Douglas A-4C/L Skyhawk Pilot's Pocket Checklist

  A copy of the NAVWEPS 01-40AVC-1 NATOPS Pilot's Pocket Checklist for the Douglas A-4C/L aircraft, dated 1 May 1976. Credit: Irfan S. Hokan

Click here to download the checklist in PDF form (26.5 Megs)

Douglas A-4C/L Skyhawk Flight Manual

A copy of the NAVAIR 01-40AVE-1 NATOPS Flight Manual for the Douglas A-4C/L aircraft, dated 1 April 1977. Credit: Irfan S. Hokan

Click here to download the manual in PDF form (71.9 Megs)

Douglas A-4A/B/C Skyhawk Standardization Manual

A copy of the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization Manual for the Douglas A-4E aircraft, dated 15 October 1963. Credit: Irfan S. Hokan

Click here to download manual in PDF form (7.1 Megs)

Douglas A4D-1/A4D-2 Skyhawk Flight Manual

   A copy of the NAVWEPS 01-40AVA-1 NATOPS Flight Handbookl for the Douglas A4D-1/A4D-2 aircraft, dated 1 January 1962. Credit: Irfan S. Hokan

Note:The A4D-1 became the A-4A, the A4D-2 became A-4B

Click here to download the manual in PDF form (24.9 Megs)

Douglas A-4E Skyhawk Flight Manual

  A copy of the NAVWEPS 01-40AVC-1 NATOPS Flight Manual for the Douglas A-4E aircraft, dated 15 November 1966. Credit: Irfan S. Hokan

Click here to download manual in PDF form (57.5)

Amateur Rocketeers of America

OK, this blog entry is for me and my Kids and Grandkids!

I was brought up at the very start of the Space Race (1957-1958), and I wanted to be a Rocket Engineer. The problem was that no one gave out a Rocket Engineer degree; so, I became an Aeronautical Engineer (My second love!).

Long before the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) came into being, there was another organization for kids who wanted to build and launch high-powered amateur experimental rockets. It was called the Amateur Rocketeers of America (ARA). Founded by John Carlson, this organization was in existence from 1958 through about 1963. The ARA had an official Army Captain named Bertrand R. Brinley as liasion for young people who were into rocket design and Launching.

My buddy, Vernell Curvey and I were rocket nuts and joined the ARA in 1960. We even had the official ARA jackets and met the Capt. for a convention at Camp Atterbury, Indiana in 1961. (The ARA blockhouse still stands at Camp Atterbury, 43 years after the Army closed the launch facility.)

Our “Bible” was the “Rocket Manual For Amateurs” by the Capt. and was helped out by the latest ESTES catalogue’s design information. (See below)

My buddy and I were only Juniors in High School; but, had to learn Advanced Calculus in order to design the 4 ft rockets that we made using Zinc Dust/Sulphur or Sugar/Potassium Nitrate and even Gunpowder! (Hey, it was a very different world back them.) Except for being set in West Virginia while we were in Southern Illinois , view the movie “October Sky” to see our rocket making journey.

I have attached photos of my jacket, an early Estes catalogue, Alpha and Beta rocket plans that we made, our early rocket designs and some early calculations.

I told my family about my adventures for MANY years and now I can show them.

Click here to view info

Click here to download the rocket manual in PDF form (16.70)

Click here for a "Rocket College" story

F-4 Phantom II Compass Ghost Lights

I love special, one off, projects; so, I was happy to find this. This is the origin of the F-4 Compass Ghost paint scheme. Credit: A very eclectic blog here

Click here to view article

Original Bayou Renaissance Man Article

More F-4 Phantom II Development and 3-View Drawings

Another really good side view/development and 3-view illustrations on the F-4 Phantom II aircraft. Again, I don’t know the credit!

Click here to view drawings

Earlier blog post on this subject

Royal Canadian Navy F2H-3 Banshees

A short; but, really great article from IPMS Canada on the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) use and markings of the F2H-3 McDonnell Banshee. Written by R. Migliardi and G. Marshall for the IPMS Canadian publication, Random Thoughts, Vol 15. (A consistently first class quarterly!) Credit: International Plastic Modellers' Society – Canada

Click here to view article

Yokota Air Base Japan Miscellaneous Photos

Bart Coleman’s short article on the aircraft at the Yokota Air Base in Japan during the late 1940’s. This includes rare photos of an active duty Northrop F-15A Reporter (#45-59316). Written for the McAir Phantom Flyer club magazine.

Click here to view article

XF-88 Early Three View Drawing

A  copy of an early three view drawing of the XF-88 aircraft. (Original and a cleaned-up copy)

Compare with the 1947 General Arrangement Army Fighter concept drawing here.

Click here to view drawings

Douglas A-3 Skywarrior Photos

A few Douglas A-3 Skywarrior family photos. Credit: The Jean Aker archive collection via the BoxArt Den

Click here to view photos

McDonnell Model 119/220 Miscellaneous Material

A collection of misc material that I have gathered over the years pertaining to the 119/220 aircraft!

Click here to view misc material

Promotional 119/220 movies:

First movie here

Second movie here

McDonnell Model 119/220 Articles

A couple of articles that I have found over the years.

The first article is a company reprint form 9 February 1959 “Aviation Week” on the roll out of the new McAir “Turbojet Utility Plane”/.

