An exellent 3-View drawing of the Douglas A2D-1 Skyshark aircraft. From the September 1985 Aviation News magazine "Warpaint" series. Drawings by Mike Keep. (I added another 3-view and photo.)
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Douglas A2D-1 Skyshark 3-View Drawing(Reblog)
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
A nice report on the McAir helicopter projects from 1939 t0 1960. Written by Fred Roos and first presented at the AIAA conforence in January 2003.Tuesday, May 13, 2025
The 1975 booklet on the Blue Angels demonstration team. Lots of nice photos.Monday, May 12, 2025
McDonnell Douglas SkyLab Photos(Reblog)
Some photos and illustrations that I have of the Skylab. I worked on this project twice. Once on how to correct and mitigate the solar array damage and secondly in design engineering finding all of the flammable items and materials (Think Apollo1fire).
Skylab was a space station launched and operated by NASA, the space agency of the United States. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a mass of 169950 pounds (77 MT). Three manned missions to the station, conducted between 1973 and 1974 using the Apollo Command/Service Module (CSM) atop the smaller Saturn IB, each delivered a three-astronaut crew.
Friday, May 9, 2025
F-3H-G Report and Photos(Reblog)
“The design of what was eventually to emerge as the McDonnell F-4 Phantom began in August of 1953. The McDonnell design team was headed by Herman Barkley. Initially, the goal of the team was to extend the production life of the F3H Demon single-seat carrier-based fighter by boosting its performance and improving its versatility.
Several quite different design concepts emerged, all of them being informally designated by the company as F3H-X since they were all viewed as a natural follow-on to the F3H Demon.
The first of these preliminary designs was the F3H-C or the "Super Demon". The F3H-C was to be powered by a single Wright J67 turbojet and was to be capable of reaching Mach 1.69 at high altitude. The J67 was a license-built version of the British-built Bristol Olympus turbojet engine, and was untried and unproven at the time.
The F3H-E project (also known as Model 98A by the company) was similarly powered, but dispensed with the nose-high attitude of the Demon and stood level on a tricycle undercarriage. It had a 45-degree swept wing of 450 square feet in area. In the event, the J67 engine never did materialize as a realistic powerplant for American aircraft.
The Model 98B (F3H-G) project was to be powered by a pair of Wright J65-W-2 (or W-4) turbojets rated at 7800 lb.s.t. each. The twin-engined configuration was attractive to many in the Navy, because of the increased amount of safety it offered over a single-engined aircraft. The engines were to be fed by a pair of side-mounted air intakes. A low-mounted swept wing and an all-flying straight tailplane were to be used. This wing was slightly larger than that of the F3H-E, with a 530-square foot area. The fuselage was to be designed in conformance with the area rule, in order that minimum transonic drag be achieved.
The F3H-G aircraft was to be equipped with an Aero 11B fire control system and an AN/APQ-150 radar. Armament was to consist of four 20-mm cannon, but provision for a retractable pack carrying 56 two-inch FFAR rockets was also proposed. A heavy load of bombs and fuel tanks could be carried on up to nine external stores stations (four under each wing and one underneath the fuselage). A maximum speed of Mach 1.52 was envisaged.
The J65 was a license-built version of the British-designed Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire engine, and was already in production at the time. Although at that time the Navy was experiencing a good deal of trouble with the J65 engine installed in its North American FJ-3 Fury single-engined fighter, the McDonnell team fully expected that these problems would be resolved by the time that their F3H-G proposal was ready for production.
The F3H-H was similar in overall configuration to the F3H-G, but was to be powered by a pair of higher-thrust General Electric J79 turbojets. The J79 was at that time a new and untried engine. Assuming that the J79 performed as promised, a maximum speed of Mach 1.97 was envisaged.
The Model 98F was the photographic reconnaissance version of the Model 98C.
Models 98C and D were to be fitted respectively with delta and straight wings, and were to be powered either by a pair of Wright J65s or two J79s.
The Model 98E (F3H-J) was to have been similar to Models 98C and D, but with a larger and thinner delta wing.
