Aviation Unmanned Vehicle Museum Caddo Mills Texas Visit

-
I recently had the opportunity to schedule a visit to the AUVM (Aviation Unmanned Vehicle Museum) located at the Caddo Mills Texas airport.

 The AUVM was founded by Retired Lt Col Harold "Red" Smith who had extensive experience with the unmanned aircraft program while serving in the USAF during the Vietnam War in 1968. You can read about UAV operations later in the Vietnam War in a report "Buffalo Hunter 1970 - 1972" in Project CHECO Report K717.0414-39


 Unfortunately, I did not get to meet Red, he was killed a few years ago by a drunk driver. The aviation world lost a great volume of UAV knowledge and a driving spirit with his death.

 Caddo Mills is approximately an hour east of Dallas. Arriving at the airport using the directions Red's grandson gave me I was able to locate the white hangar building with no problems.

 Doug Smith gave me a warm welcome and what can only be described as the ultimate chef's tour of their facility! 






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Howard DBA NASA Aircraft

-
Image
     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
Read more

VF-213 F-14D 164602 Color To The End

-
Image
2006 saw the last of the F-14D Tomcat fighters leave US Navy fleet service. VF-31 and VF-213 were the last two squadrons to deploy with the F-14. The VF-213 Black Lions painted F-14D 164602 AJ-213, in full colors for the retirement. I had the good fortune to see F-14D 164602 two days after arrival and prior to spraylat being applied for it's storage in AMARG in 2006.  With the exception of the AMARG inventory number ANIK0195, and the yellow 7 indicating an accountable inventory inspection has been completed, the aircraft's markings are untouched.  Some preliminary work to start covering openings has been completed.  Twin tailed Lion that evolved with the squadrons transition from the F-4J Phantom II to the F-14A Tomcat.  AMARG technicians added blocks to the top of each rudder to keep the surfaces from blowing back and forth in the wind potentially damaging hinges and actuators. Foil paper and tape have been used to cover the engin
Read more

Lockheed Altair 8D (Y1C-23)

-
Image
342FH-3B26914-Y1C-23-32-232-Left-Side The Lockheed Altair just captures that late 1920's early 1930's era of aircraft design. The rounded curves of the tail surfaces and the big NACA  engine cowling top off the look. If the landing gear was fixed it would have big rounded wheel spats to accent the design. 342FH-3B26913-Y1C-23-32-232-Left-Front-Langley-Field-19340131 342FH-3B26915-Y1C-23-32-232-Left-Front  The aircraft was powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp that had a production run of over 34,000 engines that powered many contemporary aircraft including the Chance Vought O2U and O3U Corsairs and the Boeing F4B fighters. 342FH-3B26916-Y1C-23-32-232-Left-Side 342FH-3B26917-Y1C-23-32-232-Left-Rear The Altair came about during that run of great looking and performing aircraft the Vega, Sirius,Altair and Orion from Lockheed.The Altair boasted having the first successful fully retractable landing gear.  342FH-3B26918-Y1C-23-32-232-Front
Read more