Lockheed L-1049G “Super Connie”: The Devil is in the details (III).

Taking care of one of the four majestic Curtiss-Wright Turbo-Compound engines of a Lufthansa “Super Connie”.

LORAL “2001 and Beyond Fighter”: A fault in the AE-35 unit.

LORAL took notes from the contemporary Trans Atmospheric Vehicle (TAV), an utterly “Star Wars” concept of the early 1980s, to publicite its electronic equipment. The real TAV would have the capability to routinely operate in and out of the atmosphere. LORAL proposed a hydrogen-fuelled hypersonic aerospace fighter, that looked a lot like the fictional F-19.

Sopwith L.R.T.Tr: On top of nothing (II).

L.R.T.Tr was Sopwith’s contender for the multi-seat escort fighter requirement which also included the Vickers F.B.11. More interesting than the latter, the L.R.T.Tr was, in fact, a development of a previous two-seat triplane design equipped with large, narrow chord three-bay wings. The Sopwith people chose to place the Lewis gun on a gorgeously streamlined gunner nacelle placed in the middle of upper wing. The four-wheel chariot undercarriage was certainly less aesthetic. Only a prototype was built, powered by the mandatory RR Eagle engine. It flew late in 1916, by then overtaken by both technical and operational developments.

Lovely ungainliness.

Lockheed F-104B “Zip”: Not big enough, Sonny.

Former SAC Mogul and then USAF Vice Chief of Staff General Curtiss LeMay ready to take a flight in a two-stick Zip, 1958. The anathema to LeMay’s usual pride and joy.

Tupolev ANT-20 “Maksim Gorkii”: On a Triptych.

The “USSR in Construction” Nº 1 magazine issue of 1935 was dedicated entirely to Tupolev’s iconic propaganda plane. It included this artistic three-page spread photomontage “cutaway” of Nikolai Troshin.

Paseo de la Alameda: Pobre xiquet ric.

Another poor rich kid enjoying simple pleasures at the Alameda Fair (Valencia), early 1950s(?).

Leyat 1932 Hélicat Avion: Mieux avec des ailes.

Marcel Leyat is best known for a series of propeller-driven cyclecars he designed during the interwar years. But, he was also, first and foremost, an aircraft designer. In aviation, Leyat had a particular and enduring interest in articulated mobile wing structures. This peculiar three-seat biplane cabin biplane was built with that feature by the Lioré et Olivier company in the early 1930s. It was a powered by a 95hp Renault engine.

Photo: L’Aérophile, Feb. 1932.

TomAardvark: Far-distance Future.

Unmistakable the double heritage of this cool starship.
Tim White’s cover for one of many Isaac Asimov “The Stars, Like Dust” book re-editions.

John Glenn: Computer recommend….

Astronaut John Glenn is being helped into his Mercury Mark IV pressure suit by a team of technicians -Al Rochford among them, maybe. Those mirrors on his chest and wrists and the finger flashlight on the B.F Goodrich suit are just mind-blowing. Photo taken on January 23, 1962, he made that historic flight almost a month later; 60 years ago today.



Gif taken from: The John Glenn Story (1963).

DH Vennet Mk II: Ultrasonic World Beater.

The original “Vennet” was contrived by the engineers of No.12 Hangar at Abbotsinch for the 1961 Navy Day. The conversion involved an old Sea Venom with its tail booms and tip tanks removed and with a pair of the Fairey Gannet‘s rudders fixed to the boom attachment points. A fancy “supersonic” pitot nose intake and two pipe-derived fake missiles were added to match. It was a runner too. On that Navy Day, the “Vennet” reached circa 90 knots on the runway, its tired Ghost engine generating lots of noise and fun.
This photo was taken next year, when an improved “Vennet” was created by the technicians of No.10 Hangar to take part at the 1962 Navy Day. Their “Vennet Mk II” added a convincing pair wing-tip ramjets, just for kicks.

Thanks to John Horton for the tip.