AV-8B Harrier II Aircraft #24 Cockpit Photos

A series of photos of the cockpit instrument panels of the 24th production AV-8B. (Number 162962, I believe.)

Click here to view photos

McDonnell Douglas Proposed C-15B

In 1977, McDonnell Douglas proposed to stretch the C-15A into the C-15B. The aircraft would have had a 15ft section added to the center fuselage and the span increased by 9ft each side. The landing-gear supports and pod would have been lowered by 6.7in, the rear spar moved 18in aft. Also, three stringers would have been added parallel to the rear spar with increased rib chord and 18in wider skin panels. There would have been six leading-edge segments instead of the current five. The C-15B was proposed as a C-141 replacement. Power plants would have been either four GE/Snecma CFM56s or Pratt & Whitney JTIODs.

Click the picture above for a larger size showing the proposed model.

YC-15 Handout

This is the handout from the MDC ramp visit detailing dimensions and program milestones.

Click here for larger image

YC-15 on MDC Ramp

In 1976, the YC-15 #72-1875 visited the MDC ramp for viewing by the St Louis personnel. Here are my photos of the visit. Notice that the aircraft was in Phase II testing and had a CFM International CFM56 as the port side #1 engine instead of the normal Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 engine. The last photo shows a nice in-flight shot with this engine.

Click here to view photos

Click here to read an excellent four part article on the YC-15

Click here for a video of the YC-15

Click here for another video of the YC-15

Additional Photo Added to F-4 Company Chase Planes

I found a nice shot of #268 heading out has been added to the gallery.

Click here to view complete gallery

F3H Demon Candid Photos #1

From the collection of William Rudolph comes candid shots of F-3H Demons. Like all aviation people, Bill had his camera ready at all times. And while I wish that he owned at better camera, we do have some photos that you won’t see anywhere else!

   
  Click here to see photos

Color XF-88 Photos

Color photos of the XF-88 are hard to find; but, I have a few here for your pleasure.

Click here to view photos

Another XF-88B Article–Flying with a Dead Prop

McDonnell Douglas Product Support Digest would sometimes write a little history article. Here we have one on flying the Allison XT-38 turboprop XF-88B.

Click here to see a larger copy

XF-88B Development Article

Dick Powers wrote a wonderful article in 1979 about the development of the turboprop XF-88B.

Click here to view the article

XF-88 General Arrangement Drawing

A 1947 drawing of the concept which became the XF-88, shown here as the General Arrangement Army Fighter. Original scans from the Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum. Stitching and cleaning by yours truly.

Click here to view the drawing

F9F Panther and Cougar Series Article

Bob Pukala authored a nice article on the F9F series of aircraft. While written primarily for scale modelers, it has a lot of good general information. Originally published in the MDC Phantom Flyer.

Click here to view the article

Additional XF-88A and XF-88B Photos

I found 31 additional XF-88 photos. Included are 13 XF-88B photos. The XF-88B was a turbo-prop experimental version of the XF-88. Photos from original McDonnell Aircraft prints.

Click to see these photos

Previous XF-88 photos are here

F4H McDonnell Aircraft Flyer

An early flyer extolling the virtues of the new F4H all weather jet fighter for the US Navy.

Click here to view the flyer

German F-4F #1 at MDC

A few pictures of F-4F #1 (37*01) at the MDC factory in St. Louis before delivery to EAFB. With a bonus picture of the official delivery set-up.

Click here to view photos

German F-4F’s at EAFB

I was a Flight Test Engineer on the Federal Republic of Germany F-4F’s at Edwards Air Force Base in 1973-74. The F-4F’s were at EAFB for weapon certification and system Evaluations. Here are some photos from that time.

Click here to view the photos

F-4 Phantom II Proposed Conformal Fuel Tank

When we think of conformal fuel tanks, we think of the F-15 versions; but, this was also proposed for the F-4 Phantom II. A number of configurations are shown in this MDC report of 1981. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum.

Click here to review report illustrations

Aussie C-130’s on MDC Ramp

Photos of the loading of two Australian C-130’s that came to the McDonnell Douglas ramp in the fall of 1981.

Click here to view photos

C-141 Visit to MDC Ramp

A nice selection of photos of the loading of a C-141 on the McDonnell Douglas ramp. It loaded a F-100 engine and other cargo.

Click here to see photos

5000 th F-4 Phantom II Delivery Ceremony

Invitation to the 5000th F-4 delivery ceremony. On May 9, 1978, McDonnell Douglas delivered the 5,000th F-4 Phantom II, F-4E-65-MC 77-0290, to the United States Air Force. This F-4E went to service with the Turkish Air Force.

Click here to see the invitation

F-4 Chronology and Development History

A marked up and poor Xerox copy of an internal presentation of the F-4 Chronology and Development History with important dates and a family tree.

Click here to see presentation

F-4B BuNo 148408 Article

McAir Product Support wrote a nice article on BuNo 148408, the 93rd F-4 and the 46th F-4B. The article details 408’s entire history.

Click here to see a larger size picture

F-4 Inlet Duct Comparison Between Models

A nice presentation slide of the differences between F-4A, production F-4’s and the F-4M inlet duct sizes. Click on the photo to see a larger size.

