Aircraft Generations

[bejohnson]

Here are a couple of photos courtsey of the USAF of the old and the new. Click on the photos for the full size image.

A F-15 Eagle, a F-22 Raptor and a P-51 Mustang.

<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/050427-F-2295B-055.jpg height=600 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/050427-F-2295B-055.jpg)


A F-15 Eagle, an A-10 Warthog and two P-51 Mustangs.

<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/041114-F-0683R-172.jpg height=600 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/041114-F-0683R-172.jpg)

[Drizzt]

P51 Mustangs were always such cool planes.

The British spitfires were also one of my faves

http://www.onmarkint.com/images/e/e083/e083%20spitfire.jpg

[bejohnson]

P51 Mustangs were always such cool planes.

The British spitfires were also one of my faves

http://www.onmarkint.com/images/e/e083/e083%20spitfire.jpg

The Spitfire was a great aircraft with one exception; the aircraft could not fly inverted or pull negative Gs for any length of time due to the carburetor that was used on the engine. Later aircraft such as the Mustang solved that problem and increased the dogfighting capability 10 fold.

Designed by Rolls-Royce as a private-venture, the Merlin was able to take advantage of the new 100 octane fuel developed in the U.S.A. The Merlin only had one disadvantage when compared with German engines, the latter were fitted with fuel injection to deliver a precise charge of petrol to the combustion chamber. The Merlin still used a carburettor, which had the advantage of being much simpler and needing much fewer components, but it did cause the Merlin to "conk-out" if negative G forces were applied. Thus a German pilot with a Spitfire on his tail could simply pull negative G nosing into a dive and the Spitfire would fall behind until the engine picked up, only a matter of a second or two, but that second was all the German needed. Spitfire pilots developed a way around this by doing a half-roll before following into a dive. This meant that the force of gravity acted in the opposite direction and the Merlin was unaffected. In 1941 a carburettor modification, developed by Miss Tilly Shilling, enabled the Merlin to carry on working with short periods of negative G, a vital stop-gap until the introduction of true negative G carburettors in 1943.

-LINK- (http://freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/meandgr.htm)

[getit29]

Good Lord those A10 Warthog's were one *&^% ugly but deadly airplane :lmao

[nighthawk15]

Those are some damn cool pics.

[Maro]

The Spitfire was a great aircraft with one exception; the aircraft could not fly inverted or pull negative Gs for any length of time due to the carburetor that was used on the engine. Later aircraft such as the Mustang solved that problem and increased the dogfighting capability 10 fold.


Only up to the Mark V :Thumb

I've sat in a Spitfire, Hurricane AND a Lancaster cockpit :spin

[nighthawk15]

Only up to the Mark V :Thumb

I've sat in a Spitfire, Hurricane AND a Lancaster cockpit :spin


Sweet, I've sat in a P-47 Thunderbolt but thats it. Well.....I guess I sat in the cockpit of an SR-71 blackbird but it was only the cockpit and nose cone, nothing else.

[viperman5686]

De Havilland Mosquito for the win.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Viperman5686/Mosquito.jpg

A wooden bomber made by the British in 1941. Top speed: 415 mph.

[Raedwulf]

Is it just me but doesn't it look like the Mustangs in the first couple pics are photoshopped?

[Drizzt]

You know? I believe you are right! Just took a closer look. The first one looks like the Mustang was just pasted on there and the F-15's wing is about to take it out from behind. The second looks to simply a collage on a basic blue background. Id did occur to me that trying to get all these planes flying at the same speed would be more than tough - I'd think an F-15 would stall at the speeds a P51 Mustang flies - they have to be moving really fast to stay aloft.

[Raedwulf]

The jets could conceivably fly at the same cruise speed as the Mustang, about 300+ Knots. Considering the fact that if a F-15 or F-22 were to land at anything above 150, the tires might blow.
The jets would have to assume a high angle of attack to remain aloft, certainly apply more flaps than what is seen in the pics

I'm kinda stumped as far as the generations discription applies... they've missed the P-81 Shooting Star (early Korea), F-86 Sabre, any number of century fighters (F100 - F106), and Vietnam era F4 Phantom, F5 Tiger etc. then the F15 contempories, F18, F16... not to mention the Navy F14
A pretty crowded picture

1st pic seems to show 3 generations of Air Superiority fighters

Second pic shows Air Superiority (F15 and P51) as well as Ground Attack (Warthog and P51), though the Mustang was better suited to fighter role... the P47 Thunderbolt would be the Warthog's predecessor, Big, Ugly, well armoured

[Maro]

I don't think it's photchopped. The first photo is taken from above - if you look closer, you see the Mustang is nose down and I guess the throttles are Firewalled and doing over 400. The Raptor and Eagle can cruise easily at around 300.