Herman Barkley's design team decided that the Model 98B with its twin J65s offered the best potential and they abandoned work on all the other configurations. A full-sized mockup of the Model 98B (F3H-G) was built. The company hedged its bets by designing the right side of the mockup for a J79 engine and the left for a J65.
On September 19, 1953, McDonnell submitted its Model 98B project to the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) in the form of an unsolicited proposal. Since the Navy as yet had no official requirement for such an aircraft, McDonnell tried to cover all bases by developing interchangeable single- and two-seat noses that could be accommodated to widely different roles. Noses were designed that could carry search radars, missile fire-control systems, mapping radars, cameras, or electronic reconnaissance equipment.
Although the Navy was favorably impressed by the Model 98B proposal, the Grumman XF9F-9 Tiger and the Vought XF8U-1 Crusader which had been ordered respectively in April and June of 1953 appeared to satisfy all the Navy's immediate requirements for supersonic fighters. Nevertheless, the Navy encouraged McDonnell to rework its design into a single-seat, twin-engined all-weather attack aircraft to compete against designs being worked on by Grumman and North American.
McDonnell submitted a formal development proposal for the F3H-G/H to the Navy in August of 1954. The Navy responded in October of 1954 by issuing a letter of intent for two prototypes and a static test aircraft. The Navy assigned the designation AH-1 to the project, reflecting its intended ground attack mission. The AH-1 was to have no less then eleven weapons pylons. Armament was to consist of four 20-mm cannon.
On December 14, 1954, the multirole mission of the aircraft was formally abandoned by the Navy, and McDonnell was requested to rework the proposal as an all-weather interceptor. McDonnell was instructed to remove the cannon and all hardpoints except for a centerline pylon for a 600-US gallon fuel tank. In addition, troughs were to be added for four Raytheon Sparrow semi-active radar homing air-to-air missiles. A Raytheon-designed APQ-50 radar was added, this installation being essentially that installed in the F3H-2 Demon. A second seat was added to accommodate a radar operator.
On April 15, 1955, in a formal letter from the BuAer to the Commander of Naval Operations, the J79 engine was formally adopted, and all work on the J65-powered version was dropped.” Credit: Secret Projects
Thursday, May 8, 2025
A copy of the McDonnell Aircraft product data card showing specifications of all the products from 1939-1952.Wednesday, May 7, 2025
A nice McDonnell Douglas 1983 company brochure showing fighters for today and the future. Good drawings and cut-a-ways.Tuesday, May 6, 2025
A copy of the May 1980 Phantom Flyer article by the McDonnell Scale Modelers’ Club on MDC fighters. By Bob Pukala, I believe. The cover photo is unique with three generation of fighters present! Lots of early aircraft photos.Monday, May 5, 2025
Flight Test F-101A Voodoo (Reblog)
This is a Fight Test F-101A #12 (S/N 532429). Note the faired gun ports and number 12 on it’s nose.
I looked at this photo maybe a half dozen times before I realized what I was seeing! The nose has an instrument photo panel in it, in order to record the in-flight data. This was the way it was done before data link came around!
Either a camera is placed in front of the panel to record the instruments or the camera shoots thru a hole in the panel into a mirror and records the data. It is hard to tell from this photo; but, it may have the center hole.
My first job in Flight Test was to calculate the required distance between the camera lens and the front of the instrument panel on F4H-1 # 8. So, this rare photo has special meaning to me.
Friday, May 2, 2025
A Walk-a-Round of the RF-101C at Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. Note: There are two walk-a-around sets of photos and a few TO 1-1-4 pages in the Zip file!Thursday, May 1, 2025
A copy of the April 10 1947 article from Flight magazine on the Development of the McDonnell Phantom I (FH-1) aircraft. I added a 3-view drawing that I like.Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Markings and 3-View drawings of the McDonnell FH-1, XF-85, F-2H and F-3H aircraft. From late 1990’s Modelist-Konstruktor magazines.Tuesday, April 29, 2025
A few photos of the F-15 Streak Eagle as it is now at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.Monday, April 28, 2025
Beechcraft AQM-37 Jayhawk Walk Around
Photos of a Beechcraft AQM-37 Jayhawk Walk Around. From Wikipedia: The Beechcraft AQM-37 Jayhawk (originally designated KD2B and Q-12) is an air-launched supersonic target drone manufactured by Beechcraft capable of simulating inbound ICBM warhead packages for fleet shoot-down exercises.
