ScanBits

During the late 1970's and early 1980's El Paso, Texas was a place to be if you wanted to photograph Navy/Marine Phantoms. VRF-31 (ferry squadron) was a constant visitor with a variety of Navy/Marine aircraft and helicopters going to and from rework facilities around the United States. The crews were always willing to allow access to photograph their aircraft. I had a request to share a print of this particular Phantom as they noticed the modex of 31 with the tail code of " Sierra Hotel " making it " Sierra Hotel 31 "! F-4N-150468-SH-31-VMFAT-101-BillSpidle-KELP-19791105 F-4J-153071-NATC-BillSpidle-KELP-19790720 F-4N-153064-VM-2-VMFA-314-BillSpidle-KELP-20160402  Other squadrons also utilized the quick turn services of the Transit Alert/Fire Fighters at KELP stopping in for fuel and a quick turn. There were Navy squadrons headed east like VF-301 and VF-302 from NAS Miramar and . . . . . . . . . . F-4N-153010-ND-115-VF-301-BillSpi

The 737-8 MAX N8704Q is currently conducting SROV (Service Ready Operational Validation) tests with Southwest Airlines. The aircraft arrived at Dallas Love Field (KDAL) on Thursday September 22, 2016. As part of the SROV it executed a missed approach followed by a full stop landing. The aircraft then spent the night at the Southwest Airlines Maintenance Hangar. All photos in this post were taken by me.

     Here is a design that is seldom mentioned the Howard DBA. The photos come from low speed wind tunnel at Vought. The photo sleeve has Howard Aero written on it and typical of the LSWT photo sleeves does not reveal a model or make for the design. Nor is there a date for the project. It also appears that the test report and the negatives are separated.       This was a design from Howard Aero of San Antonio Texas the same fine folks that created the Howard 500 version of Lockheed's Ventura bomber to meet NASA's need for rocket component transportation. Howard Aero   (VAHF Collection)      The aircraft features 10 engines and two sets of wings along the bulbous fuselage. It also appears to have large clam-shell doors on the front below the cockpit area. Howard Aero   (VAHF Collection)      A model and the LSWT report are on display at USTA. Links: University of Texas San Antonio More about Vought's LSWT Here More about Howard Aero Here

     After trials with the US Navy XT3D-1 BuNo 8730 was sent back to Douglas. The Pratt & Whitney single row R-1690 Hornet 525 hp engine was replaced with an Pratt & Whitney twin row R-1830 Twin Wasp 1200hp  engine. A NACA style engine cowling was fitted along with cockpit enclosures and wheel pants all to help increase maximum speed. The increase in performance did not increase the Navys interest and no production order was forthcoming. Here are some NARA II 72AC101 images of the XT3D-2. 4276-XT3D-2-8730-Left-Side-View-72AC101C-19330130 4273-XT3D-2-8730-Front-View-72AC101C-19330130 4266-XT3D-2-8730-Left-Front-View-72AC101C-19330130

Interesting design with all metal wing structure covered with fabric submitted as a replacement for the Martin T4M. The performance of the three seat T3D-1 was not sufficiently superior to the T4M and was sent back to Douglas for modification into the T3D-2. Neither aircraft resulted in a production contract. Here are some NARA II 72-AC images of the the XT3D-1. 3322-XT3D-1-8730-Front-View-72AC101C-19311009 3323-XT3D-1-8730-Right-Front-View-72AC101C-19311009 3324-XT3D-1-8730-Right-Side-View-72AC101C-19311009 3325-XT3D-1-8730-Right-Rear-View-72AC101C-19311009 3326-XT3D-1-8730-Right-Rear-View-72AC101C-19311009 3318-XT3D-1-8730-Front-View-72AC101C-19311009 3320-XT3D-1-8730-Right-Side-View-72AC101C-19311009 3321-XT3D-1-8730-Right-Rear-View-72AC101C-19311009 3319-XT3D-1-8730-Right-Front-View-72AC101C-19311009

     B-52H 61-0017 93BS/307BW at JRB Fort Worth for Airpower Expo 2016. She carries the name "Lone Star Lady II" in tribute to the original Lone Star Lady B-52D 55-0067 and to Honor all Vietnam Veterans. 

     At the recent Airpower Expo 2016 JRB Fort Worth VAQ-209 provided one of the highlights to the static park with two of their EF-18G Growler aircraft. The most colorful was BuNo 166895 Model AF-500 illustrated in the photos below.

     Here are the remainder of the photos I found of the XB-26H. I hope they are of interest and bring a further understanding of the amount of modification that was done to this aircraft for tandem landing gear testing that ended up aiding a number of bomber designs of the late 1940's.       First three additional general aircraft views: 79737-XB-26H-44-68221-Left-Side-View-Middle-River-MD-19450502 79740-XB-26H-44-68221-Right-Rear-View-Middle-River-MD-19450502 79742-XB-26H-44-68221-Right-Front-View-Middle-River-MD-19450502      A few landing gear details of the changes to tandem main gear. 79752-XB-26H-44-68221- Left-Outrigger-19450502 79746-XB-26H-44-68221- Forward-Gear-Left-View-19450502 79757-XB-26H-44-68221- Aft-Gear-Right-View-19450502 Source for the photographs is RG342 at National Archives II.

     While researching the Martin XB-48 at the National Archives I came across a beautiful set of photos of the XB-26H. Being a Marauder fan, I had to take the time to scan these images for my personal enjoyment. I also thought it would be fun to share this find with people of similar interest. 79736 XB-26H 44-68221 Left Front View Middle River MD 19450502 NARA II RG-342-FH           TB-26G 44-68221 was modified with tandem main wheels and outriggers in the engine nacelles to support testing of this landing gear configuration. Other changes to the aircraft included external stiffeners on the fuselage to support the additional loads on the airframe.       Having the main wheels retract into the fuselage with minimal outriggers for stability allowed potential jet aircraft to have thinner airfoils by placing all that bulk into the fuselage rather than having to have thick wings.  79735 XB-26H 44-68221 Front View Middle River MD 19450502 NARA II RG-342-FH       A stablemate,