For you aviation fans -

[NutmegCT]

I was doing some research for the College Park (Maryland) Air Museum, and happened to find a highly modified post-war B-17G.

Who knows what's going on here!?

 

[PAUL161]

Don't know but it looks like they hung an assisted take off turbine under the nose. Wonder how well it worked? Probably the only place they could mount it due the 17s configuration. Never saw this before, interesting. Thanks Tom for posting.

 

[NutmegCT]

Paul -here's another unusual Fortress. Note it's flying with only one engine turning.

We had the a/c at the New England Air Museum, but it was severely damaged by the 1979 tornado.

 

[PAUL161]

Sure would hate to pay the fuel bill on that 17 with five engines turning! I see a PBY in there, the most beautiful, aerodynamically designed, tough as nails sea plane ever built!

 

[3798j]

Two other

odd ones...

 

[NutmegCT]

Speaking of odd a/c -

 

[NutmegCT]

And if you're looking for redundancy to assure safety ...

The Caproni CA 60. And yes, it flew. Sorta.

 

[PAUL161]

Two other View attachment 87160View attachment 87161odd ones...

Now that is someone's nightmare for sure!

 

[3798j]

Staying weird...

 

[NutmegCT]

Maybe weird at first glance, but the Peacemaker was of the most interesting a/c of the 1950s.

B-36, B-29, B-17, B-18.

One of the early B-36s, without the four jet engines at the wing ends.

 

[3798j]

These two Avros had only eleven years between their first flights (1941 & 1952)...boy what a difference.

 

[Basil]

The Caproni CA 60. And yes, it flew. Sorta.

And all that wing area where the ladies could sun bathe

 

[NutmegCT]

Victor Valiant Vulcan

 

[3798j]

USS Macon

 

[Silverghost]

USS Macon

View attachment 87277

I think it is amazing what was accomplished with the lack of technology.

 

[PAUL161]

Hard to imagine those guys working off of 60/70+ foot wooden ladders! They had guts for sure! Wow.

 

[DocDup1]

I agree, the ladders re the most amazing thing about that photo. Those guys not only climbed the ladders, they carried tools and big parts up there. When it came time to do the fabric on the outside of those things they had to do it all on those ladders! Not for the faint of heart.

 

[Popeye]

Whoa!! Thanks for sharing. Ladders? I think I’ll stay sitting on my couch, thank you very much.

 

[John Turney]

USS Macon

View attachment 87277

There was an article recently in the San Francisco Chronicle recently about a photo of the USS Macon. It seems that a photo of the Macon flying past the Chronicle building in 1933 was faked.

For the story - October 16, 1933 Front Page.

 

[NutmegCT]

John - thanks for that link. Unfortunately soon as I get to the article, the newspaper blocks it with a popup saying I must subscribe to the newspaper.

Tom M
PS - that NRA Eagle sure brings back memories!