I agree that the Mustang was not well served in ground attack. It's liquid cooling (hence the large ventral scoop radiator) was extremely vulnerable to ground fire. Once hit, it had trouble staying up.

The P47 was much more durable and also had 8 0.5" guns instead of 6.

[nighthawk15]

De Havilland Mosquito for the win.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Viperman5686/Mosquito.jpg

A wooden bomber made by the British in 1941. Top speed: 415 mph.


That thing is wooden? Wow, I would have never guessed that. It must have been engineered really well to be built out of wood and be that fast:shocking

[Raedwulf]

That thing is wooden? Wow, I would have never guessed that. It must have been engineered really well to be built out of wood and be that fast:shocking

World's first 'Stealth' fighter-bomber

Still think the first couple of pictures are photochopped
The picture of the mustang appears too 'clean' if you get my drift
As mentioned earlier, the Raptor appears too close to the Mustang, compare the distance between the F15 and the F22.
The fact that the P51 prop is actually standing still means that a fast shutter speed was used... all 3 aircraft are in sharp focus, it's a bright day, but not that bright

A close up of the Raptor and P51 is attached, look at the rudder of the P51 against the jet, that's too sharp for an untouched photo

The second picture would have to involve some acrobatics on the part of the F15 pilot. Again the 2 vintage aircraft are in sharp detail compared to the modern hardware, at least the props on the two P51s are moving this time.

[bejohnson]

None of the photos are photo-shopped. The first photo carries the following caption on the USAF website:

OVER ATLANTIC OCEAN (AFPN) - A F-15 Eagle, F/A-22 Raptor and P-51 Mustang train for heritage flight formation flying April 27 off the coast of Langley Air Force Base, Va. Maj. Michael Shower, piloting the F/A-22, is getting his checkout ride for the formation with P-51 Pilot Maj. Gen. Mike Decuir, the Air Combat Command operations director, and Capt. Jason Costello, a 1st Fighter Wing demonstration team pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)

The second photo is captioned:

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Two P-51 Mustangs, an A-10 Thunderbolt II and a F-15D Eagle team up during an air show here Nov. 13 and 14 (2005). (U.S. Air Force photo by Julie Ray)

The TF-51 in the first photo is Crazy Horse. Info about the aircraft and it's owner can be found here (http://www.stallion51.com/aircraft/aircraft-crazyh.cfm) and here (http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/pages/44-84745.shtml).

The two P-51s in the second photo are Six Shooter (info) (http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/pages/67-22580.shtml) and Val-Halla (info) (http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/pages/45-11525.shtml).


Here are a few more photos of what the Air Force calls Heritage Flights.

<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060812-F-3108S-103.jpg height=473 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060812-F-3108S-103.jpg)

A heritage flight with a P-51 Mustang, F-15 Eagle, F-22 Raptor and A-10 Thunderbolt II fly over the crowd at the Arctic
Thunder air show at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, on Aug. 12. The two-day event drew nearly 136,000 visitors.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jonathan Steffen)


<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060513-f-0558k-002.jpg height=532 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060513-f-0558k-002.jpg)

A F-4 Phantom, P-47 Thunderbolt, F-16 Fighting Falcon and P-51 Mustang fly in a heritage flight formation during the
2006 Defenders of Liberty Airshow at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., on Saturday, May 13, 2006.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Michael A. Kaplan)


<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/050902-F-3050V-410.jpg height=417 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/050902-F-3050V-410.jpg)

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. - A heritage flight consisting of a F-15 Eagle, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, a P-51 Mustang
and a F-86 Sabre fly overhead during a ceremony here retiring Gen. John P. Jumper and swearing in Gen. T. Michael
Moseley as the new Air Force chief of staff Sept. 2. General Jumper served in the Air Force for 39 years. General
Moseley served as Air Force vice chief of staff.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi)


<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060715-F-4674P-075.jpg height=449 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060715-F-4674P-075.jpg)

A F-15E Strike Eagle flies with a World War II-era North American P-51 Mustang. The two aircraft performed at an
air show in Milwaukee July 15 and 16.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Kenneth Pagel)

[viperman5686]

I think the main reason that it looks Photoshopped is that the modern planes are all a specific kind of grey, but then the older ones are a different grey with blues, yellows, etc.

