Interesting History?
This year the Wales National Air Show in Swansea Bay, S-Wales U.K. was the attraction of the Shooting Star and American Jet fighter of the 1950's era. But this aircraft was conceived long before World War-II (1939-45) as Americas first Jet fighter the T-33, work began in 1943 at Burbank as the XP-80 lead by Clarence L. Johnson based on the De Havilland H-1 turbo jet and 180 days later its first flight for the USAAF took place.
After various engine alternatives and testing 525 aircraft were delivered at the end of the war in 1945, thirteen YP-80's operated in Europe and two in Italy in October 1944 for special operations. An order of 5000 was dropped to 2000 and eventually to a lover number of about 240 were built between 1946-47.
The F-80 was a single seater and the T-33 became a two seat trainer, there were also other specialised versions and both served with the Air force and the US, Navy. Some were exported to the former Yugoslavia, Italy, Belgium, Turkey and Japan in the 1950's.
The Royal Canadian Air Force produced a licensed version of this aircraft and it saw operational service in the war on the Korean Peninsula. Max speed 180 mph and range approx. 1345 miles for early versions and later 558 mph and a range of 540 miles. Armament six machine guns and two hard points for bombs or rockets.
Showing posts with label Fighter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fighter. Show all posts
Tuesday, 13 August 2019
Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG-15. Part-One.
First Soviet era Jet Fighter.
The MIG-15 Midget was the Communist's world first exported jet fighter that made money for the former Soviet Union (Russia). This jet powered the Russian copy of the Rolls-Royce Nene was faster than U.S. jets during the Korean wars.
The type was exported to over sixty-five countries as both a combat jet and later an advanced trainer, there were also several licence built versions in China, India and Poland where it was known as the LIM-2.
Despite its size and limitations compared to types today, back in the late-forties and 1950's it was a state of the art machine. This was the face of Soviet aviation for the world to see and a whole series would follow of new types, MIG-17/19/21.
But the more serious and dangerous types of Soviet jets remained hidden for years from western-eyes?
The MIG-15 Midget was the Communist's world first exported jet fighter that made money for the former Soviet Union (Russia). This jet powered the Russian copy of the Rolls-Royce Nene was faster than U.S. jets during the Korean wars.
The type was exported to over sixty-five countries as both a combat jet and later an advanced trainer, there were also several licence built versions in China, India and Poland where it was known as the LIM-2.
Despite its size and limitations compared to types today, back in the late-forties and 1950's it was a state of the art machine. This was the face of Soviet aviation for the world to see and a whole series would follow of new types, MIG-17/19/21.
But the more serious and dangerous types of Soviet jets remained hidden for years from western-eyes?
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
Fighter Jets. Part-One.
Eurofighter to the F-16.
As technology progresses we start to run into limitations, back in the 1960's despite the U.S. Soviet Russian arms race there was a variety of combat aircraft. Today Europe has chosen with the RAF one type, but other N.A.T.O. countries also operate the U.S. F-16, it in its own right as a standard fighter.
Meanwhile despite the British Panavia Tornado, only Sweden has a stand alone fighter the AJ/JA-37 Viggen in Europe. Many former Warsaw pact nations have now adopted the F-16 as their main combat type.
The Ukraine stands alone with many former Russian types from the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23/27 to the 31/33 and a whole host of other advanced types. France has operated their own design of Mirage from first concept to the present Rafael, since they were outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Which is the best of this bunch, my money would remain on the F-16, because of its versatility, second choice would be the Viggen and last the Sukhoi SU-27. These to for me are the best fighters for interception and combat missions, One cannot really know much, because of the many secrets that all fighter aircraft have to have!
As technology progresses we start to run into limitations, back in the 1960's despite the U.S. Soviet Russian arms race there was a variety of combat aircraft. Today Europe has chosen with the RAF one type, but other N.A.T.O. countries also operate the U.S. F-16, it in its own right as a standard fighter.
Meanwhile despite the British Panavia Tornado, only Sweden has a stand alone fighter the AJ/JA-37 Viggen in Europe. Many former Warsaw pact nations have now adopted the F-16 as their main combat type.
The Ukraine stands alone with many former Russian types from the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23/27 to the 31/33 and a whole host of other advanced types. France has operated their own design of Mirage from first concept to the present Rafael, since they were outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Which is the best of this bunch, my money would remain on the F-16, because of its versatility, second choice would be the Viggen and last the Sukhoi SU-27. These to for me are the best fighters for interception and combat missions, One cannot really know much, because of the many secrets that all fighter aircraft have to have!
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