Recent content by Dilbert

I flew the P-2 (old P2-V7, later SP2H) in the '60's. The main engines were a pair of Wright 3350's (the same engine used by the B-29), but Westinghouse J-34 jet engines were added to later models outboard of the piston engines. The aircraft that entered service in 1946 was a trim, relatively...

Interesting question. I flew both T-28's and Grumman S-2 Trackers in the Navy with the Wright R-1820 (the S-2 had two) and they didn't have spinners. I went on to fly the Lockheed P-2 Neptune with Wright R-3650's which were, essentially, two 1820's joined to make 18 cylinders, and it had...

There is an excellent biography on Jimmy Stewart, entitled, oddly enough, "Jimmy Steward, Bomber Pilot." The author is Starr Smith and is published by Zenith Press. I doubt you will find a copy at your local book dealer but you can readily find at Amazon. It is 267 pages long with photos and...

Great story. I flew P-2's back in the '60's and used the Julie/Jezebel systems but had never heard this story. Thanks, I'm forwarding this information to all my ASW buddies who I'm sure have never heard this as well. Thanks!!!

I remember the landing of the 130 on the Forrestal. It was an experiment to see if it could be done just in case some really big cargo needed to be sent to a carrier at sea in an emergency. The 130 was the perfect choice as it is rugged (the Air Force regularly flew them into short, unpaved...

I'm not sure about modern aircraft but on the older birds of my day we had wires used as radio antennae on the underside of canopies. You can see them on the T-28, the rear section of the two part canopy. These aircraft had no ejection seats, we just went over the side (the pilot in the rear...

Just joined and came across this post. I flew P-2's in the 60's. The story behind the launch is as wheelsup-cavu mentioned above. It was all due to fear from Air Force actions in influencing Congress in the late '40's. At that time all the nuclear weapons were very large and the navy had no...

Many thanks for all the welcomes. I live in Austin, Texas where it is a very hot and humid summer. I have recently retired and am enjoying time to myself. I flew in the U S Navy in the mid-60's and 70's, all piston-engined aircraft, round engines and round dials. In training I flew the T-34B...

Just discovered this site while searching for NATOPS Manuals of some of the a/c I flew (all antiques by now, like me). Very impressed on my first stroll around, lots to look at and read. Fascinating site!