Friday, June 30, 2017

Northrop A-9A Pilot's Briefing Notes

Title Page The “Competition Sensitive” Northrop A-9A Pilot's Briefing Notes, dated May 1972. Part of my Northrop find at EAFB!

Click here to download notes (63.4 Megs)

Thursday, June 29, 2017

XV-1 Video

Untitled 2 A nice video of the XV-1 Convertiplane during construction and testing. Credit: YouTube

Click here to download video (0.2 Megs)

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

XV-1 Additional Photos

Scan3337 Very poor quality photo copied photos of the XV-1 Convertiplane; but, the only ones I have seen with the instrument panel and the aircraft during construction. Photo numbers are on them for reference.

Click here to download photos in a one Zip file (105.9 Megs)

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

XV-1 Standard Aircraft Characteristics

XV-1 SAC-01 McDonnell XV-1 Convertiplane Standard Aircraft Characteristics (SAC) sheets, dated 3 March 1952. XV-1.

Click here to download SAC (13.4 Megs)

Monday, June 26, 2017

XV-1 Model 82 Report–#1

XV-1 Model 82-01 McDonnell Aircraft Corp Report No. 2470, dated 3 March 1952. The “Bible” for the XV-1 Convertiplane! All the specs, types, rotor info and many drawings. This is a photocopy; but, it cleaned up O.K. Enjoy!

Click here to download report (78.3 Megs)

Sunday, June 25, 2017

XV-1 Convertiplane in Bldg 42

XV-1 4aA couple of photos I took of the XV-1 Convertiplane while it was stored in Bldg 42 Flight Test Hanger in 1963 before being sent to the Smithsonian. I had just started at McDonnell Aircraft and had no idea what this craft was; but, I had to take a couple of photos of it! (No, I wasn’t supposed to be taking photos, hence only these four!) Low quality photos; but, I guarantee that you won’t see any others of this aircraft while is was stored.

Click here to view photos

Saturday, June 24, 2017

XV-1 Identification and Modification Plate Chart

ID Plate 1ID Plate 2 Blueprint No 28-00006 Identification and Modification Plate Chart for model 82, XV-1 aircraft, Air Force Serial Numbers 53-4016 & 53-4017. Dated January 1953. Contains the Airplane Breakdown,General Notes & Contractor Designation and Serial Number Assignments.

Click here to download chart (24.6 Megs)

Friday, June 23, 2017

XV-1 Convertiplane Articles

XV-1 Articles-13 A number od articles and facts I have collected over the years.

Click here to download articles in a Zip file (40.4 Megs)

The McDonnell XV-1 rotor system here

A monogram on the history, description and photos of the XV-1 here

Thursday, June 22, 2017

XV-1 Convertiplane Drawings and 3-Views

METADATA-/scanq/scantofile0048.tifXV-1 Drwg-03 A number of Loft Sheets, 3-views and drawings of the McDonnell Aircraft XV-1 Convertiplane.

Click here to download drawings as a Zip file(43.7 Megs)

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

XV-1 Convertiplane Photos

 XV-1-01XV-1-03 The McDonnell XV-1(XH-35) was an experimental compound helicopter, developed for a joint research program with the United States Air Force and the United States Army. It was designated a "convertiplane" and explored technologies to develop an aircraft that could take off and land like a helicopter but fly at faster airspeeds, similar to a conventional airplane. The XV-1 would reach a speed of 200 mph (322 km/h), faster than any previous rotorcraft, but the program was terminated due to the complexity of the technology which gave only a modest gain in performance. Source: Wikipedia

Technical Notes:
Rotor Diameter: 9.5m (31 ft)
Wingspan: 7.9 m (26 ft)
Length: 9.1 m (30 ft)
Height: 3.3 m (10 ft 9 in)
Weights: Empty, 1,940 kg (4,277 lb)
Gross, 2,497 kg (5,505 lb)
Engine: Continental R-975-19 air-cooled radial, 550 horsepower
Crew : 2    
Note: Photos 31 thru 34 were taken by me in the BLDG 42 hanger in 1963

Click here to download photos in a Zip file (56.7 Megs)

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Northrop A-9A Photos–Part 2

A-9A-01 More photos and info on the Northrop A-9A prototype aircraft. The six photos were all taken during the a-9A/A-10 competition by Edwards Air Force personnel in May and June 1972. Also, I have included some articles and drawings that I have collected.

