F-15C Eagle Walk Around Photos

A small set of F-15C Eagle Walk Around Photos. This aircraft is 80-0035 and was part of the 131st Fighter Wing of the 110the Fighter Suadron of the Missouri Air National Guard at St. Louis. Credit: Bill Spidle

Download ZIP here or here (22.6 Megs)

Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit 30th Anniversary

A note from Mark Nankivil:

“Wednesday marked a milestone for the B-2 Spirit. On July 17th, 1989 the B-2 Spirit took off from Edwards AFB, CA for its first test flight.  Whiteman AFB is currently home to the 20 B-2 Spirits in the United States Air Force.  As we commemorate this historic achievement this week, we will be running stories from Air Force Magazine in association with Northrop Grumman as well as content from the 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Office. Please see the attached press release as well as the links that will lead you to the content created in support of this occasion.  Additionally, you can follow Whiteman AFB on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WhitemanAirforceBase  or on TWITTER:@Whiteman_AFB  for additional stories we will be posting throughout the week.

Air Force Magazine B-2 Spirit 30 Year Anniversary Issue

Download here

Air Force Magazine B-2 Spirit Graphic

Download here”

(Note: Right Click and save as a PDF)

Piasecki H-21A/B Pilot’s Operating Instructions

A copy of the Royal Canadian Air Force EO 05-80A-, Pilot’s Operating Instructions for the Piasecki H-21A/B helicopter.

Download PDF here or here (37.5 Megs)

Air Age Technical Library - Boeing B-17

A copy of the Air Age Technical Library for the Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” detailed analysis of this famous warplane, containing complete drawings, photographs and technical data. Dated 1944. Credit: William Rudolph collection

Download PDF here or here (3.8 Megs)

General Arrangement Drawings for the F-110A Airplane

  

Copies of the original 1/30 scale blueprints from 1962. Drawing number 53-00004, sheets 1 and 2. General Arrangement Drawings for the F-110A Airplane.

Download PDF here or here (42-1 Megs)

McDonnell-Douglas QF-4E Phantom II Walk Around Photos

A good set of walk around photos (194) of the QF-4E aircraft at the Nellis Air Force Base Las Vegas Air Show of 2016. Credit: Vladimir Yakubov and Michael Cleaver
Download PDF here or here (122.8 Megs)

Boeing Vertol Additional Photos

A few additional photos and drawings for Vertol products.

Download PDF here or here (36 Megs)

Boeing Vertol Missions and Milestones

A copy of the Boeing Vertol company booklet on Missions and Milestones.

“This book is the story of the efforts and accomplishments of the Vertol Division of Boeing in vertical lift technology. The story is told through
the evolution of models of aircraft designed, developed, produced, and successfully flown over twenty years.” Credit: William Rudolph collection

Download PDF here or here (7 Megs)

Vertol H-21 “Flying Banana” Booklet

Vertol Aircraft Corporation booklet on the H-21 hekicopter. Credit: William Rudolph collection

Download PDF here or here or here (1.1 Megs)

Air Age Technical Library - Martin B-26

A copy of the Air Age Technical Library for the Martin B-26 “Marauder”. A detailed analysis of this famous warplane, containing complete drawings, photographs and technical data. Dated 1945. Credit: William Rudolph collection

Download here or here (40.3 Megs)

Hiller Aviation Museum Photos

Many photos (115) of the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, CA. Credit: Vladimir Yakubov

Download here or here (89.1 Megs)

Hiller Helicopter Brochure

A Hiller company brochure on thier helicopter products. Dated March 1955. Credit: William Rudolph collection

Download here or here (40.5 Megs)

AGM-84 Harpoon Missile Brochure

A McDonnel Douglas Space Missile Systems Company brochure for the AGM-84 Harpoon Missile.

Download here or here or here (27.2 Megs)

AGM-84 Harpoon Missile Block 1D Brochure

A McDonnel Douglas Space Missile Systems Company brochure for the AGM-84 Harpoon Block 1D Missile.

Download here or here or here (21 Megs)

Castle Air Museum Photos–Part III

A group of Castle Air Museum Photos (252). Castle Air Museum is a military aviation museum located in Atwater, California. Dated June 23, 2019. Credit: Vladimir Yakubov

Download here or here (228.8 Megs)

The High and Mighty

A nice 4 page history of North American Aviation, written by Mike Lombardi and Erik Simonsen for the Boeing Company. Part of their Boeing Frontiers Magazine from December 2009.

