Mon May 05, 2008 4:26 pm
lestweforget wrote:I think it is at 575 m.p.h. although I think it may be the civil version (Tu-114) that holds the record.
I believe the Tu-114 was slower(larger pressurized passenger cabin), but not alot slower.
Still an impressive machine despite its age, 4 burnin'/32 turnin'..
Last edited by airnutz on Tue May 06, 2008 1:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
Mon May 05, 2008 6:12 pm
...Doncha just hate slow-system double posts??? 
Last edited by Old SAR pilot on Tue May 06, 2008 2:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
Mon May 05, 2008 6:13 pm
Just as a small note, here, India does not operate the Tu-95. Rather, it (the Indian Navy) operates the Tu-142.
And, a while back, had a chance to chat with someone of that service, who noted that it is hideously expensive to operate/maintain.
And, a while back, had a chance to chat with someone of that service, who noted that it is hideously expensive to operate/maintain.
Tue May 06, 2008 1:32 am
lestweforget wrote:Don't know about your side of the pond, but we have had a problem with those pesky bears for a while now!!!
Persistant , aren't they!
Yep..and they've prodded our defenses as well over the past year. Alaska a few times..off Guam..a
coupla overflights of the Nimitz, not to mention NATO Europe probes your alluding to.
Nice photo grabs..sweet loooking machine..
Tue May 06, 2008 2:39 am
Still and all, it would be cool to have one parked say, nose to nose with the B-52 @NMUSAF.
Not a bad development of what started out @ the 4-21 Bldg. in Renton, WA. as a B-29 back in 1940.
What a picture, FIFI and a TU-95 in tight in a shallow bank towards the camera.................................................
Not a bad development of what started out @ the 4-21 Bldg. in Renton, WA. as a B-29 back in 1940.
What a picture, FIFI and a TU-95 in tight in a shallow bank towards the camera.................................................
Tue May 06, 2008 7:17 am
Yep..and they've prodded our defenses as well over the past year. Alaska a few times..off Guam..a
coupla overflights of the Nimitz, not to mention NATO Europe probes your alluding to.
Do you think these Bears might be after our picanic baskets?
Tue May 06, 2008 7:35 am
lestweforget wrote:Do you think these Bears might be after our picanic baskets?
I asked my mate, and he said that it wouldn't be too difficult to run....
You only need a bit of equipment...
Wait for it....
Just the Bear necessities.
I thank you.
Tue May 06, 2008 7:57 am
He'll be here all week folks...and don't forget to tip your wait staff.
Gary
Tue May 06, 2008 12:20 pm
Except for the Avro Shackleton, most ruthlessly expensive foreign warbirds are imported for the purpose of fulfilling a lucrative govt. contract. There was a civilian B-57 (Canberra actually) at Oshkosh a few
years ago that been imported , as well as a Fairey Gannet for this reason.
The AIr Zoo originally bought their Skyraider, which didn't fit in the mission of the museum at the time, as John Ellis was pursuing a contract to pull target sleeves. THey were not succesful at getting the contract.
There are probably other rare types that owe their existence on the civil registry because the govt. was paying the costs.
years ago that been imported , as well as a Fairey Gannet for this reason.
The AIr Zoo originally bought their Skyraider, which didn't fit in the mission of the museum at the time, as John Ellis was pursuing a contract to pull target sleeves. THey were not succesful at getting the contract.
There are probably other rare types that owe their existence on the civil registry because the govt. was paying the costs.
Tue May 06, 2008 5:32 pm
Try the veal!!!
Tue May 06, 2008 7:18 pm
Sadly I will be here all week, but if I get paid enough to go away...
Interesting. Any idea what the contract (completed or missed) was for either the Gannet or the Canberra? There was a privately owned Aussie-built GAF Canberra active (with Roo Roundels) in the US in the late eighties / early nineties, and which returned to Australia in 1992 for some shows, before going back to the states - was that it, or another? (And I understood a Martin B-57 was always significantly different enough to an EE or GAF Canberra not to be referred to by the other name except in the most passing way - like here, it often confuses...)
Regards,
marine air wrote:Except for the Avro Shackleton, most ruthlessly expensive foreign warbirds are imported for the purpose of fulfilling a lucrative govt. contract. There was a civilian B-57 (Canberra actually) at Oshkosh a few
years ago that been imported , as well as a Fairey Gannet for this reason.
