NASA U-2 with assorted scientific payloads, circa 1979.
December 08, 2009, 9:48pm
x planes
experimental aircraft. exotic aeromachines. oddities. sleek silver cigars. pedal-o-trons. soviet hive-mind bombers. aerial joy. the olden days. action shots. propaganda posters. etc
[xplanes] [at] [hotmail] [dot] [co] [dot] [uk]
Designed by Redfield. Icons by Cameron Hunt.
Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation “Red Baron” racer, which was entered - along with the DC-7 “Super Snoopy” - in the 1971 California 1000 Mile Air Race at Mojave
(more info here)
November 12, 2009, 7:02pm
Nimrods, Phantoms and Buccaneers taking part in a flypast for Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee, 1977
(photo by Mick Bajcar)
September 22, 2009, 7:19am
the KM “Caspian Sea Monster” ekranoplan - it flew reliably for 15 years, until pilot error caused it to sink in 1980
September 10, 2009, 5:09pm
the Bartini Beriev VVA-14 Vertikal`no-Vzletayuschaya Amphibia (vertical take-off amphibious aircraft), early 1970s
September 10, 2009, 9:11am
“FLOW AROUND CONCORDE IN A LANDING CONFIGURATION
Henri Werlé, 1974
September 07, 2009, 9:34pm
“On a delta wing, the upper surface vortices break up naturally at high angle of attack, and a lift drop is observed on the parts of the wing affected by this phenomenon. This break-up may jeopardize the aircraft longitudinal stability (appearance of vibrations, buffeting), in particular at angles of attack higher than normally used for landing..”
Image created by Henri Werlé, from his spectacular collection Courants et Couleurs published in 1974 by ONERA, the French Aerospace Lab.
September 07, 2009, 8:01pm
The Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk, 1970. Submitted to the US Army’s Advanced Aerial Fire Support System (AAFSS) program following difficulties with the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne.
The Blackhawk was put through a long series of tests from 1970 to 1974, breaking speed records along the way, but was ultimately judged unsatisfactory
August 19, 2009, 9:03pm
“The AH-56 Cheyenne was a four-bladed, single-engine attack helicopter developed by Lockheed for the United States Army’s Advanced Aerial Fire Support System (AAFSS) program to produce the Army’s first, dedicated attack helicopter. Lockheed designed the AH-56 utilizing a rigid-rotor and configured the aircraft as a compound helicopter; with low-mounted wings and a tail-mounted thrusting propeller.”
In 1966, the Army awarded Lockheed a contract to develop 10 prototypes of the AH-56. The first flight occurred on 21 September 1967. In January 1968, the Army awarded Lockheed a production contract for 375 aircraft, based on flight testing progress.
A fatal crash and technical problems affecting performance put the development program behind schedule, resulting in the production contract being canceled on 19 May 1969. On 9 August 1972, the Army canceled the Cheyenne program. Controversy over the Cheyenne’s role in combat, as well as the political climate regarding military acquisition programs had caused the Army to amend the service’s attack helicopter requirements in favor of a conventional helicopter; viewed as less technical and more survivable…”
August 19, 2009, 7:03pm
The giant Mil Mi-26 was featured on here yesterday, but the title of the largest helicopter ever built goes to the Mil V-12.
Work began on the V-12 (NATO reporting name “Homer”) in 1965, to meet a Soviet Air Force requirement to transport missile components to remote areas. The Mil Bureau used the main rotor, transmission and powerplant of their Mi-6 helicopter - mounting one set on a wing either side of the fuselage.
The first V-12 flew in 1968. All development was stopped in 1974. The V-12 never entered service due to various reasons. Both prototypes survive - the first in storage at the Mil helicopter plant in Panki-Tomilino, Lyuberetsky District near Moscow, the second prototype is on public display at the Monino Air Force Museum, also near Moscow.
August 18, 2009, 11:49pm