Click here to view photos and info

Northrop A-9A Photos–Part 1 is here

Additional A-9A blog posts here, here, here and here

Monday, June 19, 2017

YC-15 Additional Photos and Info

YC-15-02a More photos and other info on the McDonnell Douglas YC-15. Includes the C-15 project badge, paintings, 3-views, manufacturer models and future types of this aircraft.

Click here to view photos and info

Sunday, June 18, 2017

U.S. Army Visual Aircraft Recognition Manuals–Part 2

FM 44-80 Visual Aircraft Recognition (1993) WW_01 Another U.S. Army Visual Aircraft Recognition Field Manual FM 44-80, this time dated September 30 1996. Slightly different than part 1 offerings.

Click here to download field manual

Click here for part 1

Saturday, June 17, 2017

F3H Demon Candid Photos #2

Untitled 3Another gift from the collection of William Rudolph comes more candid shots of F-3H-2N Demons. Dated April 1956. Photos appear to be at Lambert Airport and the XF-88 can be seen next to the Demon.

Click here to view photos

Part 1 of Bill’s Demon photos are here

Friday, June 16, 2017

YC-15 Photos

YC-15-04a Sixty five photos of the McDonnell Douglas YC-15 aircraft.

Per “The Aviation Zone”: “In the early-1970s, five American companies submitted proposals to the U.S. Air Force after it issued its Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) requirement for a new jet-powered tactical airlifter to replace the venerable Lockheed C-130 Hercules. In 1972, two proposals were accepted for construction as the Boeing YC-14 and McDonnell Douglas YC-15 prototypes.

Both test aircraft were designed to a common cargo specification and utilized off-the-shelf engines to achieve the "Coanda Effect" (air turning on the convex side of an aerodynamic surface) to maximize lifting capability during STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) operations.…”

Two YC-15s (#72-1875 and #72-1876) were built with two different size wingspans, 132 feet (40.42m) and 110 feet (33.6m), respectively. Both aircraft are 124 feet (37.86m) in length.

First flown on 26 August 1975, a 600-hour test program followed. Funding cuts eventually cancelled the AMST program in 1979. Both the YC-14 and the YC-15 satisfied the AMST performance requirements, which would later be incorporated into the design of the larger C-17 Globemaster III transport.”

Click here to download photos in Zip file

Other YC-15 blogs here

Proposed C-15B blog here

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Northrop A-9A 3-Views, Profiles, Videos and Article

002A-9A-33Several Northrop A-9A 3-Views, Profiles and an article about the A-9A/A-10 from Aviation Week.

Click here to view 3-Views, Profiles and Article

Click here to download videos in Zip file (35.3 Megs)

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Northrop A-9A Walk Around Photos

YA-9A (71-1368)-02 Three sets of Walk Around photos of A-9A, s/n 71-1368 (The number 2 aircraft) on display at March Field Air Museum, March Air Reserve Base, California. Credit: Bill Spidle, Aircraft Walk Around Center and Prime Portal

Northrop A-9A Walk Around March Field Museum #1 (26.0 Megs)

Northrop A-9A Walk Around March Field Museum #2 (1.2 Megs)

Northrop A-9A Walk Around March Field Museum #3 (1.8 Megs)

Northrop A-9A at EAFB

A-9A's EAFB April 1974-1 Photos that I took on my way to work at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) in April of 1974. These photos show the two prototypes setting outside a base hanger. Not good photos; but, one of the few that I have found with both aircraft in one photo!

Click here to view photos

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Northrop A-9A Photos–Part 1

A-9A Photo Here are eighty six photos of the two prototype Northrop A-9A aircraft. The Northrop YA-9 was a prototype attack aircraft developed for the United States Air Force A-X program. The YA-9 was passed over in preference for the Fairchild Republic YA-10 that entered production as the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

Aircraft 71-1367 is in the storage yard awaiting restoration at Edwards AFB, California.
  Aircraft 71-1368 - on display at March Field Air Museum, March Air Reserve Base, California.

