Aviation BS and Photo Thread

Flew to NM86 and back yesterday in the trusty 206 - private strip at a training facility one of my customers uses... runway looked just like the ramp, but them big ole tires do well on shitty runways and dirt..

 

https://youtu.be/q1KG4v36PQ8

 

is it just me, or do the words "Private Airstrip" and "Shitty Runway" always end up applying to the place at the same time?

 

That video made me go watch this one.

It should be blocked as porn.

https://youtu.be/PHnLinB2dKs

 

I think Igor would dig it !!! Very impressive

 

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...^^^... I am not an aeronautical engineer ... but, I like this basic design a lot ....... a variant of the S-97 is what many have wanted for a long time.

Coaxial rotors have been around for a while and a pusher prop gives economical speed (over V-22 design) and good braking and performance in general.

If this program would have been funded instead of the V-22 ... I think we could have had a functional fleet by now.
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I wouldn't mind flying one. A 200kt cruise combined with the ability to hover OGE at 6000ft/95° is a huge improvement. I'm sure those numbers go down once the aircraft has external stores mounted and a full combat load, but still impressive.

 

I was at Ft Eustis when I found one of these in the museum back in the late 80's

AH-56 Cheyenne. The military didn't like the design back then ... I guess they are more open minded now

https://youtu.be/d6LpaxmGLYM

 

They have been trying to get the V-22 operational since I was in high school in the mid 80s ... the Japanese had their own version but the entire wing tilted - my dad was an electrical engineer on this program but it was deemed cost prohibitive and was shutdown. My brother and I choose aviation as a career because of the aircraft flying around Eglin AFB.

I wish the military would buy and fund aircraft that will actually do the job as advertised !!!

 

Here I present to you 2 of the 5 flying Starships in the world (of 4 in the US).

This is an interesting read about the planes, with an interview form the owner of the two here in Dallas. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2014-10-02/quarter-century-later-starships-still-fly




And here's a short video I grabbed of the takeoff roll

https://youtu.be/nrV2Z8CXUCo

 

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...^^^... IIRC ... When I lived in Marietta, GA (not too far from Dobbins AFB & Lockheed & Naval Air combined base) I used to see a Cheyenne looking aircraft flying over my house when they were testing it.

I am not sure, but I think it was one of the earlier competitors of the AH-64 (post Huey & Huey Cobra). This was before Lockheed & Martin joined forces.

Back then, the aircraft market was (informally) divided and product lines were hard to cross ... Skorsky was considered the "Cadillac of helicopters" ... Bell was considered the "Price effective Chevrolet of helicopters" ... and Lockheed was (not serious in helicopters) was considered builders of cargo planes and Skunk Works specialities. This is why I think Lockheed was not seriously considered in helicopters back then ... there were a few exceptions, but not many.

Lockheed was getting away from the L-1011 & Jet Star about that time too and wanted to add rotary.

Doing this from memory ...
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This one is based in Aspen and appears at our airport from time to time.

 

I remember it made a stir when one flew into DWH. I lost a bet because I wasn't paying attention and at a glance, called it a piaggio.

 

That is a pretty cool airport community at DWH.

 

Is that some kind horizontal stabilizer wing on the nose of this aircraft?

 

It's called a canard. And yes, it works similarly to a horizontal stabilizer in the back.

 

@IPNPULZ You'll start to see them everywhere. The Eurofighter Typhoon and Jas Gripen came to mind.

 

I have seen them before just not much on general aviation aircraft. I did see a smaller one on a small stunt plane @ the local airshow a couple months back.

Is it more of a stabilizing wing to offest other affects do to the pusher type aircraft?

 

Ever read the Skunk Works book?