x planes

“credit NASA / caption: On 16 November 1982 Columbia approaches Edwards AFB bringing to an end STS-5” (via)

January 27, 2012, 5:14pm

(via)

January 24, 2012, 10:49pm

Drifting Research Station “North Pole-3”, a great Flickr set

January 24, 2012, 6:52pm

“Date: 13 DEC 1946
Type: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C
Operator: Polyarnye Avialinii
Registration: CCCP-N400
Two engines failed and a third also developed problems. The aircraft force-landed on the ice of Baidaratskaya guba bay between Ust’-Kara and Marrasale.” (via, photo via)

January 23, 2012, 9:20pm

“Forced landing of a Boeing B-17. One B-17 that never reached England. The Crew was rescued from a Greenland icecap by a Navy plane.”(via)

What happened next: 1, 2

January 23, 2012, 7:25pm

Rescue on the ice by Bernt Balchen, 1942 (via, article)

January 23, 2012, 6:14pm

“Sir Douglas Mawson and Flying Officer Campbell leaving the Discovery in a Gipsy Moth to survey newly discovered Antarctic Lands.” (via)

January 22, 2012, 8:38am

“Byrd Antarctic Expedition II (1933-1935) Glass Slide Collection: “Pep Boys Snowman”, auto-gyro”(via)

January 21, 2012, 9:40pm

“Byrd Antarctic Expedition I, 1928-1930: Glass slide collection : Taking Off for the South Polar Flight” (via)

January 21, 2012, 8:36pm

The Fairchild FC-2W2 “Stars and Stripes” (via)

January 21, 2012, 7:37pm

“The America leaving NY for Paris. Commander Byrd in charge.” (1927)

(via this excellent set from the Boston Public Library)

January 21, 2012, 6:24pm

“The Italia landed at Stolp in April 1928 before starting the polar flights, in this photograph Nobile is seen with his dog Titina.” (via)

January 20, 2012, 10:51pm

The Airship Italia, 1924-1928 (via)

January 20, 2012, 8:58pm

“Pathe cameraman filming the Josephine Ford as it was being prepared for flight to the North Pole. The Ohio State University Archives, Papers of Admiral Richard E. Byrd, RG 56.1, image #7739_6.” (via)

“Because Edsel Ford funded Byrd’s trip to the Arctic, the plane was named for his daughter, Josephine. Tony Fokker, the manufacturer, wanted to be sure no one mistook the plane for a Ford, so he painted the giant “FOKKER” on the wings and fuselage. “

January 17, 2012, 1:10am

“Byrd (center), with George Noville (left) and Floyd Bennett.” (via)

January 16, 2012, 10:35pm