Monday, September 22, 2014

Color Photos of F3H Demons Being Towed to Barges

F-3H-0001aF_3_H_0001bF_3_H_0001cTucked into a misc file folder, I found these three color photos of Demons being towed to the barges. See the entry below for the info. These photos are also from the William Rudolph collection and are the only color shots that I have ever seen.
Click here to view the full size photos

This and That!

I have spent the last 3 months scanning over 5000 items for this blog and building 3 flying rockets for my oldest grandson. (Yes, I have a VERY understanding wife!)

I have been asked several times what it takes to publish this material; so, this seemed like a good time to explain the process.

1. First, I have to find the material (Photos, articles, booklets; etc.) This takes a lot of time as I have 11 five-drawer file cabinets and 4 large book cases crammed with material!

2. Then the scanning, at an average of 2 min per scan - well, you do the math - another long process.

3. This is followed by dividing the scans into subject matter folders.

4. After that, each scan goes through a photo manipulation process (Think Photoshop) for cropping, sharpening, color balance and contrast correction, defect elimination; etc. Also, on pages that are larger than my scanner bed, I have to use stitching software to combine 2 or 3 scans into 1 image.

5. When I am happy with this outcome, I need to generate PDF's for some subjects and reduce the PDF size for up and downloading.

6. Next I have to upload the scans to an image service or my own website and obtain shortcut links for use in the blog.

7. The blog entry can now be written.

8. All is uploaded to the blog servers.

So, take a minute when you read a blog and appreciate all the (unpaid) work that goes into each entry!!

Of course, now, I have to go through steps 3-8 for the 5000 scans in order to bring them to you. Be patient!

Friday, June 6, 2014

F3H Demons Being Towed to Barges

downey001downey002downey003F-3H on a bargeUntitled 1
"Facing the fact that there was no way to solve the (Westinghouse) J40 engine problems, the Navy halted production of the F3H-1N after the 58th aircraft rolled off the line....In July of 1955 the Navy reluctantly grounded all F3H-1Ns and had to face growing congressional disfavor in light of the 200 million dollars expended on the aircraft and its ill-fated engine.  Worse, the Navy had to endure the humiliation of barging F3H-1Ns from St. Louis to Memphis, where the would be towed to the Naval Air Station for maintenance training, and barging F3H-1Ns from Patuxent River down to Norfolk for the same purpose." (Excepts from The Tomcatters Association web site at: http://tinyurl.com/n5ennbf) See also: History of the F-3H Demon

The first three photos are from the William Rudolph collection. Bill was a McAir employee during the 50’s and 60’s and was present when the aircraft were towed to the barges. As far as I can tell, these three have never been published! The next photo is of an F-3H-1N being loaded on a barge. (Credit unknown) The last photo is of the Demon’s starting their journey. (McDonnell Aircraft)
Click here to view the full size photos

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Color Photos of American WWII Aircraft

Scan0011I have always kept calendars that had aircraft pictures on them, and here is a nice group put out by Gibson Greeting Cards in 1980. As you probably know, color WWII photos are hard to find. This is a USAF collection.

Click here to view photos.

F-15 Charcoal Line Drawings

Scan0008Scan0008a More charcoal line drawings of the early F-15 configuration. Note the short verticals and the ventral fins. Again, artist unknown. (Double click on above pics to see large size drawing)

Hornet Strike Fighter Pamphlet

Pamplet 1A two fold pamphlet from early F-18 days. the ghost views on the second page are interesting!

Click here to view

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Another MDC Bumper Sticker

CF-18 StickerAnother bumper sticker that I use to have on my car.

Patches and Stickers III

F-15 Strike Eagle 1More MDC patches and stickers.

Click here to view patches and stickers

Monday, May 19, 2014

Hamilton Standard Prop Research

Scan0006Scan0006a

Scan0007Scan0007aFrom deep in the archives comes two pictures from 1950 on the prop research being done by Hamilton Standard.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

XF3H and F3H Demon Photos

Scan0073(F-3H)A collection of 114 XF-3H and F-3H McDonnell Aircraft photos. Enjoy!
Click here to view photos.

XF-88A and XF-88B Photos

Scan0048(XF-88) A nice selection of 34 XF-88A and XF-88B photos. These photos are from original McDonnell Aircraft prints.

Click here to view photos.

Friday, May 9, 2014

F-15 STOL and Maneuvering Technology Demonstrator (S/MTD)

SMTD_1 SMTD_2A McDonnell Team Talk article explaining the F-15 STOL and Maneuvering Technology Demonstrator (S/MTD) flown starting in 1989. The aircraft with canards and the thrust vectoring nozzles was used to test STOL  and high maneuvering capability.

Click here for article and other info

F-4M Proposal Excepts

Scan0012Mid 1960’s excepts from an F-4M proposal?

Click here to view excepts gallery

F4H Carrier Suitability Booklet

Scan0019A 1960 twenty two page booklet by McDonnell Aircraft showing the F4H’s capability for carrier operations. Carrier suitability trials were conducted with the #6 F4H-1 (BuNo 143391) starting in February 1960 aboard the USS Independence.

