1986 Mostly airplanes - big ones

1986 - Our lives in America
May 1986     Brown Field San Diego. We go to an air show put on by the Confederate Air Force. The organization was originally known as the Confederate Air Force. Following a membership vote in 2001 and made effective on January 1, 2002, the organization is now called the Commemorative Air Force. The name was changed to better reflect the mission of the organization. The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1970s. Top speed: 335 km/h Engine type: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp First flight: 1 April 1935 Variants: North American A-27; Bacon Super T-6 Manufacturer: North American Aviation Number built: 15,495 Role: Trainer aircraft The T-6 Texan has also been used many times to simulate various historical aircraft, including the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero. A total of 15,495 T-6s of all variants were built. The Naval Aircraft Factory N3N was an American tandem-seat, open cockpit, primary training biplane aircraft built by the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 1930s and early 1940s.
According to Trimble, "The N3N-3, sometimes known as the Yellow Bird for its distinctive, high visibility paint scheme, or less kindly, Yellow Peril for the jeopardy in which student aviators often found themselves, showed itself to be rugged, reliable, and generally forgiving to student pilots." The North American Aviation T-28 Trojan is a radial engined military trainer aircraft used by the United States Air Force and United States Navy beginning in the 1950s. Besides its use as a trainer, the T-28 was successfully employed as a counter insurgency aircraft, primarily during the Vietnam War. Cruise speed: 370 km/h Engine type: Wright R-1820 Cyclone Retired: 1994 Philippine Air Force First flight: 24 September 1949 Manufacturer: North American Aviation Produced: 1950–1957 Developed into: AIDC T-CH-1 North American T28 The Curtiss C-46 Commando is a twin-engine transport aircraft derived from the Curtiss CW-20 pressurised high altitude airliner design. Early press reports used the name "Condor III", but the Commando name was in use by early 1942 in company publicity. Top speed: 433 km/h Wingspan: 33 m Range: 3,701 km Length: 23 m Engine type: Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp First flight: 26 March 1940 Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright, Buffalo, New York and Higgins Aircraft, Michoud LA
The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Weight: 9,210 kg Engine type: Radial engine Manufacturer: North American Aviation Retired: 1979 (Indonesia) First flight: 19 August 1940 Number built: 9,816 Role: Medium bomber The majority of B-25s in American service were used in the war against Japan in Asia and the Pacific. The Mitchell fought from the Northern Pacific to the South Pacific and the Far East. These areas included the campaigns in the Aleutian Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Britain, China, Burma and the island hopping campaign in the Central Pacific. B25 Michell The B-25B first gained fame as the bomber used in the 18 April 1942 Doolittle Raid, in which 16 B-25Bs led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle attacked mainland Japan, four months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The mission gave a much needed lift in spirits to the Americans and alarmed the Japanese, who had believed their home islands to be inviolable by enemy forces. Although the amount of actual damage done was relatively minor, it forced the Japanese to divert troops for home defense for the remainder of the war. Fairchild PT23 Cornell. This plane used the PT19 airframe but with a radial engine fitted. The Fairchild PT-23 was used by the United States Army Air Corps as a primary trainer during World War II. The Air Corps pilots were trained in three stages: Primary, Basic and Advanced, before they were sent to operational units to fly the combat aircraft. The pilots began their training in the simple primary aircraft such as the PT-23.
When a shortage of Ranger inline 175 hp Ranger L-440-1 engines developed, Fairchild installed a Continental R-670 radial engine of 220 hp on the PT-19 airframe, that variant being designated PT-23. While the less streamlined engine cowling reduced the plane's performance slightly, for the training role the loss was not significant. P51 D Mustang "Gunfighter". Gunfighter is one of the world’s most famous P-51 Mustangs, having appeared on the airshow circuit and providing rides for over 35 years. The aircraft is a P-51 "D" model, serial number 44-73264. Of the approximately 15,000 P-51s produced in WWII, over 8,000 were “D” models. Today, only about 150 airworthy examples of Mustangs exist world-wide in museums, flying or under restoration. A WWI Boeing B17 Bomber. We didn't get to see it fly. Sentimental Journey (44-83514) is the nickname of a B-17G Flying Fortress bomber. It is based at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Mesa, Arizona, US. The aircraft is regularly flown to airshows throughout North America. The nose art features Betty Grable, the number one pinup girl of the World War II era. The aircraft's name takes after a song made very popular by Doris Day in 1945. The Cessna AT-17 Bobcat or Cessna Crane is a twin-engined advanced trainer aircraft designed and made in the United States, and used during World War II to bridge the gap between single engined trainers and larger multi engined combat aircraft. Top speed: 314 km/h Range: 1,210 km Cruise speed: 282 km/h Weight: 1,588 kg Engine type: Jacobs R-755 First flight: 26 March 1939 (T-50) Manufacturer: Cessna Aircraft Company
The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range carrier-based fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company and was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 carrier fighter , or the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen. The A6M was usually referred to by its pilots as the Reisen, "0" being the last digit of the imperial year 2600 (1940) when it entered service with the Imperial Navy. The official Allied reporting name was "Zeke", although the name "Zero" (from Type 0) was used colloquially as well. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. At its inception, the B-24 was a modern design featuring a highly efficient shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing. The wing gave the Liberator a high cruise speed, long range and the ability to carry a heavy bomb load. Early RAF Liberators were the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a matter of routine. Top speed: 488 km/h Last flight: 1945 Engine type: Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp Manufacturer: Consolidated Aircraft First flight: 29 December 1939 Variants: Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer; Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express; Consolidated Liberator I Developed into: Consolidated R2Y; Consolidated B-32 Dominator In comparison with its contemporaries, the B-24 was relatively difficult to fly and had poor low-speed performance; it also had a lower ceiling and was less robust than the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. While aircrews tended to prefer the B-17, General Staff favored the B-24 and procured it in huge numbers for a wide variety of roles. At approximately 18,500 units – including 8,685 manufactured by Ford Motor Company – it holds records as the world's most produced bomber, heavy bomber, multi-engine aircraft, and American military aircraft in history.
