Douglas A-20A Havoc Flight Instructions Handbook

A copy of the Douglas A-20A Havoc Flight Instructions Handbook (TO 01-40AB-1). dated March 15 1941.

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Consolidated B-32 Dominator Flight Manual

A copy of the Consolidated B-32 Dominator Flight Manual, AAF 51-126-7. Dated 15 July 1945.

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Avro Lancaster I/III/X Pilot’s Notes

A better copy of the Pilot’s Notes (A.P. 2062A-P.N.) for the Avro Lancaster I/III/X aircraft. Dated May 1944. Thanks Steve! Credit: Steve Billings

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Douglas Dakota IV Pilot’s Notes

A copy of the Pilot’s Notes (A.P. 2445D-P.N.) for the Douglas Dakota IV aircraft. Dated June 1946.

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Avro Lancaster I/III/VII/X Pilot’s Notes

A copy of the Pilot’s notes (A.P. 2062A-P.N.) for the Avro Lancaster I/III/VII/X aircraft. Dated May 1944.

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Towing with the Vertol 44 Brochure

A Vertol company brochure that ilustrates the towing capacities of the Vertol 44 (Military H-21 Workhorse) helicopter. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

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McDonnell Alpha Draco Missile–30th Year Reunion

A decent xerox of the Alpha Draco Missile – 30th Year Reunion Notes. Lots of info on this little known project. Credit: L.M. “Roy” Reitter Collection

ALPHA DRACO [Air Force)
Air-to-surface experimental missile entered by McDonnell
Aircraft in the BOLD ORION (later SKYBOLT) competition.
Solid propellant. Mission: to demonstrate the feasibility of air-
launched ballistic missiles.

ALPHA DRACO Fact Sheet
Written and Edited by Cliff Lethbridge

From:  https://www.spaceline.org/rocketsum/alpha-draco.html

Classification: Research Rocket

Length: 46 feet, 1 inch

Diameter: 2 feet, 7 inches

Finspan: 7 feet, 1 inch

Alpha Draco, also known as Model 122B Test Vehicle, was built by McDonnell Aircraft in support of Air Force high-altitude research activities. Just three were launched from Cape Canaveral.

Launched from a mobile trailer/erector launcher designed for the Honest John missile, Alpha Draco was a two-stage solid-fueled rocket. It carried an aeroballistic nosecone payload.

Although the rocket was launched like a ballistic missile weapon, the payload was designed to reach a high altitude, then be placed on a level flight path by utilizing its own lifting characteristics, which could be done without the use of wings.

Since the payload could then glide toward its target unpowered, without reaching space altitudes, a weapon utilizing this capability could theoretically carry a heavier weapons payload than a purely ballistic missile weapon. It would not need to fly as high to be able to cover the same distances.

The concept was known as boost-glide since the first and second stage boosters would carry the payload to its desired altitude, then the payload would glide toward its target.

It had been called the skip-bomber by German rocket scientists during World War II, although the Germans could never thoroughly test the theory. Alpha Draco, on the other hand, successfully tested the technique, which had been studied and refined carefully by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) well into the 1950's.

In a typical flight profile, the Alpha Draco was launched on a nearly horizontal angle of about 100 degrees. The first stage booster shut down and was jettisoned at an altitude of about 42,000 feet, then the unpowered second stage and payload continued a ballistic trajectory. The second stage fired at an altitude of about 65,000 feet.

The second stage burned out at an altitude of about 92,000 feet about 40 miles downrange of the launch site. The aeroballistic payload, which remained attached to the second stage, then achieved a nearly level glide path, gradually decreasing its altitude until being programmed to begin a terminal dive and impact the ocean about 240 miles downrange of the launch site.

In addition to validating the boost-glide concept, Alpha Draco yielded important data on the aerodynamics of hypersonic flight as well as materials that can withstand high temperatures. The payload employed a pioneering slow roll as it glided to help distribute heat evenly throughout the structure. Although short-lived, the program was valuable in U.S. missile technology evolution.

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FH-1 Phantom Pilots Handbook

A copy of Navy Pilot’s Handbook #AN 01-245FA-1, for the McDonnell FH-1 Phantom aircraft, dated 1 September, 1949.

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RF/YRF-101A Voodoo Flight Manual

  A copy of the USAF Flight Manual TO-1F-101(R)(Y)A-1 for the McDonnell RF/YRF-101A Voodoo aircraft. Dated 1 November 1961.

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William Phillips–Aviation Artist

William Phillips is now a renowned aviation artist and the artist of choice for many collectors. Here is a selection of his aviation art.

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The Brightest New Jet Under the Sun

A company brochure introducing the DC-10 aircraft. Has 3-view drawings and other info. Credit: L.M. “Roy” Reitter Collection

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Shuttle Orbiter Aft Propulsion System

A short company brochure to introduce the Shuttle Orbiter Aft Propulsion System as built by McDonnell Douglas. Credit: L.M. “Roy” Reitter Collection

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America’s 20th Century Space Travelers

A great two sheet listing of all Mecury, Gemini, Apollo and Skylab missions. From Mcdonell Douglas Corp. Credit: L.M. “Roy” Reitter Collection

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F-101 Voodoo Patches

Several original McDonell F-101 VooDoo patches. Credit: L.M. “Roy” Reitter Collection

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McDonnell F4H-1 - Early Internal Memos

A number of early McDonell internal company memos on the F4H-1 project. Interesting reading! Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

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F-101B Voodoo and Cockpit Layout Walk Around

A few walk around photos of McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo Serial: 57-0282 at Pima Air and Space Museum, Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ. Credit Michael Benolkin

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McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo Walk Around

McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo Walk Around Photos. (56 photos.) Some nice detail shots of a McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo (Serial No. 101030), USAF Serial No. 57-0354), C/N 532 at Comox Air Force Museum, 19 Wing, CFB Comox, British Columbia. Also, McDonnell CF-101B Voodoo, (Serial No. 101057), USAF (Serial No. 57-0429), C/N 607 at same base. Credit: Percy Olson

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Douglas Boston IV Pilot’s Notes

A copy of AP 2023D-PN, the Douglas Boston IV Pilots Notes. Dated February 1945.

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Boeing B-17F & G, Fortress Mk. II Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions

A copy of the Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions for the Boeing B-17F & G,  Fortress Mk. II aircraft.

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XF-85 Goblin Print Article–Part 6

An article from Aviation News magazine dated June 2011, “McDonnell’s Unmanageable Goblin”. Written by Hugh W. Cowin. An interesting article.

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Other XF-85 articles and info here

Douglas RA-3B Skywarrior Flight Manual

A copy of the Navy Flight Manual NAVWEPS 01-40ATB-1 for the Douglas RA-3B Skywarrior aircraft. This manual is dated 1 October 1965.

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Douglas X-3 Stiletto Photos–Part II

Some more Douglas X-3 photos.

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Douglas X-3 Stiletto Photos–Part 1 is here