***The OFFICIAL aviation pics thread***

[inline 6]

XB-38 (b-17 variant) with inline engines

Just eww.........

[Strychnine]

Just eww.........

LOL. If it makes you feel any better Wiki says it only lived for 29 days.

The XB-38 was the result of a modification project undertaken by Boeing and Vega (a subsidiary of Lockheed) on a B-17 Flying Fortress to fit it with liquid-cooled Allison V-1710-89 Vee engine. It was meant as an improved version of the B-17, and a variant that could be used if air-cooled Wright R-1820 radial engines became scarce. Completing the modifications took less than a year, and the XB-38 made its first flight on May 19, 1943. Only one prototype was built, and it was developed from an existing B-17 bomber.

While the XB-38 delivered a substantially higher top speed, its service ceiling was lower. After a few flights it had to be grounded due to a problem with engine manifold joints leaking exhaust gases. Following the fixing of this problem, testing continued until the ninth flight on June 16, 1943. During this flight, the third (right inboard) engine caught fire, and the crew was forced to bail out. The XB-38 was destroyed and the project was canceled, in part because the V-1710 engines were needed for other projects such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Bell P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, North American P-51A Mustang, and Bell P-63 Kingcobra fighters.

[Strychnine]

[GhostTX]

Testbed for the TU-94. I knew it was some Ruskie shit. On a copy of our B-29 also!
...

We landed one there for an emergency landing during the Pacific campaign. They sent our guys back state side, but kept the plane.

http://b-29s-over-korea.com/shortstories/russianclone.htm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/1319691/How-Russians-copied-captured-B-29.html

[likeitfast55]

Actually three planes --- very familiar with the story.

three B-29’s with emergencies landed in Vladivostok. One of the planes was the “Ramp Tramp”, another was the “Ding Hao”. Ironically the third plane was completely intact was the Gen. H.H. Arnold Special.
The crews assumed the planes would be refueled and they would return to China. They were never to see their planes again. The crews and aircraft were all interned. Now the Russians were holding four crews and three complete B-29’s. Desperate negotiations by the U.S. for the release of the crews and the aircraft were ignored.

[Darren M]

So what happened to the crews?

[Strychnine]

So what happened to the crews?

Finally through some bizarre diplomatic negotiations between the US and Molotov it was arranged for the aircrews to “escape” to Tashkent, Russia, via the Trans-Siberian Railroad. They were given adequate treatment while interned. From Tashkent they were transported by train and truck to Tehran, Iran, for their release. However their release wasn’t going to be that simple. They were warned not to talk to anyone, and had to sign top secret documents swearing them to secrecy. They were flown to Naples, Italy, and then shipped to N.Y. where they finally found freedom.

http://b-29s-over-korea.com/shortstories/russianclone.htm

[Strychnine]

[Torinoman]

[likeitfast55]

Miami was fucked today, major gridlock. Holding for days and massive flights canceled.

[David]

Edge of Space shot by Artur Sarkisyan, 18km altitude, 2000km/h Picture made with a GoPro camera attached to the MiG-29 fin. Taken during the MiGFlug test shot for the new company video.

[likeitfast55]

60k feet. I have been to 51k in a Longhorn Lear years ago and you can start to see the curve there also.
That guy is knocking down 1.6Mach. At his speed and altitude he has a 131f ram rise(temp) What does a go-pro melt at?
Must be in a protective case.

Just to think a thunderstorm can get up there(60k) amazes me and has my respect.

[inline 6]

Jesus that thing is toting the mail!

[46Tbird]

Chengdu J-20

[46Tbird]