The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 LARGE brass ones for sure OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Hair, SASS #29557 Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Bernard Fisher was the first USAF member to receive the Medal of Honor while flying an A1. The phrase "Into the valley of death............" applies very well to this hero. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_F._Fisher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Got some favorite planes from 'Nam: F-4, Huey, C-123 Provider, and Spads. I saw Spads take off, climb to altitude, hang a fully loaded bird on the prop and then roll out to stir Charlie's s...crap all over the place. Gotta love something thas is so ugly, efficient, and deadly. Never saw a Warthog in flight, but suspect they were similar. Call out to MiG jockies: Gad Dad, you been had by a Spad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 In October 1965, CDR Clarence W. Stoddard, Jr., Executive Officer of VA-25 "Fist of the Fleet", flying A-1H Skyraider Bu. No. 135297, NE/572, from Carrier Air Wing Two aboard USS Midway, carried a special bomb to the North Vietnamese in commemoration of the 6-millionth pound of ordnance dropped. This bomb was unique because of the type..... it was a toilet! Also unique to this mission is the fact this aircraft was named "Paper Tiger II" (a temporary name used for just this one flight). Pictures and video at: http://www.midwaysailor.com/midwayva25bomb/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Very good! I know some people who will like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 2nd only to a Warthog as the best CAS ever in service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 from Wikipedia: Shortly after Heinemann began design of the XBT2D-1, a study was issued that showed for every 100 lb (45 kg) of weight reduction the takeoff run was decreased by 8 ft (2.4 m), the combat radius increased by 22 mi (35 km) and the rate-of-climb increased by 18 ft/min (0.091 m/s). Heinemann immediately had his design engineers begin a program for finding weight-saving on the XBT2D-1 design, no matter how small. Simplifying the fuel system resulted in a reduction of 270 lb (120 kg); 200 lb (91 kg) by eliminating an internal bomb bay and hanging the bombs, drop tanks and rockets from the wings or fuselage; 70 lb (32 kg) by using a fuselage dive brake; and 100 lb (45 kg) by using an older tailwheel design. In the end, Heinemann and his design engineers found over 1,800 lb (820 kg) of weight savings on the original XBT2D-1 design.[7] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 If you haven't already read this, you should. I a real thriller you won't be able to put down. http://www.amazon.com/The-Rescue-Streetcar-304-Pilots/dp/1591142717 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 The A-1 Spad was one heckofa CAS bird! I don't know exactly how the A-10 compares loadwise, and loiter time wise, but that 30mm gatling gun up front can do some serious business, as can its ability to absorb groundfire! The 4-star jet jocks in my old alma mater keep claiming the A-10 can't survive in a "contested environment", and the F-35 can take its place. Problem is the F-35 is still a "fast mover"! Try to slow an F-35 down like an A-10 and you'll either stall out or be just as much meat for SAM's, but probably with more equipment that can get torn up by ground fire! Maybe USAF should transfer the A-10's to the Army! The Marines have their own CAS air forces, and do a danged good job at it! (They are getting the F-35B and C models to replace their Harriers!) Ah, well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 The A-10 was never intended to be a dog fighter. It was designed to take out heavily defended ground based targets. Those high speed low drag lawn darts were supposed to fly aircover for the A-10 so it could do its job. the F-35 reminds me of the old saying "Jack of all trades...Master of none." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 When we located a target in VietNam the info was sent to the G-3. If he had a choice for the day the bird of choice was always the A-1s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocWard Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 The A-1 Spad was one heckofa CAS bird! I don't know exactly how the A-10 compares loadwise, and loiter time wise, but that 30mm gatling gun up front can do some serious business, as can its ability to absorb groundfire! The 4-star jet jocks in my old alma mater keep claiming the A-10 can't survive in a "contested environment", and the F-35 can take its place. Problem is the F-35 is still a "fast mover"! Try to slow an F-35 down like an A-10 and you'll either stall out or be just as much meat for SAM's, but probably with more equipment that can get torn up by ground fire! Maybe USAF should transfer the A-10's to the Army! The Marines have their own CAS air forces, and do a danged good job at it! (They are getting the F-35B and C models to replace their Harriers!) Ah, well... The A-10 can loiter indefinitely, thanks to refueling. It's job isn't to fight in a contested environment, that's what the F birds are for. Still, they have modern avionics and can utilize air-to-air weaponry. I will believe the F-35 can take over for the A-10 when it can deliver strikes at danger close ranges to our troops, survive the things A-10s have survived in the way of ground fire and make it back to base, and when rounds striking the cockpit don't take out the driver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Hand Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 As I recall wasn't the General Dynamics F-111 supposed to be a do all aircraft, including Navy and Marine Corps variants, that never lived up to its hype. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocWard Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Oh, I forgot to mention, my logic professor in college flew Skyraiders off of aircraft carriers (for some reason I want to say the Oriskany) during Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 The last of the Best. Proper CAS airplanes have big, round, loud engines. They have large Propellers. They sit on their tails. Those who hide, whisper to each other ......... Do Not Shoot at that Airplane. Coffinmaker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 The last of the Best. Proper CAS airplanes have big, round, loud engines. They have large Propellers. They sit on their tails. Those who hide, whisper to each other ......... Do Not Shoot at that Airplane. Coffinmaker Same was said of the LOCH: if you shoot at the little bird, the big birds will come and you don't want that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace_of_Hearts Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 When the little plane says over the radio "Hit my Willy Peter"...... I would advise you to follow his directions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugs Bonney SASS # 10171 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Listen ti that bird start up. I love the sound of radial engines, sort of like two garbage cans tumbling down a flight of stairs. When I was with CAF I got a ride in a twin Beach ("Beach Baby") What a Kick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Listen ti that bird start up. I love the sound of radial engines, sort of like two garbage cans tumbling down a flight of stairs. When I was with CAF I got a ride in a twin Beach ("Beach Baby") What a Kick! Bugs, was that the Confederate Air Force...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I alway thought it was amazing, the amount of diplomacy could be projected with NAPALM. The SPAD was a wonderful machine. I crewed on PUFF, the Magic Dragon. Often, the SPAD drivers called us in for a little assistance in spreading diplomacy. Was always a really quiet area when we left. Coffinmaker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 I alway thought it was amazing, the amount of diplomacy could be projected with NAPALM. The SPAD was a wonderful machine. I crewed on PUFF, the Magic Dragon. Often, the SPAD drivers called us in for a little assistance in spreading diplomacy. Was always a really quiet area when we left. Coffinmaker I worked nights as G-2 Air in the operations center of II FFV at Long Bihn junction. We'd go outside to watch Puff work in the southern part of the Iron Triangle. Looked like a lighted water hose accompanied by the sound of tearing a LARGE sheet of paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugs Bonney SASS # 10171 Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Bugs, was that the Confederate Air Force...? Yes sir, that was when it was called the Confederate Air Force, to be politically correct the name has been changed to Commemorative Air Force. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.