maintenance div.
The other would be the C130s, we got to ride in them to go to different bases in Thailand 74-75. I saw a SR 71 come into Utapao one afternoon fuel up and take right back off, out onto the runway 1500' and off the ground and about 30 seconds was outta sight. Boy did our gov get in trouble with the Thai gov over that one. There was B52s coming an going from Utapao all the time. The B52 sprayers were probably how I got Agent Orange either that or playing in the dirt where the chemical was sprayed around the perimeter where we were putting up chainlink fence and the towns folk took it back down at night ;D .
Rita an I see the C130s come over the house all the time, I think their stationed at Barnes ARB down in Springfield Ma.
I like the F86 Sabre.
DH-98 De Havilland Mosquito
This one is unique for its time and fits right in with our passion for wood
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20727/mosquito.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1639348821)
De Havilland Mosquito: The wooden fighter-bomber that could do it all - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTsnMKzmdWs)
D
Quote from: dgdrls on December 12, 2021, 05:43:03 PMDH-98 De Havilland Mosquito
Avspecs in Auckland have recreated the moulds used to build the Mosquito, and can rebuild one from scratch now as all the wood (90% of the plane) will have deteriorated too much to be airworthy.
Aerial HD footage of the WWII Mosquito flying around Auckland City - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RVJP8lYX4I)
I believe this one is now in a US collection, Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach I think. There are 4 that are airworthy now, and Avspecs have a couple more on their "to do" list.
They are currently working on a couple of Spitfires and a Sabre jet. The other plane in the video is a DH Vampire, a late 40's jet. A local has one of the airworthy ones and we see it flying occasionally. According to Wiki there are 6 airworthy Vampires in the US, so it's possible to see one. They are quite distinctive shape and sound.
Years ago, in the 70's now, when we had airbases around here, such as CFB Chatham, the 'fly boys' used to run them jets up the Upsulquitch river valley where we fished for salmon. Lots of elbows in the river valley with steep valley walls. I tell ya, the sound will carry in those 'canyons'. :D Apparently they were Canadair CF-5's (American Northrop F-5's), but our government never bought leading edge aircraft. We actually had a better aircraft in the 50's developed and made in Canada until the government decided we were not in the fighter jet business. One should never depend on another nation for your air force, because they keep the good stuff, you can count on it. :D
I've flown in Otters and Beavers in the 90's, by then 50 years old (I read date of manufacture labels in the passenger area, used as bush planes. Those are fun in high winds and rain, Island hopping on the BC north coast. I think I left my stomach 500 feet up there in one or two altitude drops. That's the windiest place on the planet in a heavy rain off the Pacific. :D
I've flown in Otters and Beavers. Those are cool, old, radial engine planes. LOUD. I got to sit in the front seat once. I couldn't see a thing and I don't know how the pilot could either. We would get picked up at the lodge we fished at and taken to another lake for the day. Sometimes we would land in the small bay at the lodge. That plane would be flying along right at treetop and then the bottom would drop out so we could get down to the bay and land before hitting the other side. I haven't done that in a long time, maybe 30 years.
Here's a interesting video I found that's about the SR-71 cockpit and controls, previous pilot
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tj9UwKQKE3A (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tj9UwKQKE3A)
P-51 and f4u Corsair are my favorite ww2 fighters and for a ga plane hands down a super cub.Preferably with big tires and oversized engine :)
Hands down, my favorite is the F6F Hellcat. If my Pops flew anything else, I might not be here to comment. :D
Quote from: Ianab on December 12, 2021, 07:15:23 PM
Quote from: dgdrls on December 12, 2021, 05:43:03 PMDH-98 De Havilland Mosquito
I believe this one is now in a US collection, Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach I think.
There's one at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum.
https://ingeniumcanada.org/aviation/artifact/de-havilland-dh98-mosquito-b-xx
and De-Havilland aircraft museum
de Havilland DH98 Mosquito B.Mk.35 ? de Havilland Aircraft Museum (https://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/aircraft/de-havilland-dh98-mosquito-b-mk-35)
Most of the wood came from Canada to build it. On one of the Islands off British Columbia in Haida Gwaii is Mosquito Lake where timber was cut for the veneers.
F-86, Dad flew them.
At least one forward squadron in Korea had to transition from P-51's to F-86's without missing a beat, that was some serious on the job training.
This is Dad's great grandad on his first flight in '29, a Confederate vet, he saw some changes.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10017/lhpairop.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1192055698)
Our public radio station has a BBC program around dawn on Sunday mornings. A few months ago they did a multi part series on the production of the Spitfire and all its trials and victories during the war. Very well done.
Edit;
There is a Blackbird in the museum in Mobile, along with the Buick Wildcat start cart.
Quote from: SwampDonkey on December 17, 2021, 04:00:43 PM
There's one at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum.
https://ingeniumcanada.org/aviation/artifact/de-havilland-dh98-mosquito-b-xx
and De-Havilland aircraft museum
de Havilland DH98 Mosquito B.Mk.35 ? de Havilland Aircraft Museum (https://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/aircraft/de-havilland-dh98-mosquito-b-mk-35)
Most of the wood came from Canada to build it. On one of the Islands off British Columbia in Haida Gwaii is Mosquito Lake where timber was cut for the veneers.
They were (are) laminated from layers of Spruce, Birch and Balsa. I'm thinking the Spruce would have come from BC.
During the war they were built in England, Canada and Aussie. Wood wasn't a critical "war material" like aluminium etc.
Yep, and we would have had lot's of birch veneer in the rest of the country. As far as birch size goes, I've seen bigger birch in New Brunswick than I ever did across British Columbia and I worked out there where white birch grows some. A 10" white birch out there was a big one in my travels, and I worked in old forests and forest born from fires. Yellow birch would be preferred, that's an eastern birch.
This thread reminds me of when I worked a project in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. We had a British teammate, Andy, who flew for the RAF and a German teammate, Gerry, who flew for the Luftwaffe. They would get together at a function and argue about who had the best planes. I always thought Andy should have just agreed with Gerry that the Germans had the best planes then tell him "If they'd had competent pilots they'd have won the war." :D I figure there would have been no comeback for that. ;)