Just out of curiosity - Airplane Guys

[Pat D]

X-15 was my first Estes rocket.

 

[John Regular]

Yanks Air Museum ·​

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It may not be the thing he's most famous for, but on this day in aviation history, back in 1962, Neil Armstrong performed his so-called "cross country" X-15 flight. At 12 minutes, 28.7 seconds, it was the longest flight of the whole X-15 program, and for good reason.

The X-15 was not designed for long flights, but for extremely high speeds. It was an experimental rocket powered research aircraft that even crossed through the atmosphere into technical outer-space at several points.
Like most of its flights before, it was taken up into the air April 20th, 1962, by another aircraft entirely (can anyone name it?) and dropped over Mud Lake, Nevada. The point was to test a new control system that only required the pilot (in this case, Armstrong) to use one hand instead of two. Clearly, this didn't pose a problem for Armstrong. After running the engine for only 82.4 seconds, the X-15 accelerated to Mach 5.31 (3,789 miles per hour/6,098 kilometers per hour), continued on an upwards trajectory over the limit of the atmosphere even without the engine running, and then began its descent back down.
However, when Armstrong went to pull up from the descent a bit, the plane "ricocheted" off the top of atmosphere to a height where the aerodynamic control surfaces could no longer be expected to function. By the time he got back down into the atmosphere, he was far past his landing site, about 45 miles (72.4 kilometers) to the south in fact, and still needing to glide the plane back down about 45,000 feet. Even with the new control system, Armstrong managed to turn the plane around and glide the X-15 all the way back, landing only 12 miles south of the planned spot. It was an impressive piece of airmanship that spoke volumes of the skill and talent of a man who would one day be the first on the moon itself.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_X-15

It may not be the thing he's most famous for, but remember when Buzz Aldrin punched that truther in the face

 

[Jan_P]

Calling other people a coward and a liar straight to the face is one way to get a quick Nosebleed.
Just don't do it.. As a coping strategy

 

[Jim]

BUFF?

Yes, an NB-52A and an NB-52B... 52-003 and 52-008... known as Balls 3 and Balls 8. Most of the heavy lifting was by Balls 8.
Was common in the Air Force that any tail number ending in -00(X) was called Balls (X). Still is common far as I know. At least it was in my day.

 

[Pat D]

Annual condition inspection is always fun and exciting. Found a bracket holding the vertical fin was broken. Fixable but irritating.

 

[gggGary]

https://www.flyingmag.com/waco-aircraft-abruptly-closes-factory/

 

[gggGary]

Check out 3:28 in this video from sun n fun April 15th 2026

 

[Pat D]

https://www.flyingmag.com/waco-aircraft-abruptly-closes-factory/

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IIRC, the "new" Waco's started production in the mid/late 90's, maybe a bit earlier. It's actually kind of impressive they made it as long as they did. Tiny market, very expensive, pure toy. Wish I could afford one. They're huge, too- need a big ass hangar to properly house one. I did catch a ride in an actual 1941 model back in '92, definitely a visceral experience.

 

[Jim]

Size matters.
The A-380 is the largest airplane in the world. So how do you make a model of it?
By building the largest R/C model in the world.

 

[Jim]

G-AEFT takes a putt putt around the countryside 90 years to the day after it's maiden flight. 90 years...

 

[Jim]

 

[Jim]

 

[Mailman]

I’ve included a link to the original article, but it may be behind a paywall. There is a video imbedded in the article, which I cannot link to. But this is an interesting story. The pilot, an airline captain , was flying his vintage seaplane over Phoenix when the engine died. I watched the video and this plane had a pretty sharp glide ratio…it went down fast. They scrambled to find a place to land…on a major city street. Everybody walked away uninjured and no cars were hit. Some pretty frightening power lines along the side of the road. Amazing outcome!

https://apple.news/Ay8RsYYgfQ1Se-helKNqX0w

 

[Pat D]

I’ve included a link to the original article, but it may be behind a paywall. There is a video imbedded in the article, which I cannot link to. But this is an interesting story. The pilot, an airline captain , was flying his vintage seaplane over Phoenix when the engine died. I watched the video and this plane had a pretty sharp glide ratio…it went down fast. They scrambled to find a place to land…on a major city street. Everybody walked away uninjured and no cars were hit. Some pretty frightening power lines along the side of the road. Amazing outcome!

https://apple.news/Ay8RsYYgfQ1Se-helKNqX0w

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Aye, the Republic SeaBee ain't much of a glider, look up "aerodynamic drag" in the dictionary and see its picture! Same company that built the P-47 and a number of cold war fighter bombers.

 

[gggGary]

 

[Jim]

Navy jets crashing at an Air Force base airshow..... There's gotta be a joke in there somewhere...

** All 4 crewmen survived. Not trying to be morbid here. **

 

[Pat D]

Navy jets crashing at an Air Force base airshow..... There's gotta be a joke in there somewhere...

** All 4 crewmen survived. Not trying to be morbid here. **

That footage is intense- I would have never imagined they could/would get stuck together like that. And was there any thought as to whether the ejectees would clear the other aircraft? Would I have had the presence of mind to look before I pulled the handle? I dunno. I'm about as big an airplane nut as exists, but I've never been a serious airshow guy. Been to plenty, never saw anyone die, but about 20 years ago I determined I never would, and no longer desire to see tight formation work or extreme low level aerobatics. And I really don't care for airshow announcers. Damn, I'm getting old ....

 

[gggGary]

never saw anyone die, but about 20 years ago I determined I never would,

That pretty much covers me and extreme sports,
let 'm do what they want, sans audience.
sez the guy that posted the vid....

 

[Jim]

I determined I never would, and no longer desire to see tight formation work or extreme low level aerobatics. And I really don't care for airshow announcers. Damn, I'm getting old ....

You'n me both buddy.
I grew up loving to go to airshows. Followed an F-111 around the airshow circuit for a few years. Took our lightsport to Oshkosh and ran the booth for a few yrs. Even got to fly one in myself (talk about a rush). I've been to as many shows as anyone, I reckon.
Thoroughly fed up with 'em, I is... Mebbe I shoulda put this in the "rant" thread.

 

[Jim]

I'd loved to have heard the conversation (shouting match?) they yelled at each other on the way down.