Man that is some awesome pics!!! Love that MiG!!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
blackwolf and jeff, i would love to have half the references you have. those are some fantastic shots.
joe
Blackwolf, you are a treasure trove of information! Thanks for sharing it with us all.
Paul
Larger Image available upon request.
EGAD! That looks really crappy sized-down, don’t it? [xx(]
Anyhoo, this here’s the XP-40 in it’s final configuration. This is one of my favorite P-40 photos; although, being Mr.P-40, I love 'em all!! [:p] I forget where I got this from, it’s scanned from either a book or a rag.
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BTW, glad ya’ll enjoy…
Larger Image available upon request.
What the hell, why not another P-40?
This is another image which I have more info about but can’t seem to find at the moment. I also have a color shot of it somewhere… Anyhoo, it has an unusual feature or two and even though it’s plain-jane, I’d like to build this bird someday.
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Larger Image available upon request.
This is another unusual subject. It’s an F-4J of VF-194 ‘Red Lightnings’ onboard the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) as part of CVW-15 in 1977.
VF-194 (and it’s sister squadron, VF-191 ‘Satan’s Kittens’) flew the F-4 for only 2 years, 1976-1978, and made a single WESTPAC deployment with the type, from February to October, 1977, before being disestablished in March, 1978.
During this period four VF-194 aircraft were painted in this experimental splinter scheme, which was similar to the ‘Ferris’ schemes. The scheme proved unsuccessful in that it actually increased the visual detection range of the aircraft. Each aircraft also had the false canopy underneath which, in and of itself, proved more effective at confusing an observer, although only marginally.
The scheme itself isn’t so unusual, its the national markings which grabbed my attention. They have no inner-bars!
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That XP-40 final configuration shot- with the two slot openings right behind the prop spinner, and that chin, that plane looks like a real shark…
awesome photos!
Great pics
I’ve not heard this before. What am I looking for in the photo?
Larger Image available upon request.
This is an East German IL-28 Beagle of ZDK-33.
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Here’s a drawing of the bottom of one of these aircraft:
The false canopy is painted on the bottom of the aircraft. The goal was to confuse the observer (enemy pilot or aircrew) as to the actual attitude of the aircraft in relation to themselves. If the aircraft had it’s belly toward an enemy, the false canopy might momentarily fool them into thinking that it’s turning in one direction when, in reality, it’s turning in the opposite direction. That’s a basic explanation…
Anyhoo, in the photo in that other post, you can see part of the false canopy design on the nose gear doors. There are light sections on the front of the main door and at the back which represent the canopy frames. Also, the door which is attached to the gear leg carries the windscreen design.
The false canopies are usually fully effective against those pilots who haven’t come across them before. However, the results of the ‘testing’ done with these particular jets indicated that although the false canopies were initially effective, the adversaries were fooled less often after continued exposure to them.
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blackwolf, is that drawing a chinese p-40? really like that photoof the p-40.
joe
Glad you like, Joe!
And yeah, the new image in my sig is an AVG Hawk 81. It’s Robert T. Smith’s ship from the 3rd PS.
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oh sure i can get that one right but not any of your quiz pics. really like the avg stories used to have a collection of written material on the avg but moved cross country an it was lost.
joe
Well, since you asked about 'ole #47 and you like the AVG, this one’s for you…
Larger Image available upon request.
This is a Hawk 81-A-2, serial P-8127, of the AVG. This ship was originally assigned to John Petach of the 2nd PS, ‘Panda Bears’, but was transferred to the 3rd PS, ‘Hells Angels’ in May, 1942 and assigned to Robert T. Smith.
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awesome
joe
Do you have a good F-86 Sabre side color pic in wall paper size?
Blackwolf,
Just thought you might be interested to know, as you are a P40 fan, that there’s a P40F (one of the two Merlin engined marks) being restored. It’s being restored in Victoria, Australia. The article was in “Flightpath”, an Australian aircraft magazine. The issue was Vol 15 No.1 Aug-Oct 2003 and includes a couple of fantastic photos of the engine installation. According to the article, there are only two surviving "F"s, and one of them is being restored as an “E” in New Zealand.
Hmmm… seeing as you have tons of pics, Would you have a good color reference pic of an F-86F showing different tinted panels? [:D]
Nice collection of airplanes, Wolf!! Thanks!
Take care,
Frank