EDIT: F-15s stall at ~140mph, P51s have a top speed of 430mph.

[bejohnson]

Here is the tail of the TF-51 against the F-22 cropped from the original full size photo. The full size photo can be seen by clicking on the photo.

[nighthawk15]

None of the photos are photo-shopped. The first photo carries the following caption on the USAF website:



The second photo is captioned:



The TF-51 in the first photo is Crazy Horse. Info about the aircraft and it's owner can be found here (http://www.stallion51.com/aircraft/aircraft-crazyh.cfm) and here (http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/pages/44-84745.shtml).

The two P-51s in the second photo are Six Shooter (info) (http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/pages/67-22580.shtml) and Val-Halla (info) (http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/pages/45-11525.shtml).


Here are a few more photos of what the Air Force calls Heritage Flights.

<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060812-F-3108S-103.jpg height=473 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060812-F-3108S-103.jpg)

A heritage flight with a P-51 Mustang, F-15 Eagle, F-22 Raptor and A-10 Thunderbolt II fly over the crowd at the Arctic
Thunder air show at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, on Aug. 12. The two-day event drew nearly 136,000 visitors.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jonathan Steffen)


<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060513-f-0558k-002.jpg height=532 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060513-f-0558k-002.jpg)

A F-4 Phantom, P-47 Thunderbolt, F-16 Fighting Falcon and P-51 Mustang fly in a heritage flight formation during the
2006 Defenders of Liberty Airshow at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., on Saturday, May 13, 2006.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Michael A. Kaplan)


<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/050902-F-3050V-410.jpg height=417 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/050902-F-3050V-410.jpg)

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. - A heritage flight consisting of a F-15 Eagle, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, a P-51 Mustang
and a F-86 Sabre fly overhead during a ceremony here retiring Gen. John P. Jumper and swearing in Gen. T. Michael
Moseley as the new Air Force chief of staff Sept. 2. General Jumper served in the Air Force for 39 years. General
Moseley served as Air Force vice chief of staff.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi)


<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060715-F-4674P-075.jpg height=449 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060715-F-4674P-075.jpg)

A F-15E Strike Eagle flies with a World War II-era North American P-51 Mustang. The two aircraft performed at an
air show in Milwaukee July 15 and 16.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Kenneth Pagel)

Those are awesome! Especially the last one.:beer

[Saturn2888]

I was gonna say the first two photos looked photoshoped, but now that I see the rest, I'd have to say otherwise.

[bejohnson]

Here are a couple of photos more.

<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060513-f-0558k-001.jpg height=531 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060513-f-0558k-001.jpg)

A B-17G Flying Fortress and a B-52H Stratofortress fly in a heritage flight formation May 13 during the 2006 Defenders
of Liberty Airshow at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. These two aircraft represent 70 years of "fortresses." It was the first
time in 50 years that they flew together in formation.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Michael A. Kaplan)


<img src=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060304-F-2295B-110.jpg height=533 width=800 border=0> (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060304-F-2295B-110.jpg)

A World War II-era P-47 Thunderbolt and an F-22A Raptor from Langley Air Force Base, Va., fly in formation over
Tucson, Ariz., Sunday, March 5, 2006, during the Air Combat Command Heritage Conference at Davis-Monthan
Air Force Base. Tom Gregory flew the Thunderbolt and Lt. Col. Michael Shower flew the Raptor.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)

[JCYC5]

Wow... beautiful.

But nothing will ever surpass the Tomcat in that department!

[slugbug]

I always liked the P-38 Lightning :)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b167/slugbug55/motion.jpg

[Saturn2888]

WOW! Those are really freakin' cool. So I guess I'm always out of the loop. How do you guys know about so many things?

[Maro]

I always liked the P-38 Lightning :)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b167/slugbug55/motion.jpg

The new JSF will be called "Lightning II"

:Thumb