Download here orhere or here (0.2 Megs)

Boeing F-32–A What If

If you haven’t seen what Boeing proposed for the X-32 if it went into production; then, you must read this article over at The Drive Titled “This Is What A Boeing F-32 Would've Looked Like If Lockheed Lost The JSF Competition” and written by Tyler Rogoway.

A great look at the plans for the X-32/F-32.

Avialable here

Boeing X-32 to F-32

I got an e-mail from a regular blog reader, Charles, with this message and good looking art! If the X-32 had gone into production, this would have been a good look. Thanks Charles!

“After your recent posts on the X-32, I found an artwork some months ago of it as an F-32 in US Navy service which seemed appropriate to the topic at the time. A poster over on Large Scale Planes suggested it as a good candidate for a sharkmouth.

I adapted the found artwork, and I have to say I fully agree! The top picture is the original artist's work, the second a colour sharkmouth and  the
third a lo-vis one. I hope you enjoy them - it makes for a fearsome looking beast.”

Credit: Original drawing from TheDrive.com

Download here or here or here (0.2 Megs)

Northrop - An Aeronautical History

A company written commemorative book on the airplane designs and concepts of the Northrop Company. Authored by Fred Anderson. Dated 1976.

Download here or here (62.2 Megs)

McDonnell V-1 Jeep Helicopter Report

A copy of the V-1 Jeep Helicopter Report No 5181. Dated 18 February 1957. Credit: Mike DeGarcia Collection

Download here or here or here (11.6 Megs)

McDonnell Aircraft XAUM-N-6 Puffin/Kingfisher F Photos–Part II

A few more McDonnell Aircraft XAUM-N-6 Puffin/Kingfisher F Photos and illustrations.

Download here or here (11.3 Megs)

McDonnell Aircraft XAUM-N-6 Puffin/Kingfisher F Photos–Part I

A number of factory photos of the little known McDonnell Aircraft XAUM-N-6 Puffin anti-ship missile.

From designation-systems.info: “The Puffin was part of the Kingfisher family of guided anti-ship/anti-submarine weapons, which was developed under the prime contract of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). Originally begun as Kingfisher F in February 1947, it was redesignated in September that year as AUM-6 (AUM-N-6 from early 1948) Puffin. The development of Puffin was subcontracted by the NBS to McDonnell, and flight tests of XAUM-N-6 prototypes occurred in the 1948/49 time frame.

The XAUM-N-6 was basically a lightweight homing torpedo in a simple airframe with straight wings, a V-type tailplane, a pulsejet for propulsion, and a radar seeker. After launch from medium altitude, the missile would drop to about 60 m (200 ft) and home on the target (a surface ship or a surfaced submarine) using its active radar homing guidance system. Shortly before the target was reached, the torpedo would drop into the water for its terminal run on the target vessel.

The AUM-N-6 program was short-lived, though, and development was halted in October 1949.” Credit: Company photos from Gerald Balzer/Mark Nankivil

Download here or here (99.8 Megs)

More info here and here

Boeing CH-47 Maintenance Flight Test Handbook

A copy of the Maintenance Flight Test Handbook for the Boeing CH-47 Helicopter. Manual is CH-47 AMTPC, dated 1 October 1968. Credit: Chinook-Helicopter.com

Download here or here or here (22.1 Megs)

Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin Flight Manual–U.S. Coast Guard

A copy of the Flight Manual for the Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin Helicopter for the U.S. Coast Guard. Manual is CGTO 1H-65C-1, dated 25 August 2005. Credit: Anymouse Collection

Download here or here or here (16 Megs)

Airfix Magazines - 1976

All of the Airfix Magazines for 1976. All issues.

Download here or here (33.5 Megs)

F-101 Voodoo Building and History Article

A copy of an article from the October issue of Aerei Modellismo magazine. While primarily a modeling article in Italian, it has a lot of drawings and color and marking schemes!

Downlad here or here (2.9 Megs)

The Last Flight of the X-2

A nice article from the March 1957 issue of the Air Force Magazine on The Last Flight of the X-2 aircraft written by Clay Blair, Jr.

Download here or here or here (2.9 Megs)

Boeing X-32 Photos

A number of photos (67) from my archives of the Boeing X-32 aircraft. Most factory!

