Project Cadillac (Part I) Ed note: In 1981 a smart-a$$ LTJG wrote a note to the editor of The Hook bemoaning the lack of VAW articles. Sensing an opportunity, the then editor, Bob Lawson, wrote back challenging the young jg to pick up quill and scroll and “write something!†The gauntlet was accepted and the…
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….
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…
Douglas F3D Skynight Mention “MiG Killer†and Korea in the same sentence and the F-86 justifiably springs to mind. That said, however, the F-86 was chiefly a day fighter and as the B-29’s shifted to night ops to gain presumed protection against the MiG-15, it rapidly became apparent that a night fighter was required to…
Ed note: Yes, it is early, but there are several other items on tap for the next few days, primary of which are a Reflections-series from Sept 11, 2001 beginning Friday and the planned memorial observance for this coming Monday. So, presented herewith is Flightdeck Friday — a day (or two) early… North American XFJ-1/FJ-1…
P6M SeaMaster Sea basing, you see, didn’t just spring from Sea Power 21.No, indeed it was the concept behind the most extreme, and last, seaplane the Navy considered buying back in the early 1950s.Developed as a parallel track/hedge to the first (cancelled) super carrier, the United States, the concept that evolved was centered on a…
1212L/0812Z 16 June 1959. 78 nm east of Wonsan, North Korea, a P4M Mercator assigned to VQ-1 (BuNo 122209) is conducting another “ferret†mission in international airspace over the Sea of Japan. At the controls are LCDRs Don Mayer and Vince Anania. Fours hours into the mission a pair of silver MiG-17s approach the Mercator…
Continuing from yesterday’s posting, today we look at some of the unique aspects of the Ford’s operational history. Flying the Ford: The Ford, besides having a noteworthy climb rate, was also very maneuverable, featuring an incredible roll rate. One Navy test pilot who flew the Skyray said that Air Force chase-plane pilots were desperate to…
(The Scribe is flying back to occupied Virginia Friday, hence the early publication) Presented this week: The Douglas F4D/F-6A Skyray. Another of Ed Heinemann’s now-classic designs, the F4D counted a number of firsts in its history, but like the F3H, would be victimized by the Westinghouse J-40. In its short life, the F4D (or as…
Certain pairings, on the surface, seem to be made for each other – Bogie & Bacall, rum & Coke ®, etc. But balsa wood and afterburners? Almost seems counter-intuitive. This weeks feature is the Vought F6U Pirate, the Navy’s first composite-built and afterburner fighter. By 1944 it was apparent from the reports being returned from…
