USAFE ~ 1950's style

[bomberflight]

I thought I'd draw you're attention to a photo thread over on Flypast which I think many of you will find interesting.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showth ... p?t=108689

I truly stunning line up of US built aircraft at one show in the UK in 1959

[Speedy]

I thought I'd draw you're attention to a photo thread over on Flypast which I think many of you will find interesting.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showth ... p?t=108689

I truly stunning line up of US built aircraft at one show in the UK in 1959

And yet...at the time, that kind of line-up was just 'normal'...the same way we'd feel today about a line with F-16's, F-18's, A-10's, etc.

That being said...WOW. To be able to go back for 'one day' and just browse. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed the Fokker trainer and the Vickers Valiant!

[The Inspector]

The ladder up to the tailboom of the BEVERLEY was access for troopers seating area. That must have been an interesting place to ride sort of a disjointed from the aircraft in a tin tube.

I thought I'd draw you're attention to a photo thread over on Flypast which I think many of you will find interesting.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showth ... p?t=108689

I truly stunning line up of US built aircraft at one show in the UK in 1959

Thanks for pointing that out to us - what a terrific lineup of military aircraft. I think the years from about 1957 to about 1963 were probably the best for sheer numbers and variety of military aircraft.

I thought I'd draw you're attention to a photo thread over on Flypast which I think many of you will find interesting.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showth ... p?t=108689

I truly stunning line up of US built aircraft at one show in the UK in 1959

And yet...at the time, that kind of line-up was just 'normal'...the same way we'd feel today about a line with F-16's, F-18's, A-10's, etc.

It might have been "normal" for 1959, but it's not the way I feel about a lineup of F-16's, etc. today. I have seen those aircraft so many times over the last 25 to 35 years that they don't excite me any more. 1959 had a much more interesting and large variety of aircraft in service than today. As an example these were Air Force/Air National Guard fighters in service in 1959: F-84F, F-86D/L, F-86H, F-89H/J, F-94C (retired July 1959), F-100, F-101, F-102, F-104, F-105, F-106 (entered service July 1959). Air Force/Air National Guard Fighters in service in 2011: F-15, F-16, A-10, F-22. I don't think I will ever feel the same way about these current aircraft compared to all the great aircraft that were in service during the fifties, sixties and seventies (Whether fighters, bombers, transports or other types).

I guess that is why I enjoy seeing classic vintage jets and other warbirds at air shows so much more than most currently serving aircraft. Just my own opinion and preferences - I respect others with different opinions also.

[hercules130]

Thanks for that link, MAN BEVERLY WAS A BIG LADY!!

[L2Driver]

It might have been "normal" for 1959, but it's not the way I feel about a lineup of F-16's, etc. today. I have seen those aircraft so many times over the last 25 to 35 years that they don't excite me any more. 1959 had a much more interesting and large variety of aircraft in service than today. As an example these were Air Force/Air National Guard fighters in service in 1959: F-84F, F-86D/L, F-86H, F-89H/J, F-94C (retired July 1959), F-100, F-101, F-102, F-104, F-105, F-106 (entered service July 1959). Air Force/Air National Guard Fighters in service in 2011: F-15, F-16, A-10, F-22. I don't think I will ever feel the same way about these current aircraft compared to all the great aircraft that were in service during the fifties, sixties and seventies (Whether fighters, bombers, transports or other types).
I guess that is why I enjoy seeing classic vintage jets and other warbirds at air shows so much more than most currently serving aircraft. Just my own opinion and preferences - I respect others with different opinions also.

Considering the shrinking number of aircraft types and the increasing numbers of UAVs, I suspect in 20 years we'll be looking back longingly for the days when pilots actually sat in the aircraft and flew them rather than sitting in a box 1500 miles away.

[DaveG]

Maybe in 20 years we'll have a Predator do a ribbon cut at show center

[michaelharadon]

Pictures taken so long ago that people actually dressed up for airshows.