Download here or here (62.3 Megs)

X-32 videos here

Flight Magazine Photos

From my AA archives, I have a few of the photos that Flight Magazine published over the years. Credit: Flight Magazine

Download here or here (189 Megs)

Flight free library here

Boeing X-32B Walk Around

Some nice detail shots of the Boeing X-32B. This aircraft is on display at Patuxent River Naval Air Museum. Credit: Howard Mason

Download here or here (88.6 Megs)

Additional photos here

Youtube videos here

Apollo eBook for PC–An Illustrated Moonship Book

A wonderful illustrated e-book on the Apollo Moonships. Much, much info and drawings! Credit: Carlos Clariván via de-la-terre-a-la-lune

Note: This is an EXE file; but, it has been scanned is is virus free. Enjoy!

Download here or here (138.8 Megs)

Blimp Photos and Info

A number of Blimp photos and Blimp info.

Download here or here (54.7 Megs)

McAir Product Advertisements Sheets

Here are a number of McDonnell Douglas “one page” ad sheets that were produced over the years for various magazines and publications.

Download here or here (136 Megs)

F-4A Phantom II Walk Around

Walk around photos of F-4A-4-MC Bu No. 148273. Taken at the Air Victory Museum in West Chester, Pennsylvania. (See previous post). Credit: Bill Maloney

From the Air Victory Museum website:

“The F-4 on display was not originally an F-4A. She started life as a pre-production F4H-1, and was upgraded to F-4A standard. Only 45 F-4As were built before production switched over to the F-4B. Most of the 45 F-4As built served in research and training roles, and very few ever reached squadron service as they were not considered fully operational. Aircraft from Block 3 onward served in the East Coat and West Coast Replacement Air Groups to train crews and to perfect operational techniques. The F-4 was delivered to the Air Victory Museum by heavy left helicopter from Lakehurst, NJ. Since she had been sitting for an extended period of time, the paint was rather worn and faded. We have re-painted the aircraft in the colors of VF-84, the "Jolly Rogers".”

Download here or here (12.8 Megs)

Air Victory Museum Photos

A tour of the Air Victory Museum in West Chester, Pennsylvania. They have an F-4A aircraft! Credit: Bill Maloney

Display Info here

Download here or here (50.1 Megs)

FA-18A Hornet Walk Around

FA-18A Hornet (162843) walk around photos.  Credit: Bill Spidle

Download here or here

Aviation Hall of Fame Of New Jersey Museum Photos

A tour of the Aviation Hall of Fame Of New Jersey Museum in Teterboro, NJ. Credit: Bill Maloney

Download here or here

Exhibits descriptions are here

Exhibits self tour here or here

American Airpower Museum Photos

A tour of the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, NY. Credit: Bill Maloney

Aircraft collection here

Download here or here (68.4 Megs)

American Helicopter Museum Photos

A tour of the American Helicopter Museum in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Credit: Bill Maloney

Download here or here (117.8 Megs)

More photos here

Western Museum of Flight Photos

A tour of the Western Museum in Torrance, CA. Operated by the: Southern California Historical Aviation Foundation. Credit: Vladimir Yakubov and WMoF

Download here or here (35.5 Megs)

Royal Air Force Camouflage of WWII

A copy of Airfix magazine’s Royal Air Force Camouflage of WWII. Dated 1975.

Download here or here (30.3 Megs)

North American F-86E Flight Handbook

A copy of the TO 1F-86E-1(AN 01-60JLB-1) Flight Handbook for the North American F-86E aircraft, dated 5 November 1954. Credit: Anymouse Collection

Download here or here (65 Megs)

North American F-86D Flight Manual

A copy of the AN 01-60JLC-1 Flight Handbook for the North American F-86D aircraft, dated 25 June 1953. Credit: Anymouse Collection

Download here or here (41.6 Megs)

North American F-86A Flight Manuals

A copy of three T.O. 1F-86A-1 Flight Handbooks for the North American F-86A aircraft, dated 25 October 1951, 30 July 1952, and 30 August 1957. Credit: Anymouse Collection

Download 1851 copy here or here

Downoad 1952 copy here or here

Download 1957 copy here or here

North American F-86 Sabre Info and Photos

A number (417) of other North American F-86 Sabre Info and Photos that I have gathered. All marks and countries included. Credit: As marked and Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Download here or here (172 Megs)

North American F-86 Sabre Photos

A number of F-86 Photos from the William Rudolph Collection (63 Photos).

Download here or here (50.5 Megs)

McDonnell Aircraft Gargoyle Article

A nice short article on the McDonnell Aircraft LBD-1 Gargoyle (later KSD-1, KUD-1 and RTV-N-2) missile. From the book Secret Gadgets and Strange Gizmos. Written by Bill Yenne.