The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in every theater of World War II, and after the war ended, many remained in service, operating across four decades. Produced in numerous variants, nearly 10,000 B-25s were built. B25's engines: The Wright R-2600 Cyclone 14 (also called Twin Cyclone) was an American radial engine developed by Curtiss-Wright and widely used in aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s. The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. Its primary armament was eight .50-caliber machine guns, and in the fighter-bomber ground attack role it could carry 5-inch rockets or a bomb load of 2,500 lb. Top speed: 890 km/h Weight: 4,536 kg Wingspan: 12 m Range: 1,290 km Engine type: Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp Radial Manufacturer: Republic Aviation Introduction: November 1942 The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American carrier based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United States Navy's dominant fighter in the second half of the Pacific War. Top speed: 611 km/h Wingspan: 13 m Range: 1,520 km Introduced: 1943 Engine type: Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp Radial First flight: 26 June 1942 Manufacturer: Grumman The Consolidated PBY Catalina is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s. In Canadian service it was known as the Canso. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Wikipedia Range: 4,030 km Wingspan: 32 m Manufacturer: Consolidated Aircraft First flight: 21 March 1935 Variants: Bird Innovator Introduction: October 1936, United States Navy Number built: 3,308 (2,661 U.S.-built, 620 Canadian-built, 27 Soviet-built)
The Hawker Sea Fury is a British fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by Hawker Aircraft. It was the last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, and one of the fastest production single reciprocating engine aircraft ever built. Top speed: 740 km/h Engine type: Bristol Centaurus Designer: Sydney Camm First flight: 1 September 1944 (Fury); 21 February 1945 (Sea Fury) Retired: 1953 (FAA); 1955 (RNVR); 1956 (RCN); 1957 (MLD); 1968 Burmese Air Force Produced: 1945–1955 Introduction: August 1947 (RCN); September 1947 (RN) Sea Furies were fitted with the powerful Bristol Centaurus engine and armed with four wing-mounted Hispano V cannons. While originally developed as a pure aerial fighter aircraft, the definitive Sea Fury FB.11 was a fighter-bomber, the design having been found suitable for this mission as well. The Centaurus engine was the final development of the Bristol Engine Company's series of sleeve valve radial aircraft engines. The Centaurus is an 18-cylinder, two-row design that eventually delivered over 3,000 hp (2,200 kW). The engine was introduced into service late in the Second World War and was one of the most powerful aircraft piston engines to see service Some time in 1986     Watching planes take off and land at Miramar NAS F14 Tomcat
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0115 a May 1986     San Diego Aerospace Museum. The original is in Washington DC but it was made by Ryan here in San Diego. Collection of planes in San Diego's Air and Space Museum. May 1986     I visit The USAF Museum on a trip to Dayton for work.
A The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker flies overhead and lands at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton. The XB70 is parked outside in the open on this 1986 Trip to the USAF museum. On my 1988 trip, the XB70 is parked inside in a huge, newly built hangar. However, the best trip of the lot is when I spend three days, on my own, in 2009 when three more building are added to the museum. To look at the 2009 Visit to the USAF Air Force Museum Click here. 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0122 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0123 a
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0124 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0125 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0126 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0127 a
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0128 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0129 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0130 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0132 a
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0133 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0118 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0131 a We learn about a USAF air show to be run at Norton AFB on November 16, 1986 near San Bernadino CA
The star of the show is to be the SR71 - actually flying. 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0217 b 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0217 a JGRVariousPictures 0009 a
For a summary of all of the SR71's I have seen on my travels across America Click here for a full description of this remarkable airplane and it's many amazing technological break throughs. To get back to here, press the viewer's back button. Armed guards keep the punters away from the SR71 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0225 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0226 a
We saw this B17 earlier this year at Brown Field, San Diego. JGRVariousPictures 0008 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0228 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0229 a
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0230 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0231 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0232 a C-141's are stationed here at Norton AFB.
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0234 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0235 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0236 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0237 a
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0238 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0239 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0240 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0241 a
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0242 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0243 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0244 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0245 a
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0246 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0247 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0248 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0249 a
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0250 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0251 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0252 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0253 a
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0254 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0255 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0256 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0257 a
1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0258 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0259 a 1986 LifeInSDAndBeyond 0260 a The end of this segment