the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,937
- Dec 20, 2003
hang on the EE lightening beat it didn't it??
blue angels aircraft (Bearcat)
- Thread starter sunny91
- Start date
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mosquitoman
Master Sergeant
The only thing that can outclimb a Lightening is a NASA rocket
cheddar cheese
Major General
Or GI's scaling the cliffs at Pointe-du-Hoc... 
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/memories.html
Considering the age difference, the Lightning's performance was totally outstanding when introduced into service, and when it finally bowed out, it could still out-climb most of its successors. Its initial rate of climb was 50,000 ft per minute. The Mirage IIIE climbed initially at 30,000 ft per minute; the Phantom F-4M managed 32,000 ft per minute; the MiG-21 could only manage 36,090 ft per minute; the F-16A's initial rate was 40,000 ft per minute, and the Tornado F.3's 43,000 ft per minute. So the Lightning reigned supreme. Only later was it surpassed; the F-15 Eagle, and the MiG-25 both have initial climb rates as good or better. The Lightning's time to FL 360 in re-heat was 2.5 minutes, in this respect the Eagle produced a similar figure, though this could vary depending upon its configuration.
Considering the age difference, the Lightning's performance was totally outstanding when introduced into service, and when it finally bowed out, it could still out-climb most of its successors. Its initial rate of climb was 50,000 ft per minute. The Mirage IIIE climbed initially at 30,000 ft per minute; the Phantom F-4M managed 32,000 ft per minute; the MiG-21 could only manage 36,090 ft per minute; the F-16A's initial rate was 40,000 ft per minute, and the Tornado F.3's 43,000 ft per minute. So the Lightning reigned supreme. Only later was it surpassed; the F-15 Eagle, and the MiG-25 both have initial climb rates as good or better. The Lightning's time to FL 360 in re-heat was 2.5 minutes, in this respect the Eagle produced a similar figure, though this could vary depending upon its configuration.
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,937
- Dec 20, 2003
either way i'd rather be in a lightening than anything else trying to intercept a flight of russian bombers heading our way with a big fat nuke adressed "To whomever it may concern"..........
BlackWolf3945
Banned
Getting back to the actual topic of this thread...
Here's a couple more shots of 'Beetle Bomb'...
Image source/credit: Wings of Fame Volume 8
Image source/credit: Wings of Fame Volume 8
A bit more info on 'Beetle Bomb'... it served not only as the 'enemy' in the
dogfight routine but was also the solo ship, demonstrating the full capabilities
of the Bearcat. It was lost in a crash in 1950 and replaced by another Bearcat
painted in the regular scheme.
Fade to Black...
Here's a couple more shots of 'Beetle Bomb'...
Image source/credit: Wings of Fame Volume 8
Image source/credit: Wings of Fame Volume 8
A bit more info on 'Beetle Bomb'... it served not only as the 'enemy' in the
dogfight routine but was also the solo ship, demonstrating the full capabilities
of the Bearcat. It was lost in a crash in 1950 and replaced by another Bearcat
painted in the regular scheme.
Fade to Black...
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,937
- Dec 20, 2003
my god that's one small rudder for such an aircraft........
evangilder
"Shooter"
It was small on the F8F-1. It's larger on the F8F-3 though.
R Leonard
Staff Sergeant
And back to Bearcats climb to time
No, but a good guess. Actually, this record only stood for about 30 minutes, until Butch Davenport took off in another NATC F8F, using up about 115 feet of runway, and roared off to 10000 feet all in 97.8 seconds. Davenport's take off run was 30 feet shorter than the earlier attempt, taking advantage of a increase in headwind of about 15 knots that has come up in the meantime.
Some sources, including official USN, state that these events took place on November 20, 1946, but no, both attempts were on the 22nd. I've the log books of the pilot of first F8F.
Here's the pilot of the first, 100 second, F8F, standing in front of his plane:
And here's a group of pilots at NATC:
Left to Right: Bill Martin, Director TacTest; Jim Davidson, first USN aviator to land and take off a jet from a carrier; Pete Bolt, test pilot; Bill Leonard, Assistant Director/test pilot; Butch Davenport, test pilot. Planes in background are, left, Ryan FR-1 and, right, F8F-1. I believe the F8F is Leonard's not Davenport's as in the first picture from a couple of days ago you can see the tail of the FR-1 in the background. Photo series was taken before going off to Cleveland. Davidson and Bolt went along as extra pilots.
Rich
No, but a good guess. Actually, this record only stood for about 30 minutes, until Butch Davenport took off in another NATC F8F, using up about 115 feet of runway, and roared off to 10000 feet all in 97.8 seconds. Davenport's take off run was 30 feet shorter than the earlier attempt, taking advantage of a increase in headwind of about 15 knots that has come up in the meantime.
Some sources, including official USN, state that these events took place on November 20, 1946, but no, both attempts were on the 22nd. I've the log books of the pilot of first F8F.
Here's the pilot of the first, 100 second, F8F, standing in front of his plane:
And here's a group of pilots at NATC:
Left to Right: Bill Martin, Director TacTest; Jim Davidson, first USN aviator to land and take off a jet from a carrier; Pete Bolt, test pilot; Bill Leonard, Assistant Director/test pilot; Butch Davenport, test pilot. Planes in background are, left, Ryan FR-1 and, right, F8F-1. I believe the F8F is Leonard's not Davenport's as in the first picture from a couple of days ago you can see the tail of the FR-1 in the background. Photo series was taken before going off to Cleveland. Davidson and Bolt went along as extra pilots.
Rich
mosquitoman
Master Sergeant
What's an FR-1?
R Leonard
Staff Sergeant
Ryan FR-1 - Late war design single seat fighter. Had a Wright R-1820-72W up front and a GE J31 turbojet in the rear. Max speed 404 at 17800 feet; cruise at 152. Service ceiling 43100. Range 1620 miles. Armament 4 .50 cal MG. 66 delivered between Jan and Nov 45. Initially assigned to VF-66, then with VF-1E after VF-66 was disestablished. Saw limited sea service, mostly in trials status. Withdrawn from fleet duty after 30 Jun 47.
Rich
Rich
mosquitoman
Master Sergeant
Thanks Rich
evangilder
"Shooter"
Almost looked like a T-28 from the shot.
cheddar cheese
Major General
I like the FR-1 8)
