hlminx 301 Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Fairchild XC-120 Packplane so if that is correct honours should go to Alan: It is indeed the XC120 http://4.bp.blogspot...79a95884f_o.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c3cTsYXQyWU/Tq8qLWoiwoI/AAAAAAAACZQ/aJDYdlDccjw/s1600/Fairchild%2BXC-120A2.jpg Looks like Thunderbird 2 John A had already nailed the XC 120 yesterday morning so the cigar is still in his hand but as we have a 'part2' to this, how's about me opening it up to John and Alan to take a crack at it ?? Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 It appears to be a winch control or something similar. What I first took to be knobs are actually hex-nuts and the device is smaller than I originally thought. There's a black handle at the top-right and a locking pin (or maybe a headset plug) at right center. I've not found a photo on-line to match it but suspect it has something to do with raising and lowering or latching and unlatching the cargo pod on the XC-120 - or something along those lines. John Link to post Share on other sites
J G 927 Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 I too think it is a winch control. Possibly a glider? If we are on the twin boom theme then how about the Gotha Go 242? Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 If we are on the twin boom theme then how about the Gotha Go 242? Looks like someone stole some plans from the other side. Link to post Share on other sites
J G 927 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 ... Or if the theme is the container underneath, how about the Sikorsky S-64 Sky-crane? ...Is heat not the winch above and forward of the pod front window? Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Want a clue?? John is so far the closest as he is sticking with the Fairchild theme.. Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Could that be the ground-steering tiller? John Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Could that be the ground-steering tiller? John Nope. . but it's something essential to the operation of the aircraft.. without it, you'd get nowhere. . Go back to the original picture.. all 'variants'.. bolt ons..bit parts Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Brake release? Just stabbing in the dark here. John Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Think of 'famous' Fairchilds... Where might you have seen one.. Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Think of 'famous' Fairchilds... Where might you have seen one.. Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 The most famous of the Fairchilds has to be the Warthog, so, something to do with the gun? The GAU-8 is pretty much the raison d'être for the hog. John Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 I was thinking more Hollywood. .. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Something to do with photo reconnaissance? Link to post Share on other sites
J G 927 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Hollywood... something a bit dramatic? VZ-3 Vertiplane? Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Hollywood... something a bit dramatic? VZ-3 Vertiplane? Yes, very dramatic. Think Fairchild.. think Hollywood.. think aircraft parts... No cigar on the VZ-3... Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Something to do with photo reconnaissance?Nope.. definitely Hollywood rather than Military. .Don't forget that once you have the plane identified there is still the question of what the photo is of, and then the significance of the letters on the side... though saying that I think the second and third answers will flow as soon as you have the aircraft type.. Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 OK, I have a hunch. I think the pictured device may be the "breech" end of a Coffman Starter, which used cordite cartridges, much like an oversized, blank shotgun cartridge, to turn over the engine. The Hollywood connection is from "Flight of the Phoenix", where a difference of opinion about firing one of the few available cartridges with the ignition off to "...clear the cylinders..." leads to a dramatic arguement. The aircraft used in the filming include, according to Wiki... - Fairchild C-82A Packet, N6887C – flying shots. - Fairchild C-82A Packet, N4833V – outdoor location wreck. - Fairchild C-82A Packet, N53228 – indoor studio wreck. - Fairchild R4Q-1 Flying Boxcar (the USMC C-119C variant), BuNo. 126580 – non-flying Phoenix prop. - Tallmantz Phoenix P-1, N93082 – flying Phoenix aircraft. - North American O-47A, N4725V – second flying Phoenix. The Tallmantz, which was purpose-built for the movie, was wrecked during the filming, killing famous movie pilot Paul Mantz and severely injuring another. As for what's painted on the AC, the only thing I can come up with is the word "Phoenix", seen in some photos. John EDIT - Pretty sure that's the device - it's clearly shown in the first few seconds of this YouTube video. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+flight+of+the+phoenix&qpvt=youtube+flight+of+the+phoenix&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=0F816E8740A3D783BF700F816E8740A3D783BF70 JDA Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Well done John.. A great bit of deductive work! You Sir are THE master !! The Flight of the Phoenix(the original of course) has long been my favourite aircraft movie...and I watch a lot of movies. The photo is a still of the top of the Coffman Starter when James Stewart is trying to get the Phoenix going before they all perish. James Stewart was of course a pilot in real life and is totally convincing. A brilliant performance by Hardy Kruger too.. you just can't help but will those blades to keep on turning.. Now you can see the Fairchild link to Hollywood. .. Over to you John, and hats off to you again Minx Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Kudos to John for figuring it out and also Steph for the choice pic, that was a toughy. Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Yeah, that was a tough one. I'm not the master though - that goes to Andrew and Alan. Not sure why they sat on their hands on this one. I knew instantly from the first photo that it was a C-119, (the XC-120 was built from a converted C-119B) but really struggled with the second photo. I would not have gotten it if not for the Hollywood clues. @ Steph - Re aviation movies - You'd like "Always", the 1989 one with Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, Brad Johnson and John Goodman. It's one of my favorites (or favourites, if you prefer). There was another movie by that name in 1985, not aviation related. The one I like is a remake of an old (1943) Spencer Tracy movie, "A Guy named Joe", but the new one is better. It verges on being a chick-flick, but has a lot of good flying of some great old Warbirds (in fire-fighting roles) and some pretty good humor (or humour, if you prefer) too. If you've never seen it, you should have a look. Oh, and I think it was Audrey Hepburn's last movie appearance before she died. I'll get something new posted later. By the way, you should not back out of this thread as you suggested in an earlier post. This was one of the best. John Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Thanks John.. perhaps i won't hang up the hat just yet but think it might be a while before you have to suffer my tenuous links again..I'm not that good at getting them One of the many things I love about the thread is the amount of info that I can learn from everyone's posts. There is a lot of research that's gone into them so it's always dead interesting to read..and this has been no exception although all the cool info has been from you guys.. "Always" is another one if my favourite movies, and might have made it to the top had it not been for Pete listening to Drinda shopping in her sleep... love that bit..gets me every time. Any takers on a spin off thread..? best film and why? There are some incredible movies out there to be shared that are based round aviation.. Think we might have started the ball rolling with Flight of the Phoenix and Always. Back to the thread at hand... John, the ball is back in your court and ive just lit that cigar...Over to you Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 I'm pretty sure this one will go in a hurry. It's not only a fairly widely publicized photo, there are a few visible features that should help folks home in in it pretty quickly. They shouldn't all be hard. John Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted March 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Just to note - Chuck WAS NOT flying...... Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Just to note - Chuck WAS NOT flying...... I had wondered about that .... Link to post Share on other sites
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