The second is an article for the McAir “Phantom Flyer” by Bob Burgess entitled “The Baby 707” Enjoy!

Click here to view the two articles

McDonnell Model 119A Flight Evaluation Report

A partial copy of the USAF Flight Evaluation Report for the McDonnell Model 119A. Report #AFFTC-TR-59-25, dated September 1959.

click here to download the report in PDF form (49.6 Megs)

Model 119 Estimated Performance Report

McAir report #5708, dated 21 October 1957 for the Model 119 UCX version.

Click here to download report in PDF form (42.3 Megs)

McDonnell Model 119C Drawings

Various drawings of the McDonnell Model 119C proposal.

Click here to view drawings

McDonnell Model 119A Drawings

Various drawings of the McDonnell Model 119A proposal.

Click here to view drawings

McDonnell Model 119 Sales Brochures

If you have a product for sale, you need sales brochures. Here are two brochures for the McDonnell Aircraft Model 119 aircraft

Click here to download the first brochure in PDF form (35.2 Megs)

Click here to download the second brochure in PDF form (23.5 Megs)

McDonnell Model 119 Three View Drawings

A selection of three view drawings of the McDonnell Aircraft Model 119 aircraft.

Click here to view drawings

McDonnell Model 119/220 Memento Booklet

At the finish of the McAir Model 119/220 program, J.S. McDonell (MAC) gave each member of the project team this souvenir booklet as a memento. It has a synopsis of the program, many photos and how the program was envisioned and then executed.

From the book: “At the suggestion of  J. S. McDonnell, the Model 119 designation was canceled and the airplane was re-identified as the Model 220, because the company had just begun its second twenty years in business.”

Credit: Dan Vogt via Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download booklet in PDF form (34.3 Megs)

McDonnell Model 220 Pilot's Handbook

A copy of the company written pilot’s handbook for the McDonnell Model 220 aircraft, dated 20 June 1960.

The handbook description of the aircraft: “The Model 220 Prototype is a four-engine turbojet executive transport designed to carry l0 passengers over long distances at high altitudes and high speeds. Its appearance is characterized by all metal construction, swept wings, pylon mounted engines, a single swept vertical stabilizer, a swept horizontal stabilizer and a tricycle landing gear. The cabin access door is located on the left side of the fuselage Just forward of the wing.”

Click here to download the handbook in PDF form (157.8 Megs)

McDonnell Model 119A Pilot’s Handbook

A copy of the McAir company written Pilot’s Handbook (Familiarization Manual) for the Model 119A, USAF – UCX aircraft.

From the forward: “This Familiarization Manual has been prepared to aid in Flight Evaluation of the McDonnell Model 119A (USAF-UCX)prototype. As in any prototype aircraft items are subject to change. Therefore, personnel evaluating the Model 119A will be thoroughly briefed by McDonnell Fight Test personnel.”

Click here to download the manual in PDF form (103 Megs)

McDonnell Aircraft Model 119/220 Walk-A-Round Photos

On March 18 2015, Mark Nankivil (President of the Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum) went to El Paso, TX to phtograph the McAir Model 119/220 as it sits today. Here are those photos. (All 123 of them)

Click here to view photos

For the impatient ones, I put them all into a RAR compressed file here (51 Megs)

A Model 220 company film can be had here

Additional McDonnell Aircraft Model 119 and Model 220 Photos

A collection of other McAir Model 119 and Model 220 photos that I have collected over the years. Credit: Internet and as marked.

Click here to view photos

McDonnell Aircraft Model 220 Factory Photos

The McDonnell Aircraft Model 220. After McAir lost the contract for the UTX/UCX, the 119 was rebranded as the 220 and marketed as a small, short haul airliner/business jet. Sadly, no orders were forthcoming. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Personal note: I have loved this aircraft since I first saw it's sleek lines in Bldg. 42, when I joined the McAir Flight Test Dept. in 1963. This "Baby 707" sat in the corner of the hanger for several years and I got to "fondle" her many times and even went inside the cabin twice! Over the years, I collected everything I could find on her; so. stay tuned!

Click here to view photos

McDonnell Aircraft Model 119 Factory Photos

The McDonnell Aircraft Model 119. McAir’s answer to the U.S. Air Force's Utility-Trainer Experimental/Utility-Cargo Experimental contract (UTX/UCX) for a small, four engine, multipurpose, utility aircraft.

(The Lockheed Jetstar won the competition and reportedly lost a lot of money on the projet as sufficient orders never came through!). Interestingly, Old Man MAC bought a Jetstar and liked it very much! See here.

Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum and Aviation Archives

Click here to view 70 photos

Recent YAV-8B #1 Harrier Prototype Photos

Current photos of the number one Harrier (Tail Number 158394)(N704NA) as it is today, taken by Ken Acosta, at the Aviation Challenge Museum in Huntsville AL. Credit Ken Acosta via George J. Salerno

Click here to view photos

Click here to view prior blog post

General Electric T64 Turboshaft/Turboprop

A nice sales brochure for the General Electric T64 Turboshaft/Turboprop engine family. From August 1961.

Click here to see brochure

McDonnell Aircraft 20th Annual Report

The annual report issued in 1959 on McAirs 20th anniversary. Lots of good info and photos.

Click here to view pages

Click here to download the report in PDF form (147.2 Megs)