[:P]
I am almost 48, but I am just a big kid at heart… LOL
Sorry, you couldn’t fit a President’s ego in that little flyer, let alone his body.
Mike T.
I believe the smallest “Airforce One” was an Aero Commander U4B used between 1956 - 1960?
Kia Kaha
Jafa
Jafa - its not the aircraft I had in mind. It is smaller than the one I was seeking. I don’t if the 2 U4B’s were purchased for Ike’s use or not, but I’ll hand it over to you. I was seeking the Beechcraft KIng Air, but I’ll it over to you. Good job.
Mike T.
Air Force One
VC-6A used as Air Force One
During the administration of President Lyndon Johnson, the United States Air Force acquired a Model B90 King Air “off-the-shelf”. With the military designation VC-6A, the aircraft, serialled 66-7943, was used to transport President Johnson between Bergstrom Air Force Base (near Austin, Texas) and the Johnson family ranch near Johnson City, Texas. When Johnson was aboard, the aircraft used the callsign Air Force One. This aircraft is now on display, with other presidential aircraft, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.[16]
Interesting side note–as soon as I saw this question I knew it had to be the Aero Commander…that actual aircraft is in a museum down here in Louisiana, not far from me. Up until 2010, it was displayed at the Wedell-Williams Aviation Collection in Patterson, LA…it has since moved to the Regional Military Museum in Houma, LA. I saw it when it was still in Patterson some years back…every time I look at one of those I cannot believe how cramped they are inside.
Jafa - you get the question, over to you.
Mike T.
Thanks,
a simple one, what is the most produced monoplane military aircraft of all time?
The F-16.
I can think of several that were built in multiples of the F-16’s current production total…
Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik? 36,183 produced…
F6F Hellcat?
well I did say it was an easy one…
over to you F-8fanatic
Alright, lets see if we can make this next one last a little bit…
Over the years, we have heard of some really strange aerial combat stories. I remember the Piper L-4 and the Storch with handguns in WWII, also remember hearing about a CH-53 in Vietnam that engaged one of two AN-2 biplanes that came close by. Of course, the A-10 in Desert Storm that shot down a chopper. I even remember hearing about 2LT Owen Bagget, a WWII co-pilot on a B-24. He was forced to bail out of the burning bomber while under attack by Japanese fighters. The Zeros then took to shooting at the airmen hanging from their chutes. Bagget played dead, and when one Zero flew close by, slow and with open canopy, Bagget fired off four rounds from his 1911…hitting the pilot in the head.
Even after all of that, there is one aerial duel that stands out as perhaps the strangest ever for several reasons. One of those reasons is the fact that the “dogfight” lasted close to an HOUR between just two aircraft. Name the aircraft involved and bonus points if you can narrate the event a bit.
B-17 “Old 666” vs er…6? Zeroes. Battle lasted over an hour, only ended when the zeroes ran out of fuel. 2 zeroes downed, 1 crewmember of the B-17 was killed. The mission was a pathfinding mission which the pilot refused to abandon as the troops on the ground needed the information.
No, the one I am talking about involved a total of two planes, one from each side.
Ok how about this one, F8 Crusader vs NVAF Mig17 during Vietnam. Both aircraft had their guns jam but they stayed with the dogfight until nearly out of fuel.
Nope, as far as I recall, that dogfight lasted about 10 minutes. The one in question was a very strange one and lasted about 45…you were warmer with the first guess
Last guess.
Saburo Sakai and Pug Southerland. Pug got the upper hand but his guns failed (he still doesnt know why) Sakai then managed to shoot pug down, but shortly after was shot in the head by a tail gunner of a US bomber, he then flew back to his base in Rabaul with a hole in his head. If i remember correctly Sakai mentioned that even though pug was shot down he believed he won the dogfight.
No, not that one either. I dont want to give this one away, but I guess the best way I can say this is that the dogfight I am looking for is a very strange one. There isnt anything strange about two fighter planes in a dogfight.