Any (North American) Rockwell OV-10 Bronco fans out there? It is one of my favourite aircraft. I like the styling of the Bronco and it was a great success story for Rockwell as a light attack and observation aircraft. 360 OV-10 aircraft were produced between 1965 and 1986. OV-10 US Military Service The OV-10 first… Read More Rockwell OV-10 Bronco: The Observation and Counter Insurgency Specialist
During a recent visit to Adelaide in South Australia I couldn’t miss revisiting the Classic Jets Fighter Museum at Parafield Airport to catch up on their restoration of a very rare Vought F4U-1 Corsair (Bu. 02270) which is one of only two early “birdcage canopy” Corsairs in existence. It was the 124th example produced by Vought. In… Read More Classic Jets Fighter Museum – Vought F4U-1 Corsair Restoration Update 2018
A Swiss Air Force Northrop F-5E Tiger II in Patrouille Suisse colours (the Swiss Air Force demonstration team) sits proudly on display at the entrance to the excellent Swiss Air Force Centre (Flieger Flab Museum) in Dübendorf near Zurich, plus another in standard military grey is on display in Hall 2 (get there early as there is much to… Read More Swiss Air Force Centre: Tigers of the Alps
Today I ventured into Classic Jets Fighter Museum to see the restoration of a rare bird indeed, the oldest known surviving Vought F4U Corsair fighter from World War Two. This particular example, F4U-1 (Bu.02270) is one of only two early “birdcage canopy” Corsairs in existence and is said to be the 124th example produced by… Read More Classic Jets Fighter Museum – Vought F4U-1 Corsair Restoration
The flying program at Aviation Nation 2016 included an impressive fire bombing demonstration by the big 10 Tanker Air Carrier McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and its Rockwell OV-10 Bronco spotting aircraft (a magnificent looking warbird in USMC markings). The DC-10 is one of the largest fire fighting aircraft in the world and you can imagine what a difference its… Read More Aviation Nation 2016: 10 Tanker Air Carrier DC-10 Fire Bomber
There is something special about watching a big tilt-rotor Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey V/STOL transport be put through its paces. The MV-22 Osprey flying display by the US Marine Corps Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 “Greyhawks” (VMM-161 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Miramar in California) at the Oregon International Air Show was no exception… Read More Oregon International Air Show 2016: USMC MV-22 Osprey Demo
As part of Seafair Fleet Week I went for a tour aboard USS Somerset (LPD 25 – Landing Platform Dock) the US Navy San Antonio-class Amphibious Transport Dock berthed at Pier 90 in Seattle, Washington (launched in April 2012 and commissioned into service in March 2014, it is based in San Diego, California and is 1 of twelve planned… Read More Seafair 2016: Welcome Aboard the USS Somerset (LPD 25) Amphibious Transport Dock
USMC HMX-1 “Nighthawks” insignia In the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California sits a famous helicopter with Presidential ties. Marine One is the call sign given to helicopters that transport the President and are operated by US Marine Corps Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) “Nighthawks“. This example is a 1962 Sikorsky… Read More Marine One – Reagan Library
In my previous blogs I discussed the early experimental, prototype and operational V/STOL combat jet aircraft such as the Harrier and Harrier II that were developed in the late 1950’s through to the 1980’s. By the 1980’s significant improvements had been made in performance, handling and the weapons load capability of V/STOL combat jets but now stealth technology and advanced avionics,… Read More A Brief History of V/STOL Combat Aircraft – Part IV: The Joint Strike Fighter
In my previous blogs I discussed the early experimental, prototype and operational V/STOL combat jet aircraft that were developed in the late 1950’s through to the late 1970’s. By the 1980’s significant improvements had been made in performance, handling and the weapons load capability of new V/STOL combat jets. The following is a brief history on these second generation V/STOL… Read More A Brief History of V/STOL Combat Aircraft – Part III: From the Harrier II to the Yak-141
Aces Flying High 