Picture of the day

[RRCo.]

That hull plating looks like St. John Shipbuilding work.

 

[fingers284]

look like drawn stampings..probably good enough for the light load. I'm pretty sure i'd not want to ride on it with 8 other guys.
Has anyone said how awesome this thread is lately? No matter how crappy my day, something here makes me smile! thanks everyone

A pi$$ poor ride is better than a good walk anyday.....

 

[grabbers]

That hull plating looks like St. John Shipbuilding work.

Its not hull plating its rubber that goes over the hull to deflect sound.

 

[Gibbs505]

You have to make up your mind about growing up and becoming a pilot.

You can’t do both…!

 

[Mister Donut]

I really hope Russia plans to preserve at least one of these as a museum before scrapping them all.

 

[Mister Donut]

You have to make up your mind about growing up and becoming a pilot.

You can’t do both…!

I'm really sad the old Tomcat is retired.....

 

[varmintstalker]

 

[varmintstalker]

Oops sorry

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Its not hull plating its rubber that goes over the hull to deflect sound.

Would the purpose not to be to absorb sonar rather than reflect it?

Gibbs's carrier shot reminds me of the Midway, which reminds me of one of my favourites of all time, the A4 Skyhawk:

Here's the prototype flying over Edwards:

Tight lil' package, no? Not an ounce heavier than absolutely necessary. Makes the pilot look huge. The plane mutated over the years, but kept its trim dimensions and proportions:

Trainer version. Still looks "right".

In NZ warpaint:

One of the greats.

 

[woodchopper]

That hull plating looks like St. John Shipbuilding work.

boomers...

as I recall the rubber was 8" thick.

20 SLBM each with 10 MERVs, I can't remember the salvo time or yeild but one boat can deliver a lot of warheads.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Can one teach a rhino to tapdance? Can dumptrucks race at Indy? The answer is yes, but they shouldn't expect to do well.

And so it was for the F105B Thunderchief's very brief tenure with the USAF's Thunderbirds:

America's largest ever single engine/single pilot aircraft, God's own bomb truck, a specialist in low/fast/straight, employed in the same role the Navy was using the A4 for.

###y, no? She looks good all tarted up. But as one might expect, this role was not hers to hold for long. Six shows total in 1964. Thunderbird 2 broke up during landing after a rehearsal for the seventh performance, killing the pilot (story here: http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/Thunderbirds_F-105_crash_site.htm. The Thunderbirds never flew the Thunderchief again.

 

[purple]

The A-4 Skyhawk was a nifty little aircraft that exceeded expectations. I saw the Israeli Air Force using them to pound the PLO in South Lebanon.

 

[MarkCNP]

 

[fraserdw]

Italian Blackshirt in Russia?

 

[Gibbs505]

The A-4 Skyhawk was a nifty little aircraft that exceeded expectations. I saw the Israeli Air Force using them to pound the PLO in South Lebanon.

Indeed, the british had a lot of respect for them in the Falklands.

 

[grabbers]

Would the purpose not to be to absorb sonar rather than reflect it?

Correct. I stand corrected.

 

[fingers284]

Can one teach a rhino to tapdance? Can dumptrucks race at Indy? The answer is yes, but they shouldn't expect to do well.

And so it was for the F105B Thunderchief's very brief tenure with the USAF's Thunderbirds:

America's largest ever single engine/single pilot aircraft, God's own bomb truck, a specialist in low/fast/straight, employed in the same role the Navy was using the A4 for.

###y, no? She looks good all tarted up. But as one might expect, this role was not hers to hold for long. Six shows total in 1964. Thunderbird 2 broke up during landing after a rehearsal for the seventh performance, killing the pilot (story here: http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/Thunderbirds_F-105_crash_site.htm. The Thunderbirds never flew the Thunderchief again.

Commonly referred to as the THUD because of its many encounters with Thud ridge outside of Hanoi.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Thud ridge so named because of the F-105 losses on and around it.

Here's the background on the nickname, c/o Wikipedia:

The initial reaction of the fighter pilot community to their new aircraft was lukewarm. Between its massive dimensions and troubled early service life, the F-105 had garnered a number of uncomplimentary nicknames. In addition to the aforementioned "Thud", nicknames included the "Squat Bomber", "Lead Sled", and the "Hyper Hog" and/or "Ultra Hog".[38] The latter two names arose from the F-105's predecessors, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and F-84 Thunderstreak, nicknamed "Hog" and "Super Hog", respectively. According to F-105 pilots and crews, the "Thud" nickname was inspired by the character "Chief Thunderthud" from the Howdy Doody television series.[39]

The aircraft's offensive capabilities were sarcastically referred to as a "Triple Threat" — it could bomb you, strafe you, or fall on you. Positive aspects, such as the F-105's responsive controls, strong performance at high speed and low altitude, and its outfit of electronics won over some pilots. For some, "Thud" was a term of endearment; retroactively the RF-84F Thunderflash became known as "Thud's Mother".[37] F-105 pilot Colonel Jack Broughton said of the nickname: "The Thud has justified herself, and the name that was originally spoken with a sneer has become one of utmost respect through the air fraternity".[40]

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

The Italians send poor, luckless, frozen guys to Der Ostfront - seriously, how badly did you have to screw up to be sent to Russia from Rome? - but what about the Spanish "Blue Division"?

That one on the left is a big 'un...

Preparing for a crossing. Hopefully Ivan doesn't catch them with their pants down...

 

[Gibbs505]