Flightdeck Friday!
Ryan FR Fireball In 1942 the Navy was less than impressed with the state of jet-powered development. Hedging its bets, it comissioned construction of two “composite-powered” aircraft — the Grumman XTB3F-1 (last week’s Flightdeck Friday subject) and a fighter from a little known company, Ryan, who had not previously built an aircraft for the Navy….
Another Cold War Closeout
While your faithful scribe does not hail from the VP community, he still nonetheless has spent time in Kef (and has the arrested field landings to prove it), most notably when E-2Cs replaced E-3’s during the late 1980-spring ’81 timeframe. ’twill be the subject of a future “Reflections.” Last U.S. Servicemembers to Leave Iceland Sept….
Badgers and Bucanners and Bears…(Pt 3)
Part II Here Window covers down, overhead hatch in and all harnesses locked, the crew was ready. Bluetail 602 went into tension, the throttles against their stops, the aircraft mercilessly shaking. In an instant, they were down the catapult and airborne. As the wheels were coming up, Bird exclaimed “Hey look, we’ve got a visitor…”…
Fun With Posters
Yeah, it was the OPNAV credo… From the good folks at the poster creator (h/t: CSA)
TINS Tuesday
(Ed: This week’s offering comes from Grampaw Pettibone, of whom your humble scribe has been a fan for lo these many years. This article was first printed in Naval Aviation News in the 15 April 1943 issue)Duck SoupWhile simulating a strafing attack at a speed of approximately 250 knots, the pilot of an F4F-4 reported…
Badgers, Buccaneers and Bears…(Pt 2)
Part I here Badgers, Buccaneers and Bears…(Pt 2) (A North Atlantic tale from the "good ole days") Stopping by Maintenance Control, the lieutenant asked for the aircraft discrepancy book on 602. All the current and near past ills of the aircraft are chronicled in this three-ring binder, giving crews an idea of what they…
Flightdeck Friday!
Grumman AF-2S/-2W Guardian (Ed note: The series of articles on Project Cadillac and associated aircraft is taking a little longer to develop than expected, thanks in part to some new material, so this week we look at the Guardian) By 1944, it was clear that if the war was going to continue for another 3-4…
Home is the Sailor…
(Ed note: Flightdeck Friday will be a bit delayed this week, should be up by tomorrow. Instead, I wanted to post this tribute to a warrior who has finally found his way home. I witnessed this ceremony at Arlington earlier this week and wondered who was being honored since as of late, I typically see…
Badgers, Buccaneers and Bears…(Pt 1) (A North Atlantic tale from the "good ole days")
(Note: I am in the process of moving the postings off the old site to this one, beginning with this series) The Playing Field. In his far off conscious he heard it – the incessant ringing of the phone on the bulkhead. Not just any ring either – more like a loud clattering and right…