Aircraft General Discussion

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Sam Stones on 07/07/2018 23:16:40:

Same source of material, perhaps Neil?

Different errors… same error rate.

I suspect Wikipedia is both vastly bigger and vastly more accurate these days.

[John OlsenParticipant @johnolsen79199]

There were straight 8 engines built for cars, and they did indeed have trouble with torsion effects in the crankshaft. I shudder to think how a straight 12 would behave, especially one with the power of a Merlin.

Locally, someone has fitted a Ford Lincoln Mercury V12 engine into a tractor. (That's Edsel Fords stretched version of the classic flathead V8)

John

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

so how about a vee 20, not much use in an aeroplane I suspect

**LINK**

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

A very interesting article here **LINK**on a mission by B2 stealth bombers — to fly halfway 'round the world to drop 500lb bombs on a camp of 70 ISIS guys in the Libyan desert. Talk about overkill, literally. But gives an interesting insight into the life of a modern-day military pilot. 'Taint what it used to be, that's for sure.

And talk about maintenance! 100 hours of it required for every one hour in the air. So after this one 33-hour mission, each plane would have required 3,300 hours of maintenance work. That's job security that is. Interestingly, the engines in these super duper high-tech planes are an upgraded 707 engine. (Of course, they don't say what those upgrades are!)

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I see that the USAF have solved the maintenance problem with both the B-1, and B-2 bombers, they have been withdrawn from service, their roll taken over by the B-52, and a new aircraft (all hush hush) B-21. The B-52 will be pushing 90 plus years when it is due for retirement.

Ian S C

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Hopper on 09/07/2018 06:49:43:

Interestingly, the engines in these super duper high-tech planes are an upgraded 707 engine. (Of course, they don't say what those upgrades are!)

Well, not really. Something of a tenuous link!

The engines in the B-2 are GE F118's.

The F118 is a derivative of the GE F110

The F110 has the same core design as the F101 fitted to the F-16 and others.

The F101 became the basis for the CFM56 civilian turbofan

The CFM56 was used to re-engine the KC-135 fleet's (B707 based, of course) from the P&W J57, and some B707's

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Anybody notice in the flypast yesterday that we are now using modified Boeing 707's in the form of RC135's, how long have we had them, the USAFE have been using them for century's.

Martin P

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

As ex Air Force, I left in 1986, seeing how the service has been drastically cutback over the recent years I was surprised that they managed to get 100 aircraft serviceable to fly in yesterday’s fly past, that notwithstanding they did an excellent job. Surprising in spite of drastic cutbacks there was a large number of high ranking officers uniforms visible on the tv coverage.

Dave W

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Large number of high ranking officers is what you get with cut backs, it's the erks on the ground that get the cut back, and that can be seen in the lack of serviceable aircraft. I doubt if there are many empty offices in Whitehall, I suppose the AM is still there.

Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 11/07/2018 14:44:14

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Ian, you are so right, I was wondering why Prince Harry was wearing an Air Force uniform, has he suddenly transferred to the Royal Air Force?

Dave W

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Samsaranda on 11/07/2018 15:25:16:

Ian, you are so right, I was wondering why Prince Harry was wearing an Air Force uniform, has he suddenly transferred to the Royal Air Force?

Dave W

Honorary roles I'm sure but in addition to having been in the army, he's also a Squadron Leader RAF and a Lieutenant Commander RN.

Probably to keep him in line during family rows – the Queen (aged 92) is Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, and he will have to obey orders. She got that job having risen to Captain in the WRAC; must have been a cracking interview!

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

SOD, point taken but it somewhat devalues the hard work put in by those of us who achieved ranks through our own merit, but only to be expected I suppose from a system that is still lodged in feudal times.

Dave W

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

Posted by Hopper on 09/07/2018 06:49:43:

…And talk about maintenance! 100 hours of it required for every one hour in the air….

The ETPS Lynx' were getting 40 hours maintenance for every hour in flight towards the end of their lives…

(Whats the plural of lynx? Lynxes? Lyni?!)

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Plural would be Lynx. One Lynx, ten Lynx, just like one sheep, ten sheep. But if it was for example one Spitfire, I would put ten Spitfires. Just my opinion.

Regarding mainenance, looks as though our 50 + year old P-3 Orion aircraft will be replaced in 2023, by P-8a Posidons

Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 13/07/2018 14:47:21

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

"The ETPS Lynx' were getting 40 hours maintenance for every hour in flight towards the end of their lives…"

When they first arrived at D Sqdn (for introduction to service testing), they had more hangar time than that! Turned out to be a better bit of kit than it appeared then! Engine starts were always an occasion for spectators – until the smoke cleared!

rgds

Bill

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

What years were you there Bill? I started with them (fresh faced and runny nosed, from the MoD apprenticeship) in about 1999 I think. Still on site but not quite in the same capacity.

[Barnaby WildeParticipant @barnabywilde70941]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-44793344

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Remembering the recent discussion about the Chinook

… Just watched a mountain rescue, on BBC TV News

MichaelG.

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Jon – 74 to 79. Did the winching intros for the Lynx, Gazelle, Puma and Seaking, plus the annual Porton Down deer count!! If you wanted to see the best quality wild life in the UK, that was the place – plus a very special orchid in its own little enclosure.

rgds

Bill

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Its Bedford's river Festival this weekend and there was a Spitfire fliy past this afternoon and tomorrow the Lancaster does a pass, not that long ago a Fieseler Storch trundled over at walking pace and this evening Old Warden has a flying evening event.

Martin P

Edited By martin perman on 14/07/2018 16:42:09

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

After an afternoon of delivering medication for a local chemist I was sat in doors enjoying a much needed cup of tea when I heard what sounded like a couple of Chinooks approaching, as the noise got louder so did the vibration, at the time we had black low clouds overhead, and over the house came a very low, 500ft, DC 6 heading in the direction of Coventry. I assume it was Air Atlantique's. What a sight.

Martin P

[BOB BLACKSHAW 1Participant @bobblackshaw1]

I was cycling at Cranfield on Thursday morning at around 11.10 am when a old passenger aircraft came over me as it was about to land.

The aircraft in my opinion must of been a early 1960s it was a propeller driven and sounded like a vintage engines.

I am surprised that a old aircraft is kept airworthy, the cost must be high.

Does anybody on the forum know, or how can I find out what aircraft this was, it was similar to a Britannia, sort of plane you would find at a museum like Duxford.

Thanks Bob

[Anonymous]

Posted by martin perman on 18/07/2018 17:18:32:

……………and over the house came a very low, 500ft, DC 6 heading in the direction of Coventry. I assume it was Air Atlantique's. What a sight.

Ah, the penny drops! When I was flying the small glider near Gransden Lodge on Monday afternoon I say what was clearly a multi-engine prop driven aircraft heading towards Cambridge. It was clearly a vintage aeroplane, but I wasn't sure what. Now I've looked up DC6 that is definitely what it was; the tail is identical, an angular fin and rudder with a narrow chord.

Andrew

[BOB BLACKSHAW 1Participant @bobblackshaw1]

Checking up on the internet that was the DC6 that landed at Cranfield.

I was at the right place at the right time as it came over me at around 50ft, fantastic sight.

Bob.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

The DC-6 is a little over the 50 year mark, they first flew in 1946, and were built up to 1958, about the time I arrived.

G-APSA, a DC-6A aircraft is based in UK, and available for private charter. 

As a military aircraft the USAF called it C-118, and USN the R6D

Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 21/07/2018 14:22:50

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