Great Planes

[warpedskydiver 0]

My favorite of all time was the SR71 and it's counterpart was doomed By the Kennedy administration as a concession to the Soviets over the Cuban missile crisis.

I present to you possibly the finest bomber for a 40 year period and none was ever faster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-58_Hustler

With four J-58's it was certainly capable of exceeding mach 3

Think about that, what have we built since those days, will we ever find out how fast the Blackbird really was?

I was told that as the bird got above mach3 it started wanting to go faster, the limiting factor was fuel and the structure of the plane (temperature) this may have been alleviated by flying higher though.

Hell we don't even know how high it ever flew, we only know what is said to the general public.

[Gawain 0]

I like the B-58 a lot. But it doesn't even make my top ten list.

Here's my list in no particular order (except for the first one, which IS my favorite):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-10 ...because it's badass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-52 ...because it's badass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-111 ...because it's badass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-23_Sherpa ...because the crews that fly them are awesome, and I have tons of jumps from them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-4_Phantom_II ...because it's badass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV-8B_Harrier_II ...because it's badass and the Marines that fly them aren't afraid to get dirty when they shoot at shit to support us on the ground.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-17_Flying_Fortress ...because it's super-badass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-38 ...because it's badass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-15_Eagle ...because it's badass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UH-60_Black_Hawk ...okay, it's not a plane, but they have a very special place in my heart, and not just because I have tons of jumps from them.

edit to add: considering that the B-52 will outlive the B-1, and B-2, on top of its already serving for nearly 60 years so far is a testament and feat which will never be repeated.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[riddler 0]

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and it's counterpart was doomed By the Kennedy administration as a concession to the Soviets over the Cuban missile crisis

Wiki says it was the improvement of Soviet surface-to-air missiles that obsoleted this aircraft, not Kennedy. I'm interested in your source of information.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[warpedskydiver 0]

I love them all but the two I mentioned are at the top.

Also throw in the OV-10 Bronco

Another is the A-26

[warpedskydiver 0]

Someone who was in the program in the 1961 era.

When I met him he was a retiring Colonel.

Of course wiki would be more accurate though

It was never mentioned in the press and was kept secret, just like wussing out and pulling the missiles from Turkey/

[warpedskydiver 0]

I also loved the Vulcan bomber

[Gawain 0]

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and it's counterpart was doomed By the Kennedy administration as a concession to the Soviets over the Cuban missile crisis

Wiki says it was the improvement of Soviet surface-to-air missiles that obsoleted this aircraft, not Kennedy. I'm interested in your source of information.

You are correct, the Hustler was not conceded from the missile crisis, it served through the 60s.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[JohnMitchell 16]

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-58_Hustler

With four J-58's it was certainly capable of exceeding mach 3

Actually the Hustler was only a Mach 2 aircraft. Mach 3 stuff takes stainless steel and titanium, ala Blackbird. BTW, I grew in Arlington and Fort Worth when the Hustlers were based out of Carswell AFB. Got to hear lots of sonic booms when we were kids. Old folks would jump and complain, but us kids thought they were cool.

[Gawain 0]

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Someone who was in the program in the 1961 era.

When I met him he was a retiring Colonel.

Of course wiki would be more accurate though

It was never mentioned in the press and was kept secret, just like wussing out and pulling the missiles from Turkey/

Those missiles were going to be yanked anyway...nothing like the target of an above-ground ballistic missile.

I understand your meaning though. The Hustler's successors were likely a calculation, but with such limited range and payload, it could hardly have been a strategic concern, especially since just over 100 were built. The B-70 Valkyrie was likely a direct, deliberate deception, forcing the USSR to build the MiG-25 Foxbat, a fast, capable interceptor, but ineffective fighter.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[warpedskydiver 0]

High altitude missiles could not account for such a short service life.

Think about that, we kept the B52 and that was like hitting the ocean with a stone.


With ECM the B58 would have served on.

That huge pod was large enough for anything.

