In aviation, we only need one of everything...........

[svandamme]

sure Randy , but i want it with an F-14

can you hook me up?

let's face it , the F-14 has the looks and everything else
sure an F18e might be more modern and efficient and fly by wire or less work for the "operator"... but i'm into my 911S , so the aviation analogy would be the F14... badass, no drivers aids... cool as feck , s3xy ,dirty , lethal, hands-on...

if i ever won the lottery , first thing on the agenda would be a rental Foxbat or Fulcrum Ride with the ruskies...it's the next best thing as i'm sure i cannot convince any admiral to give me an F14 cat launch in return for some obscene amount of money

[tcar]

Originally posted by rcecale
Joe, Sing, have either of you ever heard of Pardo's Push?

I saw a painting depicting this story several years ago. Simply amazing!!!!!

Randy

Read a very similar story several years ago, - can't find now - about 2 F86D's (Sabre w/ the black radar nose) during the 'Korean Conflict'.

One was hit and lost all fuel; you didn't want under any circumstances to parachute into North Korea (Movie "Bridges of Toko Ri").

When he flamed out, his wingman pushed the radar nose of his plane into the tailpipe of the gliding plane and pushed it out over the coast so he could bail in sight of a rescue chopper.

Not sure it's true, but it was presented as true.

[Joeaksa]

Randy,

I am an old MAC Air puke (McDonnell Douglas Aircraft) and this is part of our history! I have a personally signed copy of the painting at home and am very lucky to have it!

Bob Pardo is a QB and Red River Rat and I ran into him at a meeting. A few drinks later my copy of the painting was as it should be, signed by the gent involved.

Tcar, I have heard the same story. No documentation but believe it to be true.

Joe A

[singpilot]

Yep, is legend and lore in the Phantom community. As was Randy Cunningham.

There must be something to that power corrupts saying.

[rcecale]

Joe,

That's quite an honor to have a signed copy. That's one painting I plan to acquire a copy of myself, for my office wall.

A copy of the painting for those who've never seen it.



I cut my teeth in the Marine Corps working on Phantoms. Back then we had a saying, "Never ask a Marine what type of squadron he's with. If it's fighters, he'll tell you. If it's not, why embarrass him?"

I've kinda started collecting art like this. My most recent purchase was Lee Teter's "Reflections" What a powerful image!



Randy

[Joeaksa]

Randy,

The Red River Rats used to sell copies of the print and at times could help at getting them signed but I just checked and none are listed right now. They might be out of print, just not sure.

http://ecom.eos.net/rrva/CStore/cstore.tpl

Michael,

Randy and I grew up not too far from each other and have known him for 25 years or so. We are not close, he was on a "fast track" in life and I was not interested in that. He was one of the best at one time, but as you say, power corrupts. Really sorry to see it happen to anyone but now its time for him to serve his time. Hope he wakes up and returns to reality.

Joe A


Photo not seen very often of a carrier with nothing on the deck.


Same carrier in "working" mode! Gives you a better idea of the arrangement that Randy was talking about regarding the four catapults. When all four of them are in action, the deck is very busy.



Randy, a better photo of a F-4 Recce model.



A salute and they are in the air!



Interesting photo...



Believe that this is a Israeli F-15. Had a mid air collision and lost one wing outboard of the engine nacelle. Like the bumble bee, the plane is not supposed to be able to fly like this but the pilot brought the ship home. Unbelieveable...



Regarding Tcar's comments on the F86, for those of you who do not know the plane, here it is. One of the most beautiful fighters ever made IMHO. First American line fighter to be able to go supersonic (in a slight dive) and a very revolutionary airplane for its time. Without it in Korea, we would have been outclassed by the MIG-15.

All for now...

Joe A

[svandamme]

huh!?! one wing landing ??!?!
any videos of that anywhere ?

[rcecale]

The Nimitz, CVN-68.




Joe, I'll be on the hunt for a copy of Pardo's Push. If you run across any leads, can you give me a shout?

Randy

[Joeaksa]

Stijn, No videos that I know of exist and I was working for the factory when it happened. If there were any believe we would have seen them.

Randy, will see what I can find out. I know some guys who flew with Bob and may be able to help. Last I heard he was flying in Colorado somewhere in a corporate flight department.

Joe A

Edit, Just found Bob's address. Its posted on the internet so do not mind listing it here. If I were you I might drop Bob a line and ask him if any prints are still available.

Bob Pardo, 821 Meadow Run, Golden, CO 80403

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Agree on all points, and Mary Jo Kopechne would feel the same.

Why does Mary Jo get all the pity? Why doesn't anyone cry for Michael Douglas?

[lm6y]

WOW! Thanks for the stories guys!

