RB-57D video

This is one aircraft I'm going to build.  I have the Mach RB-57 kit.  I hear it is a bear to build.

Arctic USAF aircraft from the 50's

Pictures are from Douglas K. Rhodes when he was a Capt for the USAF.  All aircraft shown are from Thule Greenland. 


The first  aircraft was called the "Thule Princess".  It fly the boss to Sonderstrom, Goose Bay ad places south. Also flew into a couple of Canadian weather stations Eureka, Alert and a Danish site called Nord on he NE corner of Greenland.

Below classified as an SC-47. Used for search and rescue. Plus to fly people and resupplies to the village of Quaanak, north of Thule.

Cl

More EC-121 pictures

This is another forgotten cold war aircraft.  At one time these aircraft had been the first line of defense for the U.S.

This EC-121 was move to the Yankee Air Force Musemum

Loading bombs on a A-4C 1967

This should answer a modelers question on what color where the bombs.  Plus some history of Naval Warfare.

USAF film on the F89 Scorpion

Another great you tube video.

Sun Run RF-101

One doesn't come across photo of this aircraft.   Years ago a made a model of this aircraft.  The model was the hasegawa 1/72 RF-101.  It the time I thought it was a great model kit.

On Nov. 27, 1957, four USAF pilots of the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing successfully completed Operation Sun Run by establishing three new transcontinental speed records in a McDonnell RF-101C aircraft. The record-breaking mission showcased the speed and range of the RF-101C, an improved version of the first supersonic photo reconnaissance aircraft, the RF-101A. 

Preparing for the Sun RunOperation Sun Run called for six RF-101C aircraft -- two to fly round-trip from Los Angeles to New York and back again, two for the one-way flight from Los Angeles to New York, and two for backups if problems arose with the four primary aircraft. The undertaking required massive coordination of aircraft crews and radar and weather stations from coast to coast. 

Six pilots of the 17th and 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons of the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing were chosen for Operation Sun Run. Each prepared for the round-trip flight, since they would not know which flight they were assigned until a few days before the operation. All six pilots had extensive experience in photo reconnaissance aircraft, although the RF-101 was relatively new to Tactical Air Command. 

The success of Operation Sun Run also depended on the performance of the newly available KC-135 Stratotanker, the USAF's first jet tanker. The KC-135's speed allowed the RF-101s to refuel at an altitude of 35,000 feet and a speed of Mach 0.8. Crews from Strategic Air Command and Air Force Research and Development Command prepared for the 26 refuelings the Operation Sun Run RF-101Cs would require. 

The Sun Run 
At 6:59 a.m., Nov. 27, 1957, Capt. Ray Schrecengost took off from Ontario International Airport near Los Angeles on the first RF-101C round-trip flight of Operation Sun Run. 

Next into the air were Capt. Robert Kilpatrick on his one-way flight and Capt. Donald Hawkins, flying back-up. Capt. Hawkins followed until the first refueling was complete, and then flew to March Air Force Base, Calif. At 7:50 a.m., Capt. Robert Sweet took off on the second round-trip flight. Lt. Gustav Klatt followed, beginning his one-way trip. Their backup, Capt. Robert Burkhart, also flew to March Air Force Base after the first successful refueling. 

All four RF-101C pilots easily surpassed the previous speed records and established new ones. The new Los Angeles to New York record was established by Lt. Klatt, at 3 hours, 7 minutes and 43.63 seconds. Capt. Sweet set the round-trip record, at a time of 6 hours, 46 minutes and 36.21 seconds, and the New York to Los Angeles record, at a time of 3 hours, 36 minutes and 32.33 seconds.

127th ANG F-51

I found with on face book.   Finding early Michigan Air National guards aircraft is not easy.  I wonder how many of these types of photos are just sitting in a box somewhere.

F-51d at Battle Creek Michigan.

Photo by William Balogh

1/48 scratch built Noratlas by Renaud Pouge

Here is post on face book Cold war models

Hello everyone,

A few days ago, someone published a picture of a C-135FR expressing regret at not seeing enough transport planes.

I am pleased to present my model of North 2501 Noratlas, a Cold War transport aircraft that served in the French Air Force from 1954 to 1986, as in German Luftwaffe or Hellenic Air Force.

This model is the one that brought me into the world of Cold War planes (before I devoted myself to the allied aircraft of the Second World War).

No, this is not the Heller model in 1/72. This model is fully scratch built in 1/48 scale.

Hope you like it ;

)