ths@lanl.ARPA (06/18/85)
I can get misty about many airplanes but a few that hold a special place include the original Curtiss Helldiver bi-plane of the early thirties, the Douglas Devastator TBD, the Vought Vindicator and just about anything else that flew off the carriers in the thirties. Anyone remember the Republic Rainbow? A free dinner for 2 at Mac & Don"s Supper Club for anyone who can describe it without looking it up! Ted Spitzmiller "A soft spot for anything with wings!"
cfiaime@ihnp4.UUCP (Jeff Williams) (06/24/85)
> I can get misty about many airplanes but a few that hold a special place > include the original Curtiss Helldiver bi-plane of the early thirties, > the Douglas Devastator TBD, the Vought Vindicator and just about anything > else that flew off the carriers in the thirties. > > Anyone remember the Republic Rainbow? A free dinner for 2 at Mac & Don"s > Supper Club for anyone who can describe it without looking it up! > > Ted Spitzmiller > "A soft spot for anything with wings!" Republic Rainbow - This was a 4 engine recon aircraft designed at the end of WW2. It had a nose somewhat like a B-29 (no windshield, per se, smooth plexiglass), the tail looked like that of a F-84-E (straight wing F-84), and the engine nacelles had a "jet augmenter" type of tailpipe. According to "Flying Combat Aircraft of the USAAF, USAF (Vol 1)" the airplane was faster at cruise than a P-47 red-line. Again, from the same source, this airplane was ordered by Pan-Am (?) and was to be certified as a 3 engine aircraft to allow continued flight if an engine died in flight. The engines, I think, were the same as on a DC-7, Turbo-Compound R-3350 by Wright. You have picked my curiousity. I will have to read the artical again when I find my copy of the book. jeff williams AT&T Bell Laboratories ihnp4!cfiaime
bergstrom@ozone.DEC (07/03/85)
> Nah, I vote for the Stuka. Who can forget those inspiring newreels > of civilians being machine-gunned by Stukas blasting a path for the > tanks? Or maybe the B-29... The image of that beautiful plane > banking away from the mushroom cloud rising proudly over Hiroshima > sure leaves me with a lump in my throat. On the other hand, I can > remember the excitement I felt while watching on TV as the sleek lines > of an F-4 Phantom streaked across the Cambodian treetops while the > pretty orange and yellow napalm flames bloomed below, and the crispy > kids staggered out a bit later. That's what those beautiful warbirds > are really all about, isn't it? It would seem that the esthetics of an airplane can be appreciated apart from considering its intended use. The modern jet fighters like the F-14, F-15, and F-16 are, in my opinion, beautiful in shape and design, and have amazing flight characteristics. If the majority of sarcastic military detractors were to spend 5 years studying the Russian language, culture, and modern history as I did as an undergraduate, they might also appreciate these modern military aircraft for their intended uses. Bob Bergstrom decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-ozone!bergstrom