[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Llarry

In the early days, they even operated the DHC Otter (U.S. Navy designation UC-1).

Two more photos:

-- A ski-equipped UC-1 (or U-1B) Otter on the ice in the 1950s or 1960s.

-- The Navy still has an Otter in service, now designated NU-1B (N for test) and the oldest aircraft in USN service. It serves at the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School, where students are given exposure to a wide variety of aircraft to explore their varying characteristics.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Bob Hoover's Shrike Commander.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hoover

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_Commander_500_family


Attachment 3338819

The things he used to do with that airplane. One engine? Sure. No engines? No problem...!

I was lucky enough to see Bob Hoover fly both the Shrike Commander and his P-51 Mustang at 5 or 6 airshows over the years. He was an incredible pilot and he made it all look so easy.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Both the crew members survived this one. Jet had misfortune that no way to be hauled back onboard so off to a watery grave.

More info: This TF-9J, BuNo #142979 from Chase Field, the Texas based VT-25 “Cougars”, missed all arresting wires while trying to land aboard USS Lexington (CVS-16), 24 May 1966. The pilot was rescued, unhurt, but the aircraft lost.

“I was instructing in VT-25 when the F9 incident took place. My best recollection of the accident: The student pilot did catch a wire but had a severe right to left approach. After going over the side he was still at full power. The LSO finally radioed the pilot to shut down. After shutting down the student jumped into the water. I don’t know how he was picked up. There was no equipment on the ship able to pull the plane back aboard so the arresting gear cable was cut and the plane was lost. The student went out the next day and finished his carrier qualification.” –Lt. Cdr Tom Larson, VFP-62 pilot"

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Llarry

The Navy still has an Otter in service.

The Single Otter is still very active in the Canadian bush and on the waterways of the West Coast. Many are fitted with floats and turbine conversions. A very sturdy airframe introduced in 1951. I can only hope to age as gracefully as this old bird.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Hav...da_DHC-3_Otter

[Llarry]

Not Thursday but here's a Tornado anyway.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by flybigjet

I'm 57.

And a Class III or Class II does me no good. I need a Class I to fly at my airline.

Tracking is still a thing.... but after a 60% pay cut, my discretionary income is a little tighter than it used to be.

R.

Ouch! This situation really hurts!

Does the FAA still mandate retirement at 65 for commercial pilots?

I assume your Air Force Reserve retired pay will kick in at age 62? (I know that sounds like an eternity in your present situation.)

[vreihen16]

Nothing like watching a "Connie" 747 fly past my office window on final to brighten up my day. They still have over two dozen queens of the skies flying cargo at last count.

Not my photo, since I didn't have time to grab my camera:

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Nothing like watching a "Connie" 747

Conrad "Connie" Kalitta a.k.a " The Bounty Hunter" in drag racing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Kalitta

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalitta_Air

[BMWGUYinCO]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Not Thursday but here's a Tornado anyway.

Hey, speaking of Tornado....whatever happened to our former Tornado pilot and lover of the green lizard Kawasaki? Lady Jane or anyone else know?

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by BMWGUYinCO

Lady Jane or anyone else know?

I'm afraid not... I tried several times to no avail. I just hope he didn't get in trouble with Bluebelle.

[flybigjet]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Ouch! This situation really hurts!

Does the FAA still mandate retirement at 65 for commercial pilots?

I assume your Air Force Reserve retired pay will kick in at age 62? (I know that sounds like an eternity in your present situation.)

Yeah-- Suck Factor: high.

You normally get an AFRES retirement at 60..... but there was a special circumstance (which I fall under) where I should (you see where this is going?) have gotten my retirement at 57.

Buuuuut...... the magic computer system that keeps track of all of this apparently went up in flames. The AF basically told me "Too bad. Someday you might be able to file, and if so, we'll give you your back pay."

My only options are a Congressional Investigation or to hire an attorney at my cost..... either way, if I do either of those, the AF will literally no longer talk to me about this.

So, I'm sort of in limbo on that one.

Grr. Your tax dollars at work.

R.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by flybigjet

Yeah-- Suck Factor: high.

You normally get an AFRES retirement at 60..... but there was a special circumstance (which I fall under) where I should (you see where this is going?) have gotten my retirement at 57.

Buuuuut...... the magic computer system that keeps track of all of this apparently went up in flames. The AF basically told me "Too bad. Someday you might be able to file, and if so, we'll give you your back pay."

My only options are a Congressional Investigation or to hire an attorney at my cost..... either way, if I do either of those, the AF will literally no longer talk to me about this.

So, I'm sort of in limbo on that one.

Grr. Your tax dollars at work.

R.

Ouch! Suck factor extremely high!

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Llarry

...
Does the FAA still mandate retirement at 65 for commercial pilots?...

