Okay,I give up

[Larry Kraus]

I just got back from my annual session in Northern Air Cargo's vintage C-118/DC-6 flight simulator a couple of days ago.My co-pilot Ron Carpinella got a quick glimse of whatever this machine might be from a middle seat on a packed Alaska Airlines B-737.He later drew an accurate picture and asked me what it might be.Having no clue,I used Google Earth to search Sea-Tac airport and found it.Other than possibly the latest version of the perrenial "Whatin'ell Izzit",I don't even know where to start looking to find out the story behind this airplane?

Maybe,The Inspector can provide the answer?

[kpu]

Its a Crash Rescue trainer

[The Inspector]

That's what it is-it's North of the terminal by the freight sheds and it is/was towable so they could do drills away from the view of the great unwashed @ the North Concourse but since the new 3rd runway was opened, not sure.

[Larry Kraus]

kpu and The Inspector,

Thanks for clearing this up guys.Now,I can sleep tonight.So much for my half-serious theory of it being the latest COD aircraft for the Navy.

[The Inspector]

Have you ever seen the artisits concepts for a DC-9 COD that Douglas was proposing when the C-1 was being researched? Folding wings, hook, reallllllllly long nose gear.

[Larry Kraus]

I haven't seen the drawings of the C-9 COD proposal.It sounds really interesting,if not entirely practical.

[The Inspector]

Cross a -10/14 series 9 with the nose gear from an F7U and folds just outboard of the vortilons . I've only seen an artists concept in a monograph on the DC-9.