Aviation Geeks unite?! Anybody else care about planes here?

[J.T.B.]

Was the Foxbat's "F" name a mistake, then? They thought it was a regular fighter but it turned out to be an interceptor. Would it have gotten a different name, or is any sort of combat aircraft still "F"?

Any aircraft whose main role is to take on other aircraft is generally classified as a fighter.

 

[NCC-73515]

If you want to see something far out, check this video at about 8:35. It's like something from a Gerry Anderson show.

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Wow, so that's where the Discoprise got its connection tube technology XD

I like these designs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_YB-35
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_X

 

[scotpens]

I've always been a fan of the big commercial flying boats. A favorite of mine is the odd-looking Sikorsky S-40 of the early 1930s. It was described as "a collection of aircraft parts flying in loose formation."

 

[Santaman]

I love flying boats!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_PBY_Catalina
A classic

Oh and you want engines? this one has 12(!!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_X

And of course my favorire jet powered flying boat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saunders-Roe_SR.A/1

 

[Henoch]

I've always been a fan of the big commercial flying boats. A favorite of mine is the odd-looking Sikorsky S-40 of the early 1930s. It was described as "a collection of aircraft parts flying in loose formation."

I now know where the TOS-E got her square and round windows design.

 

[J.T.B.]

Love the Sikorsky flying boats, love the PBY. Really a workhorse and hero of WW2 in all theaters.

I'm also partial to its predecessor the P2Y, which broke a lot of ground for long-range patrol in the '30s. Kind of looks like a steampunk Catalina.



PBY and P2Y-2 operating together, 1936.

 

[publiusr]

Don't forget this Two-Stage to Sub-orbit concept
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Mayo_Composite

A big find
http://up-ship.com/blog/?p=42716

Still futuristic
https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article/this-incredible-plane-edgley-optica/#.Xm00lKNKiUk

The Coanda
https://gmic.co.uk/topic/73251-coandă-1910-plane-plausible-or-not/

Bill Sweetman has written about lots of birds
https://www.airspacemag.com/author/bill-sweetman/

Perching drones?
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-perching-behavior-hawks-ways-drones.html

Jet fuel find:
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-bacteria-unusual-triangular-molecule-jet.html

Methane to ethanol via light
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-holy-grail-catalysisturning-methane-methanol.html

 

[BK613]

The PBY Catalina was recently featured in Air and Space:
https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/legends-of-an-ocean-crossing-seaplane-180971743/

One of my favorite planes...

 

[Santaman]

@publiusr
I like the Optica, interesting aircraft.

As for the forerunner of the jet engine you've got to look at the Caproni Campini Nr.1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Campini_N1
It used a piston engine to drive the compressor which forced air into the combustion chambers where it was mixed with fuel and ignited so it creates thrust
that way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorjet

 

[J.T.B.]

Phantom with the original nose, what a difference that big radar made! I like the "uglier" droopy nose better, looks like it means business.

 

[StarCruiser]

Yes - the F-4 Phantom. America's proof to the world that given a big enough engine, even a brick can fly! (It actually had decent aerodynamics but still...)

 

[J.T.B.]

Yes - the F-4 Phantom. America's proof to the world that given a big enough engine, even a brick can fly! (It actually had decent aerodynamics but still...)

Yeah, the single-seat guys gave it a hard time, but everybody wanted it!

 

[Santaman]

The Phantom is a great aircraft.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panavia_Tornado
I of course love the Panavia Tornado, another great and flexible aircraft design.

Another odball
The X3 Stiletto, really "sharp" looking aircraft
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-3_Stiletto

 

[Marc]

Yes - the F-4 Phantom. America's proof to the world that given a big enough engine, even a brick can fly! (It actually had decent aerodynamics but still...)

ah you're thinking of the Dassault Mirage

Though if memory serves, the Royal Navy stuck Rolls-Royce engines in their Phantoms which didn't achieve the desired result.

 

[Santaman]

^^ Yep, the UK Phantoms were slower..

 

[StarCruiser]

Maybe the show is obscure now but, this is where I first heard the comment:

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[CorporalCaptain]

The Phantom was fugly.

 

[Santaman]

I don't think the Phantom that ugly..

One of my other favorites, the English Electric Lightning which is a seriously fast aircraft, especially climb rate of the thing is really awesome.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Electric_Lightning

 

[John Clark]

I liked the Phantom too, though here most were reengined with the Spey as mentioned above. (The only exceptions I'm aware of were the F4-Js we picked up later)?

 

[valkyrie013]

Used to work on Ch-53's.. so yeah.. Air head here
Freind told me a saying.. 1 a day in Tampa Bay.. regarding F-4's flying out of Macdill.. .. then practicing there flying boat skills..

Love odd aircraft, Flying Pancake, sepcat Jaguar..