Download here or here (0.75 Meg)

McDonnell Aircraft Gargoyle Photos

“The LBD-1 Gargoyle (later KSD-1, KUD-1 and RTV-N-2) was an American air-to-surface missile developed during World War II by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy. One of the precursors of modern anti-ship missiles, it was extensively used as a test vehicle during the late 1940s.” (Wikipedia)

“The Gargoyle, was a radio-controlled, rocket-propelled, air-to-surface U.S. Navy missile. It was designed during World War II for use against ships and was launched from carrier-based planes. The Gargoyle used a 1,000-pound warhead. The range was from five to seven miles with a speed of about 600 miles per hour. The powerplant was a standard Aerojet solid-fuel JATO (Jet-Assisted-Take-Off) unit delivering 1,000 pounds of thrust for eight seconds.
Tests were carried in 1945, and it was too late to be used in the war. But testing was continued, especially of its autopilot and other components until its cancellation in 1947.” (National Air and Space Museum)

Credit: Company photos from Gerald Balzer/Mark Nankivil

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Boeing B-29 Superfortress Article

A very nice article on the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. With info, drawings and markings. From the Jan-March issue of Aero Australia magazine.

Download here or here (9.4 Megs)

WWII American Aircraft Identification Chart

  WWII American Aircraft Identification Chart. Published by Flight magazine.

Download here or here or here (1.9 Megs)

The Rocket–History and Development

A nice little book on the History and Development of Rocket and Missile Technology. Written by David Baker, Ph.D.

Download here or here or here (53.4 Megs)

Imperial War Museum Booklet

A copy of the Imperial War Museum Booklet with all the info and exhibits in the museum. Dated 1996.

Download here or here or here (21 Megs)

My photos taken in the museum here

USAF Air Power Yearbook 2016

The USAF Air Power Yearbook is published each year. This one is for the year 2016. Credit: Grumm

Download here or here or here

P&W Engines Used in F4U Corsair Report

A copy of the Pratt & Whitney company report, PWA Inst. 434, on the P&W Engines Used in the F4U Corsair aircraft.  Dated 21 September 1953 Credit: Mark Nankivil

Download here or here (32.2 Megs)

McDonnell F3H Demon Detailed 3-View Drawing–Revisited

Tommy Thomason sent me a note about inacuracies in the McDonnell F3H Demon Detailed 3-View Drawing I posted a few days ago!

So, in his words: ”The multi-view F3H drawing you posted is both very detailed and somewhat inaccurate. The major error is that it depicts the wing as having anhedral when it has zero dihedral. See tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2014/03/anhedraldihedral-and-wing-sweep.html

Unfortunately, this is the sort of drawing that plastic-model kit makers rely on all too often.

Attached is a McDonnell lines drawing. If I had time, I'd superimpose a trace of it over the drawing you posted that would identify other errors like the airfoil at the wing root and the cross section at the cockpit. The two other drawings are from the SAC.”

Download Tommy’s attached drawings here or here (18 Megs)

F3H-2 Loft Sheet #1 here

F3H-2 Loft Sheet #2 here

F3H-2 Standard Aircraft Characteristics (SAC) here or here (5.8 Megs)

North American F-86L Flight Handbook

A copy of the T.O. 1F-86L-1 Flight Handbook for the North American F-86L aircraft, dated 27 October 1961. Credit: Anymouse Collection

Download here or here or here (53.5 Megs)

WWII Plane Spotter ID Booklet

A copy (Minus covers) of the WWII Plane Spotter ID Booklet. Dated from WWII.

Download here or here (33 Megs)

Northrop F-5E/F Flight Manual

A copy of the Flight Manual, T.O. 1F-5E-1 for the F-5E/F aircraft. Dated 15 November 1990.

Download here or here or here (19.8 Megs)

McDonnell F3H Demon Detailed 3-View Drawing

A very detailed 3-view and history drawing of the McDonnell F3H Demon.

Download here or here (17 Megs)

North American B-25J Mitchell III Pilot's Notes

A copy of AP 2341C-PN, the North American B-25J Mitchell III Pilots Notes, with Cyclone R-2600-29 Engines. Dated  May 1945.

Download here or here or here (4.7 Megs)

North American B-25 Mitchell Pilot’s Manual

A copy of TO No. 01-60GB-1, Pilots Flight Operating Instructions for the North American B-25 Mitchell aircraft. Dated 1944.