Especially yours, Sing. I grew up with an awe for the F-4. My Father has told me many stories from Vietnam about them. He was USAF, and a crew chief for ordnance loading. He started off loading F-100 Super Sabres, and gets a far off look in his eyes when he tells of seeing his first F-4. He said it was the most graceful, and awe inspiring piece of machinery he as ever seen, and directly responsible for him still being alive. He said those things would come in so shot up, that you wouldn't think they could stay in the air. Load 'em up and send 'em off again, they just wouldn't quit.

Funny thing is, my best friend was USAF in the first Iraq war. It seems that they still used F-4's in the ANG, and Egypt had some. In the 20 something years between wars, the F-4 went from pride, and grace, to a flying pig. It was interesting to hear thoughts on the same airframe, from two diiferent viewpoints, only seperated by time.

Also, thanks for your service guys, I am in your debt.

[lm6y]

Widebody, maybe because she didn't leave the scene, and try to cover her ass like good old Teddy did. From that article it says she even talked about it. I don't think the drunk has owned up to his mistake yet.

I just thank God that he was too uppity to drive a Volkswagen. If that Oldsmobile would have floated, this country would have been ruined.

Oldsmobile - the car that saved a nation!

[Joeaksa]

Im6y,

Thanks and Egypt was still using them the last time I heard. Israel put new engines on theirs and now they do not smoke like the old versions, makes them harder to see. Hope they continue to fly forever!

I get really mad when I hear of another F-4 being sent up under remote control and being used as targe practice. Its a shame to shoot them down but guess they do not want them in civie hands.

Thom, Laura was not drunk as well as what was said above. Its a shame that he was killed but then its a shame when anyone dies in an accident. Teddy ran from the accident and continues to do so, yet tries to act like he is a moral person. A person cannot find inner peace inside a bottle of Scotch, but Teddy sure has tried. God will take care of things in his way.

Joe A

[Icemaster]

BEST THREAD EVER!!!!

[svandamme]

http://www.break.com/index/theairforcefun.html


i guess the guys at break don't know that the navy isn't the airforce
but great video though

[Seahawk]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Seahawk,

Sometimes it does not turn out so nice...

Don't I know it...I was an Airboss on the class of ship in this video:

http://media.putfile.com/Aviation-----Military-----Helicopter-----Chinook--navy--Crash

I also have over 1500 small deck landings at sea, most at night, when it is dark. I'll post more pics.

[tcar]

Joe, the F86 was the P51 of Jets. IMO

Here's the F86D with the radar 'nose'.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/f-86-sidebw.jpg

Sorry, having trouble posting a pic for some reason...

Joe, I think the Navy version of the F86 was called the Fury. And the first Fury(s) had straight wings and tail, not swept.

[Seahawk]

Not me, but I was happy to do all the first operational shots of this missile:




Darkness on the edge of town:

[singpilot]

One of my first corporate jobs was flying for an all Sabreliner flight department. The proudest type rating I own. N265. The N is North American, model #265.

Wings and tail are the exact replica of the F-86; from the exact plans and jigs. Not constructed like any other wing in it's day. Wing structure was milled from a solid block of aluminum. Slats have no operating mechanism. They operate aerodynamically. Speed brake on the belly is exactly as the F-86. While watching a wing internal inspection one day in the hangar, the mech showed me something buried under the wing skins on bottom.

Hard points.

It was the finest natural flying airplane I have ever driven. After 5 years there, I was the lead guy. My intro to the plane for newbies was a flight for airwork. Single finger steep turns and stalls. No huffing on the controls, was all very light pressures. No hydraulic boosted anything. No stick shakers, no pushers. Was all naturally aerodynamic, and passed the regs for not needing anything. It had a stall warning system added many years later, taken from a Cherokee. Went off at like 75 knots indicated. Vmax was 370 indicated.

One of my demos was to fly the plane into a mild buffet stall, letting the speed decrease until the airspeed indicator was not registering (less than 60 KIAS). The wings were talking to you. Sounded like a kettle drum. Stall horn blaring. Holding altitude at 14000 with lots of power. 15 degree banked turns left and right. Totally controllable, even for a newbie. Ask the controller for a groundspeed readout.... 46 knots. All in a jet capable of Mach .84 in category. Of course, we all knew what the wings and tail were capable of.

Inspired confidence in the airplane. The lesson was, as long as you kept your eyes and ears open, this airplane would never bite you.

The stats on the airplane say exactly that. I miss flying them.

[Joeaksa]

Michael,

"Hard Points"... just something about this that gives most pilots "wood!" 20 series Lears had them as well.

Agree and the Sabre is one of the nicest flying corp jets ever made. Everyone should fly one for a few hours to see how it should be done. The other makers have to add things to their wings and such to make it pass the flight tests, but NA built it right in the beginning.

Seahawk, Night landings at sea on a pitching, rolling deck is not my idea of having fun. A carrier would be a bit better as you have the cables. A helo... well that would be less fun! Glad we have men like you who are doing it!

Joe