united states army air forces

Alongside the training and cargo gliders already in service at the outbreak of World War II, an idea that received more attention with the U.S. Army Air Force was the assault glider. Major Lewin B. Barringer, a glider specialist, on the staff of AAF, presented blueprints for such a glider in the...

Just put up a new article at RetroMechanix.com on a P-51D Mustang which was tested with a pair of unusual streamlined 150 gallon ferry tanks at Eglin Field, Florida in 1944-45: The object of the tests was to determine the safe ferry range of the P-51D airplane. The article features 20 photos...

Hi All! In early 1946, USAAF issued a preliminary specification for a 50,000 pounds payload Heavy Cargo and Troop carrier type aircraft. My opinion these manufacturers were participating of this competition: Fairchild Model 99 Lockheed Model L-168 Martin Model 240 (?) (?)...

In search of a color photo of the CW XF-87 "Blackhawk." -SP

Just finishing "The Jet Race and the Second World War" by Sterling Michael Pavelec. I enjoyed the story very much and I've learnt a lot. http://www.amazon.com/Jet-Race-Second-World-War/dp/1591146666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277485918&sr=1-1 On page 137 I found a great surprise: Bell...

Can I also ask for the Vultee XP-68,the improvement version of Vultee XP-54

Here's a color shot of the XF-89 (46-678) with Fred C. Bretcher in the cockpit.

Greetings All - A friend passed along some scans from the San Diego Air & Space Museum which included a number of Convair designs I was not aware of. First off is the Model 103... Enjoy the Day! Mark

I finally got the microfilm in the mail of all four volumes of this study; and had them scanned by a local company. First up, the magnificient maidien known as the Valkyrie: Reading further; North American was very dead set against Active Defense in any form for the B-70; which isn't that...

I guess the search engine really is my friend. So say we all. http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/aviation/howard-hughes-d-2-a-9232.html Moonbat

Hi, I know that my dear Orionblamblam displayed a drawing to it before, but here is Boeing Model-448 in wind tunnel. Source: Charles D Bright The Jet Makers: The Aerospace Industry from 1945 to 1972 http://www.generalatomic.com/jetmakers/chapter4.html

I am looking for a picture of the Douglas CG-19 glider project that was initiated in 1946. Anybody can help? Jso Heyman

XA-44, later became XB-53 From http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil

Got this while touring WPAFB restoration facility looking for YF-23. Was told it is only example existant.

Convair XP-92 first configuration

Hi Everyone! Does anyone know where any good three-view line drawings of the Curtiss XP-71 can be found? Thanx!!! Chuck

The world's largest land plane, the XC-99, made its first flight in San Diego on 23 November 1947. The XC-99, serial 43-52436, is a double deck transport variant of the B-36. It has a considerably larger fuselage, but was never fitted with jet pods. The wingspan is the same 230 feet, but the...

Available here: http://www.up-ship.com/drawndoc/drawndocair.htm This includes a very large drawings of the missile and booster meant specifically for model makers; Standard Aircraft/Missile Characteristics of two early variants; rare drawings of the 1949 over/under ramjet version; a few other...

This idea was proved pre WW2 but for some reason doesn't seem to have been considered for use in extending the range of LRMP aircraft. What method was used, my reading of it is that the tanker trailed a hose (with a drogue to prevent wild movements) and the receiving aircraft caught this with a...

In RAF Flying Review 6/60, there was a letter to the editor, mentioning 2 variants of the unsuccesful YB-40 escorts, with an armament different to th one I knew before. According to the description the attched profiles were shown. One version is said to have had twin gun Emerson turrets in nose...