And they force controllers to stop working traffic at 56. It's forced retirement or find a unobtanium staff job. I like to say I was fired (retired) as I got a termination letter (my job was age-eliminated) and over a year of unemployment. I wasn't ready to go as I was still having fun.

[M-technik-3]

Originally Posted by flybigjet

Yeah-- Suck Factor: high.

You normally get an AFRES retirement at 60..... but there was a special circumstance (which I fall under) where I should (you see where this is going?) have gotten my retirement at 57.

Buuuuut...... the magic computer system that keeps track of all of this apparently went up in flames. The AF basically told me "Too bad. Someday you might be able to file, and if so, we'll give you your back pay."

My only options are a Congressional Investigation or to hire an attorney at my cost..... either way, if I do either of those, the AF will literally no longer talk to me about this.

So, I'm sort of in limbo on that one.

Grr. Your tax dollars at work.

R.

What? The system that for all those years activated they are reniging on? All call to maybe 60 minutes or other investigative news.

I retired out with AD Pension and hung around for extra 5 years was still making more money as reserve bum than retired bum so when I leave it was just more points. I do know they only used my TAFMS an no Res points to compute rettirement data.

Sorry to hear that but CoWorker of mine got his retirement from TDRL because he got hurt while on orders and he blacked out, He knew he would never fly and they would not give him sanctuary because that doesn't apply to rated officers so he got a lawyer.

[vreihen16]

Just snapped this pic from my office window. Looks like someone may be feasting on lobster tonight.....





.

[Llarry]

The guy that takes photos of aircraft at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma gets some interesting shots. Tinker does depot-level maintenance on large USAF aircraft and sometimes post-maintenance check flights are done before the airplanes are painted. Here's one of the few remaining Boeing E-3G AWACS aircraft without paint.

[3.0L]

I was sitting in my spa yesterday afternoon and spotted what appeared to be a de Havilland Twin Otter pass overhead. It was low and apparently heading for our local airport. Then I heard a loud bang, followed by twinkling debris falling towards the ground, all just a few blocks away. I'm thinking, WTF!

Airplane landed safely. Metal and plastic pieces were picked up. No one hurt, fortunately. NTSB is investigating. My guess? The airplane hit a drone.

[Llarry]

The 469th Flying Training Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas has at least one Northrop T-38C painted up in a heritage color scheme, commemorating the squadron's history as an F-4E unit during the Vietnam war.

As can be seen by the logo on the tail, the 479th trains pilots from NATO countries in advanced training and introduction to fighter fundamentals.

Nice colors!

[Llarry]

Designers of new aircraft used to (still do?) build mockups of aircraft under design to give the prospective buyer(s) a look at what the aircraft will look like. I suppose photos of these mockups are often lost to history but I have seen several of them.

Grumman Aircraft was founded in 1930. Their first product was not an airplane but was an amphibious float that would enable an airplane to operate as a floatplane or on wheels as a landplane. Their first aircraft was the FF-1 two-seat fighter which got a contract from the U.S. Navy for 27 aircraft -- a single squadron of 18 plus 50% spares -- and later was bought by Nicaragua, Spain and Canada (the RCAF called the aircraft the Goblin).

The second Grumman aircraft was the Duck, an amphibious floatplane designed for utility duties. I think I've posted about the Duck before. It started life as the experimental XJF-1 and the U.S. Navy bought it. It morphed into the improved J2F and was built in numbers before and during World War II. The J2F was used to rescue downed aviators from the sea, including from inshore seas near Japanese-held islands when the Duck came under fire.

In any event, I've scanned a couple of photos of Grumman's mockup of the XJF. Note that the usual configuration was a pilot up front and a rear seat man -- typically a radioman, who could operate a .30 machine gun or assist survivors, etc. The Duck was surprisingly roomy, though; it could pick up a couple of survivors and seat them down below in the basement in the float.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Llarry

... the RCAF called the aircraft the Goblin...

The G-23 Goblin was assembled by Canadian Car & Foundry. Here's a photo.

[Llarry]

The USAF's force of A-10C Warthogs continues their slow slide into retirement with the latest Congressional budget act, which reduces the mandated number of active Warthogs by 18 aircraft. The new total is 135 A-10Cs. A mistake, in my opinion.

[Llarry]

I believe I previously posted a photo or two about the commercial aggressor aircraft company Top Aces. A recent Flight Global article gave me some additional insight.

Top Aces is big business. They have contracts in at least the USA, Germany and now Canada. Their headquarters is in Montreal.

Their fleet of 29 ex-Israeli F-16As in based in Mesa, Arizona, while they are acquiring 29 ex-Israeli A-4Ns as well. At least four of the A-4Ns will be based in Canada to provide aggressor services.