AIRPLANE NUTS?

[frank_f15]

AIRPLANE NUTS?

BEING AN AIRPLANE NUT, went to the air and space museum in NIAGARA FALLS N.Y. (ONLY AN HOUR DRIVE) took a few shots and thougth i would share a few. most of these were of small models as the real planes were to hard to fit in the view finder and the lighting was not good.

 

[frank_f15]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

here is a shot of a model of the stealth bomber

 

[frank_f15]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

here is a shot of a very sleek looking plane , don't know its designation but just looked fast

 

[frank_f15]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

here is another of an older airplane

 

[Golfgar4]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( here is a shot of a very sleek looking plane , don't know its designation but just looked fast )</font>

Frank,

Isn't that a P-51 Mustang? Kind of looks like one.

 

[Egon]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

That may be a P51 Frank. Think it was the fastest propeller driven fighter.

Egon

 

[SimS]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

Looks like a P-39 Aircobra. It was also weird in that it had the engine behind the pilot. I think they were pretty fast but the CG goofed up the handling.
Sim

 

[higgy]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

It is an aircobra which was a p-39 made by bell aircraft co., the engine was behind the cockpit that is wht the scoop was mounted up and behind. Needless to say after this informal USAAF ballad, the P-39 was not popular with American or British air forces. Because of its novel engine mounting, which was behind the cockpit driving the airscrew by means of a shaft running literally between the pilots legs, the centre of gravity was highly centralised. This tended to create an unpleasant phenomenon, where the aircraft would get into a 'pankake' like spin horizontally, with little or no warning to the pilot.

What it was good at was allowing the machine gun actually a T9 37 mm cannon that shot from the spinner, making it a heavy weight hitter for ground attack.

It was not popular in the ETO as it suffered in high altitude perfomance.

Dane

 

[Inspector507]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

P-39 courtesy of the USAF Museum

 

[Inspector507]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

In flight and firing weapons

 

[higgy]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

I would not like to be on the receiving end of that.

It is interesting that this plane found its most loyal following and most usage in the Russain military. By all accounts they loved the plane and it was developed past the f designation.

Dane

 

[frank_f15]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

nope don't think the p51, think it was the p39, but could not see the name plate as it was not visible.

 

[dmartin88]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

Thanks for the pictures, I'm a bit of an airplane nut myself. The Commonwealth Air Force had their B17G here in Leesburg, VA the last two day-- took a ride last night and it was quite a thrill. My dad did 20 missions as a radio operator over Germany during WWII so was interesting to stand in the radio area looking out like he would have done!

 

[frank_f15]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

yep. Bell aircraft and Bell aero systems was very promenint in the Buffalo n.y area. many of the items in this particular musem had Bell items displayed., due to the local history.

 

[frank_f15]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

i could have spent all day in that place, just the hundreds of small models was enthralling. there were a lot of pictures of the production lines of the manufacture of the fighters and the bombers made for WW2 can't imagine the effort it took to get that many planes ready to go and everything worked(mostly) i like the fast movers (as u can tell By my ID) BUT there is a soft spot for the older planes

 

[shvl73]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

If you like models & want to see some maritime history, check out the maritme museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The models they have there are amazing. maybe Egon has been there.

 

[Egon]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

Been at that musem more than once.

Egon

 

[_RaT_]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

If you like the real thing, nothing beats the Wright Patterson in Dayton, Ohio, not even the Air & Space at the Smithsonian in Washington DC. They have the one and only left Valkyrie. The 8 engine B36, much of it all indoors. Attached is a small photo of the XB 70 now parked at the Patterson museum.

 

[jfh230]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

Glad to hear you had a good ride. It is really mind boggling what these guys went thru. Taking my daughter up in a B-17 next week. Think its the YankeeAir Force one.

For those who want to see some of the real thing next weekend 6.4 thru 6.6 at the Reading, PA airport they are having their annual WWII weekend. Along with theirs (B25, Dauntless, trainers, B-61) there will be other warbirds flying in along with land vehicles. This is known as one of the better WWII shows in the world. Put on by the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum. More info at www.maam.org

Jack

 

[jpr62902]

Re: AIRPLANE NUTS?

RaT, I agree. The museum at Wright Patt is phenomenal. You can't imagine how massive that B36 Peacemaker is until ya see it up close and personal.

I've been a WWII aircraft buff since I was a little kid -- my dad was a lead navigator in a B-24 stationed in Grottaglia, Italy. His plane was shot down in 1945, crashing near Pecz, Hungary. After he was captured by the Russians (that's right -- Russkis), they loaded him on to a troop train. The train then crashed and my dad escaped. We still have the telegram the USAAF sent to my grandmother advising her my dad was MIA and presumed dead. Dad loved to tell the story of when he got back to the states, he called her from a phone booth in Miami, Florida and he could hear her freaking out on the other end of the line (she thought it was a real long distance call from beyond). 3 cheers to all of our distinguished veterans this Memorial Day weekend!