F2H Banshee Serial Number Conversion Charts

Well worn and marked up copies of F2H Banshee Serial Number Conversion Charts. SNCC’s are used to cross correlate Bu. No., ship numbers and the block that the ship was part of when built. Very important to researchers.

Click here to see charts

F-4 Phantom II Historical Data and Milestones

An internal report listing historical data up to the F-4J from 1953-1971. Also, F-4 milestones and their dates. Interesting reading for F-4 followers.

Click here to download the report in PDF form

F4H-1 World Records Booklet

McDonnell Aircraft issued a color booklet after the F4H-1 set several world speed records.

Click here to download booklet in PDF form

Click here to see other speed record booklets

F-4 Interior Colors

This is a copy of McAir report 32-90000. Written in 1955 and updated in this copy to 1968. It details the proper colors for interior surfaces of early F-4 aircraft. It’s missing the first pages. Anyone have them?

Clear here to review the report

Added Lithograph and Article to F-4 Thirty Year Invitation and Celebration

Click here to see changes

The Last F2H Banshee

A photo of the handing over of the last F2H Banshee to the Navy. It was the 895th aircraft made. Old Man MAC, Covington, Drake and Orthwein were there. These men were the backbone of the company for many years. Scan from a McDonnell year end report. (Click on the picture to get a large view.)

F-4 Company Chase Planes

McDonnell used “Bailed” F-4 aircraft for chase plane duty at the St. Louis plant. I managed to get a few photos of these service aircraft.

Click here to view the photos

F2H Banshee Photo Feature Article

A nice Dick Powers article with 25 photos on the F2H Banshee. Published in Phantom Flyer.

Click here to see full size pages

Click here to download article in PDF form

Douglas Hercules and Genie Missile Lithographs

A couple of nice Douglas missile lithographs of the MIM-14 Nike-Hercules missile and the Douglas Air-2A/MB-1nuclear missile. (Click on each picture to get a large view.)

.

Click here to view the full size photos

CF-101B RCAF Ceremony Booklet

A copy of the RCAF induction ceremony for the CF-101B held on 24 July 1961.

 

Click here to see booklet

Douglas DC-8F Jet Trader

There is a lot about the DC-8 aircraft out there; but, not much about the specified freight version called the Jet Trader. Most were configured for either freight or passengers; but, some had all the windows covered when delivered and used only for freight hauling.

Click here to view the full size photos

Texas National Guard Missile Park

I have always loved rockets and missiles; so, I photographed them every chance I got. I found this small missile park in Austin, TX in July of 1978. It included the Atlas, Hercules, Honest John and Corporal missiles.

Click here to view the full size photos

AV-8B Harrier II 300th Aircraft Ceremony

The invite and handout for the AV-8B Harrier II 300th Aircraft Ceremony in 2000.

Click here to view the full size photos

Air Illinois Hawker Siddeley HS 748

Now for something different! The Hawker Siddeley HS 748 is not a plane that one saw here in the heartland very often. I caught this Air Illinois aircraft at the Bethalto Airport (Now, St. Louis Regional) on July 14th, 1975.

Click here to view the full size photos

F3H Photo Demon Handbook

A poor Xerox of the F3H Photo Demon Handbook proposal by McDonnell Aircraft in 1955 with performance and camera arrangements.
Click here to download the handbook in PDF form

F3H Demon Handbook In Color

Here is a nice color F-3H handbook produced by McDonnell Aircraft in 1953 with features, performance, range, external stores and other specifications.
Click here to download the handbook in PDF form

F-4E Spin Chute Aircraft

The second production F-4E, 66-0285 (Production Number 2249) was designated for spin testing. While no in-flight shots, here are three ground photos.

 

Click here to view the full size photos

A-3 Vigilante Walk a Round

In 1976 an A-3 Vigilante came into the Lambert FBO with some Bi-Centennial markings, and I had to take a few photos. The photos aren’t the greatest as they were scanned from prints with a pebble surface. Sorry!

Click here to view the full size photos

F-15 #8 after Spin Testing

In 1976, F-15 #8 was loaned to NASA for engine development trials like Digital Electronic Engine Control (DEEC).  I collected several photos of # 8 during it’s NASA days. The above photo was taken by Scott R. Wilson in November of 1982.

Click here to view the full size photos

NASA published a good article on Digital Electronic Engine Control (DEEC). 

Click here to view the full article

F-15 #8 Spin Aircraft and Chute Installation

F-15 #8 (71-10287), first flew on 25 August 1973 and was used for spin recovery, angle of attack and fuel system testing, it was fitted with an anti-spin recovery parachute. The aircraft was loaned to NASA in 1976 for engine development trials. These photos show two different ground tests of the chute and a great in-flight test sequence. (This entry is for Daniel Soulaine, who inquired about these photos!)

Click here to view the full size photos

Added Photo to F3H Demons Being Towed to Barges

Added McDonnell photo of Demons beside Bldg. 002, starting their journey to the Mississippi River barge.
Click here to view the full size photos