Download here or here or here (14.7 Megs)
Lots of good photos here
Friday, April 25, 2025
A number of photos (51) and info pages for the German V-1 Flying Bomb (FZG-76). Thursday, April 24, 2025
A poor xerox copy of the German V-1 flying bomb (FZG-76) Theory of Operation Manual. Dated 15 April 1970.Wednesday, April 23, 2025
A copy of the German V-1 flying bomb (FZG-76) Fusing System Manual. Dated July 1945. Written in English.Tuesday, April 22, 2025
A copy of the German V-1 flying bomb (FZG-76) Illustrated Parts Catalogue. Dated circa 1944.Monday, April 21, 2025
A copy of the German V-1 flying bomb (FZG-76) Operator and Maintenance Manual. Dated April 1944.Friday, April 18, 2025
A copy of the proposal for the Canadian C-104/Delta All Weather Supersonic Fighter. This is the forerunner of the AVRO Arrow aircraft. Dated January 1952.Thursday, April 17, 2025
Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant Photos
A number of photos that I have collected of the Messerschmitt Me 323. I have also included a small video of the aircraft unloading.
From Wickipedia: “The Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant ("Giant") was a German military transport aircraft of World War II. It was a powered variant of the Me 321 military glider and was the largest land-based transport aircraft to fly during the war. In total, 213 were made, with 15 being converted from the Me 321.”
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
A number of photos (23) of the Lockheed C-141 aircraft during it’s service.Tuesday, April 15, 2025
A copy of the Lockheed C-141 Roll-out 1963 Press Book. Lockheed built 285 Starlifters for the USAF. 270 of them were stretched out to make the "B" model. Credit: The Box Art DenMonday, April 14, 2025
F-4M/Phantom FGR.2 “XV424” (Reblog)
This is a very nice picture of an original F-4M-35-MC (cn 3084/0056) aircraft in a view that is seldom seen. It turns out that this aircraft is some what famous due to the Alcock & Brown's special paint and record breaking run in 1979. It was later converted to an FGR.2.
History from the Thunder and Lightning’s web site: "XV424 served with 6, 29, 54, 56, 92 and 111 Squadrons plus 228 OCU. In 1979 she was painted in a special scheme to mark the anniversary of Alcock & Brown's crossing of the Atlantic, and made a record-breaking commemorative dash across the Atlantic on the 21st of June that year. On retirement she was earmarked for preservation with the RAF Museum and is now on permanent display at Hendon. She is in absolutely superb condition, having never suffered outdoor storage like so many Phantoms, and looks like she was rolled in to the museum yesterday. XV424 is displayed with a nice selection of stores and has steps so you can get a look at the cockpit."
Photos are included that show the aircraft thru the stages of it’s life.
Download here or here or here (0.8 Meg)
at 11:55 PM
Friday, April 11, 2025
F-4's of Cam Ranh Bay RVN (Reblog)
Photos of F-4C’s at Cam Ranh Bay air base, Republic of Vietnam in 1968. These were sent to me by a friend of my brothers while they served in Vietnam. The photos are far from the best; but, any photo is better than no photo! I believe that they are all 12th TFW aircraft.
Download here or here or here (53.2 Megs)
Click here to see Dick Kamm's much better photos of these aircraft at the Warbird Info Exchange
Thursday, April 10, 2025
A number of articles and fact sheets for the Boeing 2707 Supersonic transport (SST) from my archives.Wednesday, April 9, 2025
A nice little brochure put out by Revell Models on missiles and rockets. Rocket history and specs on then current rockets and missiles. Dated 1959.Tuesday, April 8, 2025
A copy of a very good short article on the The American V-1 Program from 1944-1950. Known as the Republic/Ford JB-2 in the USA. Written by JP Santiago. Dated 29 April 2016 Credit: AviationTriviaMonday, April 7, 2025
Good underside photos are hard to find; but, here is a good one of the Rockwell B-1 Lancer aircraft. Enjoy!Friday, April 4, 2025
McDonnell Douglas F-15E-48-MC Strike Eagle Top Photo
Jeff Rankin-Lowe posted this in the Mil Aviation Group as: “A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle conducts operations over eastern Afghanistan on November 26, 2009. The Strike Eagle is assigned to the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Michael B. Keller/Released)”
Thursday, April 3, 2025
F-4 Wing Tuft Tests (Reblog)
I found these NASA photos many years ago and kept them, as they reminded me of the tuft tests I did in the early 1960’s while in my first stint in Flight Test.
