Pictures of Cold War aircraft. (4 Viewers)

[Thumpalumpacus]

Yes I am and don't call me Shirley!

This is almost like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".

 

[Donivanp]

This is almost like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".

Ok let's not get started. I can't even watch Tim Curry in a Russian naval uniform (Hunt for Red October) without out seeing him in women's lingerie.

 

[Viking1066]

Panavia Tornado ECR 'MM7059' 155 Gruppo/ 50 Stormo AIRH

 

[SaparotRob]

Off Monaco in 1981, USS Dwight D Eisenhower displays the sort of power the Soviet fleet would have faced HERF
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That is a pretty unique spotting of aircraft. Another, lesser known advantage of the Tomcat?

 

[SaparotRob]

Panavia Tornado ECR 'MM7059' 155 Gruppo/ 50 Stormo AIRH
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Gorgeous. I unknowingly drew this plane a lot during high school classes. I love big tails.

 

[c1951]

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Hearing it is something else and the engineering on the gun was outstanding

 

[GTX]

A few moments later....

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Ouch!!

 

[GTX]

Panavia Tornado ECR 'MM7059' 155 Gruppo/ 50 Stormo AIRH
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Always loved that scheme

 

[GTX]

 

[Donivanp]

Hearing it is something else and the engineering on the gun was outstanding

First time I heard one I was working in SAC at Robins AFB. The gun test range for the M-61's was also on the backside of the base about maybe a 1/4 mile. I'd been there about a year and the windows started shaking and all the car alarms went off. I went for the deck. One maybe two second burst was all. I brain kicked in and I remembered the test range and went home to change my drawers!

 

[GTX]

 

[Donivanp]

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They don't look fitter!

 

[GTX]

 

[GTX]

They don't look fitter!

They look brutish

 

[Donivanp]

They look brutish

 

[GTX]

View attachment 841044

However, only one is still in service.

 

[GTX]

Look closely...

 

[special ed]

Not very successful in terms of numbers sold, but the Convair 990 was gorgeous. Boeing had bought up all the J-57's to be had so they had to use J-79's, a terrific engine, but not one well suited for airliners.

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I never got a flight on a 990 but my only flight on an 880 was from Atlanta to New Orleans. Shortly after takeoff, fifteen minutes late, the captain came on and announced we would make New Orleans in time for the connecting flight. It turned out we had a large number of German tourists on a tight schedule and needed to make their connection at a certain time. The normal one hour flight took 53 minutes, we left 15 minutes late and arrived 5 minutes early. People I knew at the time, told me the Convair 990 had the power to go supersonic in level flight with the J-79s but no one had tried. The forum engineers may confirm what I was told about the wing pods, that they perform the same function as the narrowed waist and the added pods on the F-102A.

 

[cammerjeff]

Double Duty the wing pods did reduce drag, but they also carried extra fuel. I would be surprised if a 990 could actually go trans sonic with no after burners on the J-79's out RA-5's needed the afterburners and the aft bypass fans to accomplish it. But hey I could be wrong.

Flying in them was odd, they were noisier than a 707 or DC-8, and the 5 abreast seating felt like being in a very long DC-9. But like all Convair airliners the seats were better than the others. A bit wider. The 340, 440, and 580 seats were like 1st class seats. I used to have a Belt buck made out the Convair Logo of one of our old 580's.

 

[Donivanp]

However, only one is still in service.

It only takes one, but I promise that The F-15 Eagle can play the same (if not even better) role.