Download here or here (10.3 Megs)

McDonnell-Douglas KC-10A Extender Walk Around

Some nice detail shots of a McDonnell-Douglas KC-10A Extender at the Capital City Airshow 2016, Sacramento, CA. Credit: Vladimir Yakubov

Download here or here (117.6 Megs)

United States Air Forces Europe Yearbook 1990

The United States Air Forces Europe Yearbook is published each year. This one is for the year 1990. Credit: Dimarik

Download here or here (78 Megs)

United States Air Forces Europe Yearbook 1991

  The United States Air Forces Europe Yearbook is published each year. This one is for the year 1991. Credit: Dimarik

Download here or here (23 Megs)

The Aviation Art of Shigeo Koike

“Shigeo Koike, known outside of Japan for the package art he has created for Hasegawa plastic model kits, is considered by fans to be the finest aviation artist in the world today. And they have a powerful argument: While maintaining an almost photographic accuracy in his subjects, he still manages to keep his works very much in the realm of fine art.” From Shigeo Koike Gallery

Download here or here (10.3 Megs)

Navy’s Statement on the F3H-1N Demons

October 1955 McAir Airscoop article with the official Navy statement on the first, underpowered Demons. Credit: William Rudolph collection

Download here or here

Additional F3H-1 Demon photos here

Douglas/Doak VZ-4DA VTOL Photos

Doak Model 16 was the first VTOL aircraft to demonstrate the tilt duct concept. It was built by the Doak Aircraft Company of Torrance, CA. The company president, Edmond R. Doak, had experimented with ducted fan and various other air moving principles since 1935. He first proposed a VTOL aircraft using the tilt duct principle to the military as early as 1950. The U.S. Army Transportation Research and Engineering Command purchased a single Doak 16, designated the VZ-4DA, serial number 56-9642. The Army issued the contract to Doak on April 10, 1956.

By late 1960, Doak was in serious financial trouble. They sold the patent rights and all engineering files to Douglas Aircraft, in nearby Long Beach (Edmond Doak had worked at Douglas in the 1930s and certainly still had many friends there). Doak finally closed its doors early in 1961. Douglas liked the aircraft and had some ideas for improving it, primarily by installing a larger engine and making numerous structural improvements. They made an unsolicited proposal to the Army in 1961, but could not sell their ideas. The Doak 16 remained at NASA Langley until August of 1972. Eventually it was transferred to the U.S. Army Transportation Command Museum at Fort Eustis, VA, near Newport News, where it is on display.

Download photos here (0.5 Meg)

Douglas A-26B/C Pilot's Handbook

A copy of AN 01-40AJ-1 Pilot's Handbook for the Douglas A-26B/C Invader aircraft. Dated 24 January 1946.

Download here or here  (4.2 Megs)

Douglas Aircraft Model 725

Standard Aircraft Characteristics for the Douglas Aircraft Model 725. The Model 725 carrier based attack airplane was a single place, jet-powered design proposal. It was basically
identical to the Model A4D—5 except for a new nose section and a modified cockpit. Modal 725 was capable of accomplishing a low altitude close support mission. 

A modified long range, low altitude attack mission could have been completed at 8OO N.Mi. radius without refueling and a 1000 N.Mi. radius mission is available with one
refueling from another Model 725 airplane. Dated 15 August 1957. Credit: AlternateWars

Note: Not much is known about this proposal; so, if anyone has any info – please share!

Download here or here or here (7.8 Megs)

Douglas A4D-2N Skyhawk Flight Handbook

A copy of the NAVWEPS 01-40AVB-1 Flight Handbook for the Douglas A4D-2N aircraft, dated 1 October1959. Credit: Anymouse Collection

Download here or here or here (27 Megs)

Messerschmitt Bf-109G6 Pilot Training Manual

A copy of the Messerschmitt Bf-109G6 Pilot Training Manual (Translated into English), dated 1944 - 1952.

Download here or here or here (12.7 Megs)

Messerschmitt BF-109G-2 Flight and Maintenance Manual

A copy of the Messerschmitt BF-109G-2 Flight and Maintenance Manual (Translated Into English), dated March 1943.

Download here or here or here

Messerschmitt BF-109K-4 Pilot’s Notes

A copy of the Messerschmitt BF-109K-4 Pilot’s Notes (In German), dated December 1944.

Download here or here or here (1 Meg)

McAir 1000th Aircraft Airscoop Article

An article ‘Brief Pause”, in the McDonnell Airscoop on the delivery of the 1000th aircraft, an f3H-1N Demon on December 29th, 1954. Dated January 1955.

Download here or here (9 Megs)