Pictures of Cold War aircraft.

[special ed]

Martin P4M Mercator - 21 built (including 2 prototypes).
Lost the competition to the P2V Neptune but 19 production aircraft were ordered in 1947 for aerial minelaying, entering service in 1950.
Starting in 1951 18 were modified for electronic reconnaissance (SigInt) duties, in which duty they served until retired in 1960.



Nope. See above - the P4M never got any jet engines.

Although argueing with a Marine is usually a dumb thing to do, I do have Steve Ginter's book on the P4M-1 for backup. The two R-4360s were assisted by J-33s. One comment from the book says with all engines at takeoff power, the P4M could out climb any of that era's piston engine fighters to 20000 feet. There also several accounts of intercepts while on elint missions where all four were used.
As an aside, I was fortunate to see and photo the last P4M-1Q on the ramp in California. The other survivors were scrapped in Japan however the last was flown home and scrapped here. I have under construction a controlline model, however like most of you modellers, it is put off because of starting something new.

 

[Snowman]

Also, in the Poweplant section:

 

[Snowman]

 

[Donivanp]

Oh you make my hart reverberate with joy. Mi BUFF and the second F doesn't mean Fellow like they say in polite company.

 

[Sabrejet]

Interesting mix of Minot and Barksdale BUFFs.

 

[GTX]

 

[Snowman]

Interesting mix of Minot and Barksdale BUFFs.

It was Juniper Oak 23-2 exercise conducted from January 23-26, 2023 to enhance interoperability between the U.S. and Israel. Four B-52s from Minot AFB and Barksdale AFB took part in this exercise.

 

[GTX]

 

[Viking1066]

Why not Minot? my dad used to say.

 

[GTX]

 

[Donivanp]

It was Juniper Oak 23-2 exercise conducted from January 23-26, 2023 to enhance interoperability between the U.S. and Israel. Four B-52s from Minot AFB and Barksdale AFB took part in this exercise.

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View attachment 797844

Very cool photo

 

[Donivanp]

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A hippocampus with wings I presume?

 

[Donivanp]

Why not Minot? my dad used to say.

We all said that knowing we NEVER wanted to be there or for that mater KI Sawyer AFB in Michigan UP. Come to think of it Boering Loering AFB comes to mind as well. SAC bases were by and large cold and unpleasant places. Unfortunately these places were the closest to our rivals, up and over the poles!

 

[GTX]

 

[Vic Balshaw]

A hippocampus with wings I presume?

But someone pinched the back doors!

 

[Donivanp]

But someone pinched the back doors!

Now that's just dirty.

 

[MIflyer]

Here is a rare one for you. The Lockheed B-69.

Yes, it is a P2V Neptune, mostly. But the CIA wanted some for intelligence gathering and the USN declined the honor of doing the logistics support so the USAF got the job. Okay, so you have this Secret Spy Plane and rather than make it look like all the P2V's you paint U.S Air Force on it and make it blindingly obvious it is SPECIAL.

 

[SaparotRob]

Here is a rare one for you. The Lockheed B-69.

Yes, it is a P2V Neptune, mostly. But the CIA wanted some for intelligence gathering and the USN declined the honor of doing the logistics support so the USAF got the job. Okay, so you have this Secret Spy Plane and rather than make it look like all the P2V's you paint U.S Air Force on it and make it blindingly obvious it is SPECIAL.

View attachment 797978

Funny and informative. That's a winner.

 

[MIflyer]

Come to think of it Boering Loering AFB comes to mind as well.

A friend of mine, a B-52 pilot, was stationed there. He said he was so delighted when during the base closure hearings in the 1990's the people from that area appealed to keep the base open because it was so remote that no one else would ever want to come there. The base closure commission's response was that if it was that bad, why should they impose it on the Air Force?

 

[Donivanp]

Here is a rare one for you. The Lockheed B-69.

Yes, it is a P2V Neptune, mostly. But the CIA wanted some for intelligence gathering and the USN declined the honor of doing the logistics support so the USAF got the job. Okay, so you have this Secret Spy Plane and rather than make it look like all the P2V's you paint U.S Air Force on it and make it blindingly obvious it is SPECIAL.

View attachment 797978

AND!!!!!