All Things Aviation Related

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Was @ Willow Springs in Rosamond, we could see a huge drone doing a racetrack pattern over Edwards area.

[flipper35]

This one?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37401/was-the-secret-rq-180-stealth-drone-really-photographed-over-the-mojave-desert

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by flipper35

There was supposedly a YF-24, not pictured. Lots of rumor and conjecture but also a decent amount of evidence it exists.

Why did the YF-23 lose? Marketing. And this is a good video.

There was no supposed YF24..
they asked requests for proposal to the ATF program
only 2 were asked to participate.

Originally Posted by kach22i

Navy fly-off?

The fighter fly-off that never was. Lockheed Martin YF-24 vs. Northrop YF-25.
https://twitter.com/classicnavalair/status/503332975229304833

That's internet BS

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by edgemar

Hoser used to shoot a Magnum revolver out the RAM air door at enemies on the ground.
(or whatever it was called) of his F8 Crusader over Vietnam, on occasions where he deemed it appropriate, like jammed main guns, no ordnance or just for the heck of it..
He flew with a couple of hand grenades in the spot where he normally had a second radio..which he later managed to bring home to be used for occasional fishing.


He was a life long enthousiast of guns and at one point was tinkering with a 20mm barrel he had gotten as a prize for some gunnery achievement..
And tried to get more velocity out of it by using teflon coated rounds.

it went south, breech blew up . took his right thumb off.
He was going to be grounded, as no aviator can work the stick sans thumb.
Dale snort Snodgrass came and help Hoser convince that
"It's every big toe's dream to come out of that smelly boot and become a thumb"

So when had his toe relocated to his thumb..
If i remember correctly his first toe didn't take, and they then transplanted the other one.. that one stuck and Hoser was then briefly was known as Toeser.

He'd then use his new thumb, run it through the peanut butter.. and ask "now does that smell like a toe to you" or variations to that. Living Legend, till he passed away in 2019
you can see the toe in the above vid

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by svandamme

There was no supposed YF24..
they asked requests for proposal to the ATF program
only 2 were asked to participate.

I suggest you go talk to a certain boom operator. He is also the one that posted the grey ghost pic of an F117 that got picked up in the aviation community and got in trouble for it, for a short while anyway.

[svandamme]

Sorry but no.. on the Grey Ghost f117.. Not when we are talking ATF program, not when there were 2 YF23's one called Black Widow and the other called Grey Ghost



The Grey F117 was the Gray Dragon, which ,quite frankly sounds a bit grhey.

As far as boom operators. i don't know who or what you refer to . But that Grey F117 at least has been seen , there's proof of it. Not so much of that YF24 you mention. Google YF24 and all you get is stupid Stealth Tomcat like fantasies. Or a silly story bout the YF24 being an Eagle 2, and a picture of an F15 photoshopped with forward swept wings (like the X29)



How could it have been in the running for the ATF competition and nobody has ever seen it, no drawing, or picture exists.
While the entire ATF program has been in documentaries and all that. How could it have gotten an official designation YF24 yet no trace of it anywhere.



Till I see a YF 24 that isn't an internet wishful thinking CGI fantasy photoshop thing, It's a YF22 and YF23 competition to me.

[flipper35]

Sorry, yes it was the Grey Dragon. The same boom operator has pics many different secret and grey aircraft. Including some used in the gulf war.

[svandamme]

the venerable YF24 Eagle II:





or is it

[flipper35]

The dreamland resort is a decent photoshop. There are no photos of the YF-24 on the internet.

[svandamme]

because it doesn't exist.
it was never built.
it never flew to be measured up against the 22 and 23 in the ATF competition.

It's about as real as the F19

[flipper35]

If you say so.

The biography on the Air Force web site used to show a Joseph Lanni flew the YF-24 sometime around 1992. They have since removed that entry on his bio. Maybe a mistake, maybe not, but the boomer has fueled it and I have no reason to not believe him.

Either way, I don't think it will see the light of day.

[john70t]

Watched the epic life of "Draco" (and hopefully will watch the re-birth)

A guy took an obscure bush plane and turned it into one of the most awesome fliers ever.
All home made. Every improvement and consideration done.
A Fieseler Fi 156 Storch on steroids.

"Mike Patey put a PT6A-28 680 shaft horsepower Turbine engine and 102” four bladed prop on the front of the last Wilga ever built. With an empty weight of 2400 lbs, Mike can be off the ground in about 120 feet, pitch to 30 degrees and maintain a climb of 4,000 feet per minute"

Sadly it was wrecked on a gusty day. Freak accident under rather benign circumstances on a simple takeoff.

[kevin993]

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2020/11/03/defense-aerospace-primes-are-raking-in-money-for-classified-programs/

[john70t]

Originally Posted by edgemar

The news story says he was flying an S-2 Tracker bomber.
But then they show an OV-10 Bronco taxing, and then again behind him.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by john70t

Watched the epic life of "Draco" (and hopefully will watch the re-birth)

A guy took an obscure bush plane and turned it into one of the most awesome fliers ever.
All home made. Every improvement and consideration done.
A Fieseler Fi 156 Storch on steroids.

"Mike Patey put a PT6A-28 680 shaft horsepower Turbine engine and 102” four bladed prop on the front of the last Wilga ever built. With an empty weight of 2400 lbs, Mike can be off the ground in about 120 feet, pitch to 30 degrees and maintain a climb of 4,000 feet per minute"

Sadly it was wrecked on a gusty day. Freak accident under rather benign circumstances on a simple takeoff.

Saw him at Airventure a couple times. Too bad on the day he crashed it that he didn't follow his instincts and take off into the wind across the runway. Not like he didn't have the plane for it.

It was a nicely modified plane.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by kevin993

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2020/11/03/defense-aerospace-primes-are-raking-in-money-for-classified-programs/

LockMart has a very good marketing department. They don't always make the best, but do a good job overall.

[Sarc]

[flipper35]

Most beautiful bomber ever. If you get to Ohio, stop by the museum. Take two days so you don't miss anything.

[oldE]

Mike Patey has been building Draco's replacement. Based upon a Carbon Cub frame, he has been building a modified version with long travel suspension, carbon fibre skin and a four bladed air boat prop driven by an 800hp racing engine he happened to have lying around. Additional goodies include multiple Garmin panels in the dash (and on the back of the pilot's seat) enlarged tail surfaces and a rocket launched parachute for the whole plane.
No word on the wings yet.
It took me a while to handle the guy's manner in the videos, but there's no denying he knows what he is doing putting an airplane together.

Best
Les

PS C. Jenner haters might want to skip episode #31.

[kevin993]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Most beautiful bomber ever. If you get to Ohio, stop by the museum. Take two days so you don't miss anything.