I see subjects like this all over the board, and assume they apply to some diesel locomotive, and this one doesn't. It applies to the GE powered, count them, six J-93 engines each developing 30,000 lb. of thrust, North American Aviation B-70 bomber. Would I be totally remiss to put this on one of the forums?
<font color="336633">Was that the predercessor to the USAF B1-b? Me and my g/f went to RAF Mildenhall for the air fate organised by the USAFE 100th ARW, it was the 25th annerversery, and the most impressive air craft wasnt any of the fighter jets but the B1-b bomber. I have 5 films worth of shots taken at the due, I could post some when i get them back from the developers if anyone wants to see them.</font> [ 24 June 2001: Message edited by: StickyMonk ]
I saw the sole survivor of the two XB-70s built (one crashed) at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH. I was there with my fellow Civil Air Patrol cadets in 1973, and we took shots like crazy. I even got shots of the B52s overhead (it's a SAC base). That bomber, and the B36, were awesome airplanes. When was your photo taken, Fitz?
Stickymonk, I wouldn't call it the predecessor, though North American (now Rockwell) would. It was designed to cruise at Mach 3, like the SR-71, and actually made it to that speed a few times. Unfortunately, as Bob says, one of two was involved in a mid-air collision with an F-104 which killed Joe Walker (Nasa-F-104) and Maj. Carl Cross, USAF, first flight in B-70. Al White, NA test pilot, survived. Worst of all it was a "boondoggle", massive formation of all GE powered jets, B-70, B-58, F-4, F-5, T-38, F-104, for a publicity photo shoot. It resulted in some spectacular photos of the accident. Bob, it was shot at an (annual) open house at Edwards AFB between 1964 and 1967, not sure when. First flight was in 64 I think, and the crash was in 66. This was during the active test program. And Stickymonk, I would love to see your B-1 photos. I spent most of my aviation career at USAF Plant 42 in Palmdale, CA, where among others, these were built: T-38, F-104, F-100, A-3J, A-4, F-102, F-106, F-5, SR-71, XB-70, B-1, B-2, L-1011, U-2, Space Shuttle. It was a fun place to work.
Hey, nice shot of the Valkyrie, Fitz....bet it was one heck of an experience to see one fly, I'm sure those 6 engines at full thrust put on a show all their own. Sometimes I wish I was around back then...I would have loved to have seen and heard that or a B-58 Hustler. That, and I would do just about anything to see an F-105 Thunderchief (or anything Centuryseries, for that matter) in flight. Oh well, I guess I'll have to settle for airshows at Edwards, with F-15E's and F-16C's screaming by.
Forgot to put a little editorial in the last msg--Can any of you who have ever taxied an airplane imagine what it would be like to taxi THAT one? You are out on the end of about a 100 foot broomstick in FRONT of the nosewheel!! Had to be a trip. Yeah, airshows back then were LOUD. One of the favs at EAFB was the F-111 starting a vertical climb in afterburner, then dumping fuel right into the middle of it. Talk about a blowtorch. That was long before the first middle east fuel crisis.
Just about every weekend we get F/A 18 Hornets from NAS Fallon (Nevada) flying overhead on training exercises-mix in the commercial flights, and the slurry bombers (it's fire season again), and the airspace over Grand Junction gets busy. Too bad that doesn't translate better to the rail traffic.......
<font color="336633">Do you get RAF planes over there during your air shows? at ours we get air craft from the US, Portugal, Sweeden, Germany, Italy, Turky, France, switzerland and our own of course, makes for a pretty varyied show </font>
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by fitz: It was designed to cruise at Mach 3, like the SR-71<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <font color="336633">We had a few of the SR-71's based over here at RAF Mildenhall, although the only one still in eurpoe is a none air worthy exibit at Duxford air meauseam, I'd like to go and see that sometime. During the 90's there was regular apearences of the F117's. But what I am most sad about is there is no F-4's here anymore, that was my fav plane we get regluar RAF and USAF air craft here over head, as well as some from other NATO countrys, they fly to the marshes for fireing exercises, most common are RAF GR-4 Tornados and USAF F-16C and F-15E's (the latter based at RAF lakenheath) All but one sqadren of A-10's have gone from europe, the last are in Germany, has anyone ever heard them shooting that gatling gun? it sounds like a very loud fart </font>
Stickymonk, my last association with a British air demo in the US was in 1972, at the only national airshow we had, Transpo 72. The RAF Red Arrows were performing every day, as were the USAF Thunderbirds and USN Blue Angels. What a show! I have been fortunate enough to attend the Farnborough airshow twice, in 1972 and 1974. Both times we Lockheedians were trying to sell L-1011's in Europe. Powered by the mighty Rolls-Royce RB.211, it was quite an airplane. I have some (terrible) photos of the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane flybys in '72. I say terrible because I shot them in "auto" with a 35mm and there was bright white cloud in the background, so the airplanes are mere silhouettes.
<font color="336633">Got one of the films back at the weekend, the B1-b's are not on this one, but here is a Jaguar GR.1
For me the most awesome aircraft was the SR71...you had to "feel" it to believe it. I could feel its noise in my stomach. It came up here for an airshow in 1986 when we were hosting a World Fair - Expo 86. The concorde did a fly by as well as a Hairier hovering in front of the crowds and taking a bow while suspended in mid air; it was the best air show I was ever at here in Vancouver British Columbia.
You are absolutely right. If you have ever had the priviledge of standing alongside the runway when an SR-71 lit afterburners and started a takeoff roll, it wasn't just the noise, it was a pounding in your chest that made that aircraft the most awesome thing that we as men have ever produced.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by fitz: it wasn't just the noise, it was a pounding in your chest<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <font color="336633"> The B1-b is the same, the whole ground shook.. hopfullythe photos should be back this week...</font>
<font color="336633">Well here is a few shots of the B1-b. I will put some of the other aircraft up as well soon</font>
Stickymonk, good stuff. Here's one not many people get to see. One of the B-1's bomb bays, taken at an open house at USAF Plant 42 in California in 1992. [ 23 June 2001: Message edited by: fitz ]
Nice shots, guys...I've always liked the B-1B, neat looking aircraft. On that subject, I've got shots of B-1B, B-52H, NB-52, F-22, F-16C, F-15E, U-2R, and other assorted USAF aircraft I shot at last years Edwards AFB Airshow. As soon as I can scan and find somewhere to upload them, I'd love to share some of them with the rest of you guys.
Bring 'em on, Paul. I have some 40 years worth to put up somewhere. It's amazing how many railfans are also airplane fans.
I know absolutely nothing about aircraft, except the insides of various 737, 757, 747, etc But I find planes awesome, especially militiary ones. That B1b is a strange looking beast, looks like it has been squidged in the middle I could not go with Matt to the Mildenhall show, as we were in Italy at the time We have an RAF bombing range about 15 miles from us, and I used to love to watch A10's doing their aerobatic bombing runs