Interesting. Any idea what the contract (completed or missed) was for either the Gannet or the Canberra? There was a privately owned Aussie-built GAF Canberra active (with Roo Roundels) in the US in the late eighties / early nineties, and which returned to Australia in 1992 for some shows, before going back to the states - was that it, or another? (And I understood a Martin B-57 was always significantly different enough to an EE or GAF Canberra not to be referred to by the other name except in the most passing way - like here, it often confuses...)
Regards,
Tue May 06, 2008 7:54 pm
The Canberra was not a former USAF B-57. It was a true Canberra. Originally owned and flown by Steve Picate if I remember right. It eventually got rolled into Aero Group along with Steve. Steve finally bailed but the Canberra stayed. I understand that the aircraft is still in Florida with many problems, including a fodded engine. They flew it as part of a govt contract that tried to seed hurricanes to try and lessen their severity.
Tue May 06, 2008 8:03 pm
Thanks Rick. If it was a GAF (Aussie built) Canberra its other problem would be a time-expired wing spar... The Temora Aviation Museum's airworthy Canberra is actually a EE (British built) one masquerading as an Aussie; I believe we won't see another GAF Canberra in the air again due to the GAF wingspar problem.
EDIT: Sounds like (thanks to ADF-serials.com):
EDIT: Sounds like (thanks to ADF-serials.com):
A84-229 Mk.20 First flight 22/11/56. Delivered 23/04/57. Served with 2 Squadron based at Butterworth Malaysia. Noel Fenton reports "When Canberra A84-229 was at ARDU (1959), it was undergoing trials (deployed to Darwin) relating to the venting to atmosphere of the fuselage fuel tanks. Unfortunately, the test engineer (we used to call him NASA as at that time, everything NASA did, did not work) installed the vents incorrectly, ie., the wrong way around. During flight tests, instead of venting to atmosphere, No3 fuselage fuel tank was pressurised and expanded into the bomb-bay fouling the elevator and rudder control rods and caused the 'freezing' of control of the elevator and rudder. The pilot (a USAF Major on exchange to ARDU) landed the aircraft using the electric trim on both control surfaces. As well, the fuselage also 'expanded' giving what we called a Canberra with an 'area rule' fuselage. It was disassembled in Darwin and flown to Avalon in a Hercules for major repair and modification after which it was returned to ARDU. As well, I can recall the testing of the fitting of bomb hangers and supports (for 500 pound iron bombs) on the wing-tips in lieu of the tip-tanks to 229 in 1966. Initially, there were a few problems relating to stress at the wing-tip, but these were overcome. The bombs were dropped using the wing-tip fuel tank 'dump' button and was prior to Canberras being deployed to Vietman. There are many 'photo's of Canberras in Vietnam showing this fittment."
Struck off 1982 at Amberley. 06/82 allocated to RAAF museum in airworthy condition. In exchange for A84-229 Aero Nostalgia provided a Lockheed Ventura for the RAAF museum. Aero Nostalgia was unable to take delivery and it remained at Amberley from 1982 untill 1990 when Steve Picatti purchased it from Aero Nostalgia and ferried it to USA 08/08/90 as N20AN. Now N229CA. Returned to Australia to appear at the 1991 RAAF Richmond airshow, 1992 Avalon International Airshow and perform at the Adelaide Formula One Grand Prix on 05/11/92. Returned to USA during 03/93. Was subject of legal dispute and ownership changed to Tom Leek. Reportedly damaged when it suffered an accidental landing gear retraction whilst parked. Reports of it being grounded by FAA due to unqualified ground crew and maintenance issues. As unable to fly it out, wings and tailplane where removed and the aircraft was removed by road from Boise, Idaho during 1999. During wing removal substantial damage was done to centre section wing mounting bosses . This means 229 may not fly again.
Last report has it registered to Jack Stringer of California 28/03/00. Noted in Australian Aviation 11/04 as being parked in the GA area of Redding Airport, California as of 04/08/2004.
Tue May 06, 2008 8:25 pm
Must be a different aircraft. I thought the one Steve had was the one still in Florida. It is now part of a tech school and they want to get rid of it. Unless, Steve was involved with two,...
Tue May 06, 2008 11:04 pm
RickH wrote:Must be a different aircraft. I thought the one Steve had was the one still in Florida. It is now part of a tech school and they want to get rid of it. Unless, Steve was involved with two,...
Idaho registration shows he registered a Canberra TT.18 in 1994 as N2138J.
FAA records show same info with Undeliverable Triennial flag on the registration.
So apparently Picatti had his finger in at least 2.