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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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Airfix Magazines - 1976

All of the Airfix Magazines for 1976. All issues.

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F-101 Voodoo Building and History Article

A copy of an article from the October 1982 issue of Aerei Modellismo magazine. While primarily a modeling article in Italian, it has a lot of drawings and color and marking schemes!

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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.

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Boeing X-32 Photos

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

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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

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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

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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!

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Blimp Photos and Info

A number of Blimp photos and Blimp info.

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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.

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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".”

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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

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