Note: My involvement with the A-9A aircraft begin when McAir sent me to Edwards Air Force Base in September of 1973. My job was Flight Test Engineer for the German F-4F and also F-15 prototype aircraft; but, my office was next door to the Northrop A-9A project office.

As the program was over and Northrop lost, the office was clearing out. Of course, I had to ask as a historian and they gave me a number of photos and a A-9A Pilots Briefing Notes. (It always pays to be in the right place at the right time!) So, here are the photos and many others that I have gathered over the years. Credit: Northrop and as marked

Click here to view photos

Click here to download all photos in a Zip file (69.4 Megs)

A-9A Photos-Part 2 are here

Monday, June 12, 2017

Northrop A-9A Flight Manual

A-9A Flight Manual_001 Northrop A-9A Development Program Flight Manual, DPM A-9A-1. Dated 24 October 1972

Click here to download manual(59.5 Megs)

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Douglas C-124A Globemaster II Standard Aircraft Characteristics

C-124A_SAC Douglas C-124A Globemaster II Standard Aircraft Characteristics sheets, dated 122 August 1952.

Click here to view SAC's

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Russian Aircraft Training Films

IL-2 Training Film

Trevor Bodnar sent along this email: “I found a few Russian aircraft training films on YouTube about how to fly the IL-2, YAK-1, 7 and 9 series of aircraft and the YAK 15. The Il-2 Film contains English subtitles.

Il-2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWh_w9ONtnI

YAK-15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSfmMYsztAw

YAK 1,7 and 9 series:

Part 1 =

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_iGXO1cmM4

Part 2 =

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rF0O9GoWXc&t=13s

A little different but still very interesting.” Thanks Trevor!

The full, non-subtitled three part Ilyushin Il-2 flight manual films are here, here and here 

Note: Always happy to receive film info!

Friday, June 9, 2017

MiG-17 Manual on Piloting Technique and Combat Employment

laptev_n_d_uchebnoe_posobie_po_tekhnike_pilotirovaniya_i_boe_03The Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-17 Manual on Piloting Technique and Combat Employment, dated 1972. Russian text.

Click here to download manual (38.3 Megs)

Additional Mig-17 manuals here

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Ilyushin IL-10 Technical Description

IL-10 Technical Description_01 Ilyushin IL-10 Technical Description Manual, dated 1946. Russian text.

Click here to download manual(148 Megs)

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Standard Aircraft of the R.A.F.

Standard Aircraft of the R.A.F._01 A nice historical Flying magazine article from May 18 1939 describing the then current R.A.F. aircraft. As they say: “ A Concise Pictorial and Factual Review.”

Click here to download manual

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Silhouettes of Allied and Enemy Airplanes

WWI300_01 The allied manual on identifing and classifying WWI aircraft for the fighting man.

Click here to download manual

Monday, June 5, 2017

Identification of U.S. Aircraft-Basic Field Manual

Identification of U.S. Aircraft-Basic Field Manual_01 The basic field manual for identification of U.S. aircraft, FM 30-30. From U.S. Military Intelligence, dated 1942.

Click here to download manual (1.2 Megs)

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Identification of Japanese Aircraft-Basic Field Manual

Japanese aircraft manaul_01 The basic field manual for identification of Japanese aircraft, FM 30-38. From U.S. Military Intelligence, dated 1942.

Click here to download manual (0.8 Megs)

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Identification of Italian Aircraft-Basic Field Manual

Italian picture manaul_01 The basic field manual for identification of Italian aircraft, FM 30-39. From U.S. Military Intelligence, dated 1941.

Click here to download manual (1.0 Megs)

Friday, June 2, 2017

Identification of German Aircraft-Basic Field Manual

German aircraft manual_02 The basic field manual for identification of German aircraft, FM 30-35. From U.S. Military Intelligence, dated 1942.

Click here to download manual (1.2 Megs)

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Aircraft Classification Pamphlet

Aircraft Classification_01Another WWII pamphlet from 1942.. This time from Britian explaining the basis for aircraft classification and recognition. Published by the Real Photographs Co., No 42/14

Click here to download pamphlet

Feedspot.com Top 50 blog award!