Photo of the week
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This weekends photo.
Of Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver aircraft on deck, probably taken during the carrier qualifications of the SB2C, circa May 1943. As a result of these trials, captain J.J. Clark, USN, of the YORKTOWN recommended the dropping of the SB2C program.
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Wednesdays photo.
C-47 Skytrain serial number 43-8386 and a B-17 Flying Fortress serial number 42-29780 nicknamed Silver Queen formerly of the 95th Bomb Group used as a hack by General Curtiss Le May.
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Spitfire PR Mark XI, EN654, being flown by Jeffrey Quill, Vickers-Supermarine's Chief Test Pilot. This aircraft later operated with No. 16 Squadron RAF, and in June 1945 was specially modified as a mail carrier for service with the Fighter Command Communications Squadron.
And a wonderful belly shot of a PR Mk XI.
And Supermarine Spitfire PR.XI, PL775 'A', of No. 541 Squadron RAF.
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Weekend extra, and a wonderful shot of a Mk I Hurricane.
"Formerly RAF L1762, this aircraft was one of 600 ordered under Air Ministry Contract No. 527112/36 of June 3, 1936. It was produced under Hawker Works Order 3054 (for a batch of 50 aircraft, RAF s/n L1748 to L1797) under s/n L1762, but under Works Order 6243, it was shipped to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and became one of the 20 aircraft delivered to the RCAF (s/n 310 to 329).
It arrived with a Watts wooden two-blade fixed-pitch propeller and was taken on charge with s/n 313 on March 2, 1939. It was used for training by A Flight, No. 1 (F) Squadron at Vancouver Airport, which later was renamed RCAF Station Sea Island, and where probably the photo was taken, looking north towards The Lions mountain range north of Vancouver.
When No.1 (F) Squadron went to the UK in early 1940, they took 10 of these Hurricanes with them, including 313, which was coded 'YO-L' at that time. It later passed back to the RAF, but retained the RCAF three-digit serial. It was operated by No. 6 (later No. 56) OTU, RAF, in late 1940 - early 1941, and it became an instructional airframe in 1943."
Info by Bill Walker. -
Wednesdays photo's.
In an evaluation of several Royal Air Force types, this Hawker Hurricane IIA was flown at Langley. The NACA ran a series of stability and control flight tests on this aircraft, which carried the RAF serial Z2963.
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Fridays photo.
Taken on board USS CORAL SEA (CVA-43).
Two TBM - 3R "COD" transport aircraft prepare for take -off, during Bureau of Aeronautics tests off the Virginia Capes, 26 January 1955. these planes are Bureau # s 69378 (right) and 91727 (center). The F9F -8 fighter at far left (BU # 131097) wears naval air test center Patuxent River, MD., markings.
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Weekend extra, both well known.
But interesting to say the least.
In an attempt to prolong the life of the "Mustang" as a front-line fighter a pair of Ford PJ-31-1 pulsejets were fitted on to the under side of the wings. The results were similar to the Soviet experiments on piston engined aircraft with added pulsejets, an increase in top speed when in use, but with excessive fuel consumption and high drag when not, the idea was dropped soon after the tests.
And the jet-powered version of the P-51D, sort of. After the war a P-51D was modified as a ramjet test platform, with one Marquardt ramjet attached to each wingtip. The piston engine was retained, of course, since a ramjet has to be moving at relatively high speed before it can be started. The ramjet-boosted Mustang flew extensive tests until August 1948, when one of the ramjets flamed out. The test pilot tried to relight it, and the ramjet exploded in a fireball; the pilot managed to turn the aircraft over and bail out, leaving the Mustang to fall to earth.
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Wednesdays photo.
One Martlet IV was modified by Blackburn Aircraft with six launch rails for "60-pounder" rockets, but the fit was not adopted operationally -- likely because the cluttered launch rails cut into performance too much.
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Fridays photos.
Ordnancemen service .50 caliber machine guns at Naval Air Station Quonset Point Rhode Island in September 1943
Vought F4U-1 Corsair I -is from the British Navys Fleet Air Arm and is at Naval Air Station Quonset Point Rhode Island in September 1943
British Fleet Air Arm Chance Vough F4U Corsair JT108 7C 1943.