Click here to download the booklet in PDF form

 

F-4H-1 No 6 (1)F-4H-1 No 6 (2)[5]F-4H-1 No 6F-4H-1 No 6 (4-1)F-4H-1 No 6 (5)Pictures of F4H-1 #6, which was the carrier suitability aircraft. (Photo Credits to Tommy H. Thomason, Replica in Scale and McDonnell Aircraft)

James S. McDonnell

Old Man MAC

A picture I have always liked of James S. McDonnell (Old Man Mac) in his later years. I talked to him a number of times over my 40 years and he was always interested in the well being of his employees.
We first met when he knocked me down in the basement of Bldg. 002. He had the habit of charging down the halls with his arm straight out to go through the big double swinging doors. Unfortunately, I was on the other side of the door, twice, and he would knock me down! Both times, he stopped and made sure that I was O.K. and to chat a while before he moved on. After the second time, I made sure to look through the window of all doors before I went through them. I greatly admired the man.

An MP3 of Mr. Mac Calling all the Team Mr. Mac

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Israeli F-15 Gun Camera Photo

Isreali Gun PhotoNice compilation of an Israeli F-15 gun camera images.

 

Click here to see photo

F-15E Rollout Packet

McDonnell_Douglas_F-15E_Prototype_060905-F-1234S-024Here is the press packet given out on the occasion of the F-15E rollout ceremony on Dec 18 1986.

Click here to view rollout booklets and photo

Saturday, March 29, 2014

McDonnell Plant in 1959

Scan0026The plant layout a few years before I arrived. I spent many years in all of these buildings at one time or another!

McDonnell F-111 Sled Test Article

HP Scan0001 (4)McDonnell Aircraft was the subcontractor for the F-111 Crew Emergency Escape Capsule. This is a nice photo of the sled test article.

Click here for a  video of the sled test

Click here to view the photo

McDonnell Douglas Lithographs–Part IV

F-15 STOL 0001More of the wonderful MDC lithographs!

Click here to view lithos

Download here or here or here (93.7 Megs)

Factory Floor Photos - Part III

F-4B_F-4C_Sep_63More photos from the MDC assembly line!

Click here to see photos

F4H-1P Photo Recon Aircraft Proposal

HP Scan0001Selected pages from the July 1958 F4H-1P photo recon proposal by McDonnell Aircraft to the US Navy. An interesting look at the early attempt to provide a recon aircraft from the F-4A. Note the “Night Photo Terrain Lighting Pod”.

Click here to see pages

Under the Sign - Part V

HP Scan0005More under the sign photos.

Click here to see photos

Over the St. Louis Arch–Part I

F-4'sIn addition to photographing all new MDC products under the MDC sign, many photos were taken of the aircraft flying over the St. Louis, Mo landmark Arch. Here are a few of those photos.

Click here to see photos

F-15 Eagle Drawings

Scan0011A nice set of early short speedbrake F-15 drawings with markings and fuselage cuts by Bob Pukala and Capt. Mike Byers.

Ckick here to see drawings

Friday, March 28, 2014

McDonnell Douglas 50th Year Booklet

mdc_01_CoverIn 1970, McDonnell Douglas issued a 50th year booklet with history and accomplishments.

Click here to download the booklet in PDF form

F-4 Large Lithographs

F-4B Litho In the 1960’s, McDonnell issued this wonderful set of large F-4 lithographs of different F-4’s and from various countries. Enjoy!

Click here to view these litho's

McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II (143388) Photo

F4H-1_1This is the third Phantom II produced by McDonnell, as an YF4H-1, this aircraft was at first designated F4H-1F and later as the F-4A. In the early to mid 1960’s, it was assigned to the General Electric company for J-79 development work. It is now at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. A US Navy photo. Note all the F-101 assembly in the background.

Click here to download photo

Naval Aviation Photo Essay

HP Scan0003A photo miscellany of naval aircraft from my archives. This was another article that I wrote for the McDonnell Scale Modelers’ Club magazine “Phantom Flyer”.

Click here to see the article

F-4 Phantom II 30th Year Invitation and Celebration

F_4_30_Year_Invite_001 F-4 30 Year Invite 003 My 1988 invite to Salute the 30th Anniversary of the First Flight of the F-4 Phantom II held at the I31st Tactical Fighter Wing 0f the Missouri Air National Guard. Plus the Product Support article and photo of the 30th anniversary aircraft over the arch!

Click here to see pictures of the invitation

F-4E J-79 Engine Photos

Scan0015I ran across these five photos of the J-79 engines installed in F-4E No. 483 and up. Nice close-ups!

Click here to download photos

McDonnell ASSET Program - Part I

Scan0020Scan0022 In the early 1960’s, McDonnell won a contract for the ASSET program to study the aerodynamic and thermodynamic properties of re-entry on vehicles. The Aerothermodynamic Structual Systems Environment Tests resulted in six launches aboard Thor missiles. (One is pictured above.) There was a good article in the May 27, 1963 edition of Missiles and Rockets magazine.
Click here to download photo
Click here to download pamphlet as a PDF
Click here to download Missiles and Rockets article

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Photos–Part I

HP Scan0011 (2) I ran across this group of  A-4 Skyhawk pictures and thought that someone might enjoy them.

Click here to see these pictures.

McDonnell Aircraft Engineering Standard Drawing Numbering System Sheet

McDonnell Standard Drawing Numbering System Jan-15-66This is the engineering sheet that lists all of the drawing numbers that McDonnell used for the various models that were produced up to 1966. (For example, 32-XXXXX was the F-4 prefix.)

Click here to see this sheet

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