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...and the F-111 was a sled, overweight, over-priced, and forced on the USAF, who wanted no part of it, by the McNamara DoD and utterly rejected by the USN as totally unsuited for their mission. It was an over-optimistic attempt to be all things to all potential customers and satisfied almost none, except possibly the RAAF, bless 'em, who managed to get good and long service from it despite its shortcomings.

John

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On 22nd December 1964, the first flight of the SR-71 blackbird began at Air Force Plant No. 42 in California, piloted by Lockheed test pilot Robert 'Bob' Gilliland. It flew faster than 1000 mph and r

On this day 91 years ago................................my dear old Mum was born, Happy Birthday Mum!   Mike

Sorry to hear fame went to Bader's head. Guess he had to by his own drinks then.

On this date in history 18th April 1991 saw the final demise of Eastern Airlines as the company was dissolved after 64 years of operation. Many of the assets of the iconic carrier ended up with American Airlines and Continental. Always sad to see these huge companies go out of business..

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On this day 49 years ago (April 6, 1965), the BAC TSR-2 was axed by Harold Wilson's Labour government in favour of the General Dynamics F-111. TSR.2 was the last significant attempt by the UK to single handedly design and develop a top tier military aircraft.

 

Someone should have taken an axe to Harold Wilson.

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April 30th

 

In 1893, Roy Chadwick, designer of the Manchester, Lancaster, Lincoln and Vulcan amongst others, was born.

 

In 1959, Convair B-36J-1-CF Peacemaker, serial number 52-2220, landed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, completing the very last flight ever made by one of the giant Cold War-era bombers. It is on the collection of the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

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May 1

 

1982 - Operation Black Buck 1, the mission from Ascension Island to the Falklands to put the runway out of action, finished up after 16 hours in XM607, supported by 11 Victors. At the time, it was the longest operation in history. Martin Withers (captain of XM607) said he'd never been airbourne in a Vulcan with as little fuel as after the Falklands

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Big bump!

 

XR219, the first and only TSR-2 to fly, took its first flight today 50 years ago. The great white hope became a great white failure. XR220 and XR222 are still with us, thankfully

 

XR220 at Cosford - https://www.flickr.com/photos/111752039@N08/14561483009/in/set-72157645942886735

XR222 at Duxford - https://www.flickr.com/photos/111752039@N08/11607809913/in/set-72157639120273046

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15th March

Happy birthday to American Eagle which started services in 1985.

This day in 1996 saw the closure of the iconic Fokker aircraft company due to bankruptcy. I have very fond memories of flying on the Friendship and Fellowship aircraft from Southampton to the Channel Islands when I was a child. Those RR Dart engines used to give me goosebumps. .

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On March 14, 1945, Royal Air Force Squadron Leader C.C. Calder, flying an Avro Lancaster, dropped the first 22,000-lb Grand Slam bomb over Germany. The weapon destroyed two spans of the Bielefeld railway viaduct, and the mission was deemed a success.

 

On March 15, 1944, seventy-one years ago today, the twin-engine North American PBJ Mitchell entered combat for the first time in its naval career in an attack on Rabaul.

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On March 15, 1944, seventy-one years ago today, the twin-engine North American PBJ Mitchell entered combat for the first time in its naval career in an attack on Rabaul.

 

 

 

Of course the PBJ was just the USN version of the B-25 Mitchell which the AAF had been using since before Pearl Harbor.  The Doolittle raid in 1942 employed them, off a carrier, which is something the Navy never did with theirs - there's irony for you.

 

John

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This thread has been a little quiet of late so time to nudge it ..

14th August 2005 saw the tragic accident involving Helios Airways 522, when it crashed in the hills near Athens, Greece. It became known as the "Ghost plane", when initial reports indicated the 737 had flown for more than 2 hours without any contact between ATC and the flight crew.

The final report gave the cause of the accident as pilot error, when the crew missed a cabin pressurisation switch during the checklists which resulted in hypoxia of all on board. The accident also sparked some controvacy when it was revealed a junior steward, who was still bearly conscious, and had flight experience, had been trying to enter the flight deck to assist but new rules about locked cockpit doors following 9/11 had prevented entry. It raised questions and concerns that cabin crew were unable to effectively communicate with the flight deck, or gain timely access in an emergency, whilst still maintaining a secure cockpit in the event of forced entry from the other side. The recent Germanwings accident and European recommendations about always having 2 people in the cockpit (a cabin crew member, when one of the flight crew steps out) may be all thats required but is not mandatory..perhaps it should be..

[Edit: ok..just noted that its 15th now.. where did my week go??!?]

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On this day 91 years ago................................my dear old Mum was born, Happy Birthday Mum!

 

Mike

 

I'm sure that your Mum is a fine lady but she keeps Mum about her age. Many Happy Returns Mikes Mum.

 

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This day in history 25th October 1999 – A Learjet 35 carrying golf legend Payne Stewart, flying between Orlando and Dallas suffered a decompression at just below 40,000 ft. The aircraft continued to fly for 4 hours until, after 1,500 miles it finally ran out of fuel.

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On 22nd December 1964, the first flight of the SR-71 blackbird began at Air Force Plant No. 42 in California, piloted by Lockheed test pilot Robert 'Bob' Gilliland.

It flew faster than 1000 mph and reached 45,000 ft before landing at Edwards Air Force Base.

SR71.jpg

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