When the company didn’t want to go to the expense and time to build a model and conduct a wind tunnel series of tests, we painted the wings white, attached tufts with “500” mph industrial duct tape and flew the aircraft. The chase plane would take photos or we would mount cameras on the moldline for photos. If I remember correctly, my tests were on F-4A #9.
On the photos above, notice the straight flow over the wings except for the outer wing panel.
From Kim Simmelink of Phantom Phacts:
These photos were of the tests of the spanwise blc tests. Instead of having blc in the leading edge and trailing edge flaps there was a duct above the wing (just below the I in AIR FORCE) and one just above the lowered flap which blew blc air "spanwise" across the wing and flap. According to the report I have, it worked just fine, and needed less ductwork.
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
The Final U.S. Built F-4 - F-4E-67-MC, 78-0744 (Reblog)
The 5,000th U.S. built Phantom was delivered on May 24, 1978, in ceremonies that also marked the 20th anniversary of the fighter’s first flight, and McDonnell Douglas delivered the last St. Louis-built Phantom II in October 1979.
F-4E phantom #80744 78-0744 was transferred to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) under the Foreign Military Sales program Peace Pheasant II and assigned to the 17th Tactical Fighter Wing based at Cheongju International Airport (CJJ). One source says that it was “written off,” but details are lacking.
The 5,067th and final F-4 built in the United States, an F-4E serial number 78-0744 which was completed on 25 October 1979. It was finished in the Compass Ghost Scheme comprising a disruptive pattern of FS36375 light ghost gray and FS36320 dark ghost grey. The lettering No 5057 LAST ST. LOUIS BUILT PHANTOM is worn on the left hand side of the nose in white.
Another Crazed Plastic Article from CP #20. This time an article on AV-8B Harrier II paint schemes by Bill Drescher.
In the late 1970’s, Bob Pukala and I started the McDonnell Scale Modeler’s Club at MDC. We published this booklet in 1980 as a general info handout listing the fighter aircraft up to that time. Enjoy!
A few illustrations of the early F4H-1 ejection seat.
Several photos of the F-4 Phantom II refuel probe and it’s progression on different models of F-4’s.
Various aircraft prints from early to mid 1960’s.
A whole year of Airfix magazines from 1976.
A number of photos (133) of the North American Aviation P-51D Mustang aircraft.
Copies of McDonnell F-110A “Spectre” Photos.
Part 10 of a set of superb photos mostly taken by Dr. Fred Roos, civilian and military. Many great subjects from many decades!. Credit: Fred Roos Collection via The Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum
Part 9 of a set of superb photos mostly taken by Dr. Fred Roos, civilian and military. Many great subjects from many decades!. Credit: Fred Roos Collection
Part 8 of a set of superb photos mostly taken by Dr. Fred Roos, civilian and military. Many great subjects from many decades!. Credit: Fred Roos Collection
Part 7 of a set of superb photos mostly taken by Dr. Fred Roos, civilian and military. Many great subjects from many decades!. Credit: Fred Roos Collection
Part 6 of a set of superb photos mostly taken by Dr. Fred Roos. Many great subjects from many decades!. Credit: Fred Roos Collection
Part 5 of a set of superb photos mostly taken by Dr. Fred Roos. Many great subjects from many decades!. Credit: Fred Roos Collection
Part 4 of a set of superb photos mostly taken by Dr. Fred Roos. Many great subjects from many decades!. Credit: Fred Roos Collection
Part 3 of a set of superb photos mostly taken by Dr. Fred Roos. Many great subjects from many decades!. Credit: Fred Roos Collection