[airtwardo 7]

I present to you possibly the finest bomber for a 40 year period and none was ever faster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-58_Hustler

Yep...in the Badass File: top shelf, toward the front!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[cocheese 0]

F-22 Raptor.

[JohnMitchell 16]

The F-15 Eagle is one of the most successful fighters of all time. It's kill ratio in combat is over 100 to 0, yes ZERO. An F-15 has never been shot down by an enemy aircraft. Now that's badass.

[piisfish 140]

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An F-15 has never been shot down by an enemy aircraft. Now that's badass.

and some even land single-winged.. Fleshwound

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[airtwardo 7]

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The F-15 Eagle is one of the most successful fighters of all time. It's kill ratio in combat is over 100 to 0, yes ZERO. An F-15 has never been shot down by an enemy aircraft. Now that's badass.

Oh yeah?

Land one on a fuckin' BOAT......AT NIGHT!


Tomcat~ when ya care enough to send the very best!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[JohnMitchell 16]

I remember that incident. I believe the guy said if he could have seen how damaged the plane was, he would have ejected.

[piisfish 140]

but that was due to a collision ..

apparently enemies don't harm Eagles... but friends do

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On 19 March 1990, an F-15 from the 3rd Wing stationed at Elmendorf AFB, AK accidentally fired an AIM-9M Sidewinder missile at another F-15. The damaged aircraft was able to make an emergency landing; it was subsequently repaired and returned to service.[72]
On 22 November 1995, during air-intercept training over the Sea of Japan, a Japanese F-15J flown by Lt. Tatsumi Higuchi was shot down by a AIM-9L Sidewinder missile accidentally fired by his wingman in an incident similar to the one that occurred on 19 March 1990. The pilot ejected safely. Both F-15Js involved were from JASDF 303rd Squadron, Komatsu AFB.[73]

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[airtwardo 7]

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I remember that incident. I believe the guy said if he could have seen how damaged the plane was, he would have ejected.

http://www.videosift.com/video/One-winged-F-15-flying-and-landing-after-midair-collision

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[skydiver604 0]

another fine aircraft killed by the government (Canada)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Canada_CF-105_Arrow

sorry can't get the clicky to work

"The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." - Michelangelo

[JohnMitchell 16]

The most dangerous thing in aviation?

"A routine training mission."

I was working a couple of years back when we had an F-15, Grumpy1, fly into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon during ACM practice. They figure it was lost of attitude awareness by a very experienced pilot. Tough day.

[kkeenan 14]

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...I present to you possibly the finest bomber for a 40 year period and none was ever faster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-58_Hustler

With four J-58's it was certainly capable of exceeding mach 3
.

The ejection capsule was pretty cool, enabling egress at 70k ft. and Mach 3. Here's an interesting tidbit that I came across..."Unlike standard ejection seats of the period, a protective clamshell would enclose the seat and the control stick with an attached oxygen bottle. In an unusual test program, live bears and chimpanzees were successfully used to test the ejection system."

Now that would have been an interesting test program.

Kevin

_____________________________________
Dude, you are so awesome...
Can I be on your ash jump ?

[muff528 3]

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I also loved the Vulcan bomber

It might be a toss-up whether the B-58 or the Vulcan was the loudest.

[airtwardo 7]

Now that would have been an interesting test program.

Tell that to the bear!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[kkeenan 14]

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Now that would have been an interesting test program.

Tell that to the bear!

He was probably serving time for stealing pic-a-nic baskets.

_____________________________________
Dude, you are so awesome...
Can I be on your ash jump ?

[airtwardo 7]

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Quote

Now that would have been an interesting test program.

Tell that to the bear!

He was probably serving time for stealing pic-a-nic baskets.


Gives a whole new meaning to 'Getting The Chair'


I remember years ago touring a General Dynamics facility and seeing the ejection 'pod' mock up for the F-111.

IIRC, that was for three crew members...A kind of Star Wars escape capsule, long before the movie.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~