More Iconic Aircraft - Hill Air Force Base Museum Visit - lots o pics….

[civilsmoker]

I agree. And the world has never seen anything like either the YF-22 or YF-23. That technology and all the money invested in the YF-23 was wasted. Something close to 650M just gone. That’s insane. We as a nation should use both of those technologies. Just my opinion.

I watched that vid and seeing the YF-23 in the air was just flat amazing! The lines from the side give me Blackbird vibs...that bird was a thing of beauty!!!! and I would really really really like to know how fast it went!!!! Seeing one in person is now on the bucket list!

 

[BGKYSmoker]

I got to see the 22 & 23 in a fly off. The 23 was way better than the 22.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

I watched that vid and seeing the YF-23 in the air was just flat amazing! The lines from the side give me Blackbird vibs...that bird was a thing of beauty!!!! and I would really really really like to know how fast it went!!!! Seeing one in person is now on the bucket list!

mach 3.05 or so they say......uh huh yeah.

I was ready to cross the runway and the tower to me to hold as the SR was coming in, way on the horizon you could see his landing lights, when he did a low approach the first pass he went around. They have a fuel dumping area in the desert just before they land and his approach you could see him dumping fuel. Landed right in front of me and poof his drag chute came out. The tower would not let me cross until the skunk was in its hangar. This was USAF Plant 42.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Yes, please any info would be welcomed! And just saying why on earth didn't they keep both??????

Its pretty accurate

 

[SmokinEdge]

I watched that vid and seeing the YF-23 in the air was just flat amazing! The lines from the side give me Blackbird vibs...that bird was a thing of beauty!!!! and I would really really really like to know how fast it went!!!! Seeing one in person is now on the bucket list!

Obviously it was way faster than any production fighter anywhere in the world, probably why that is classified. What I would like to know is why they chose the YF-22? Really seems to me the YF-23 was superior.

Have you seen or read any about the B-21? Pretty much an updated B-2 and has the radar signature of an insect, they say.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Obviously it was way faster than any production fighter anywhere in the world, probably why that is classified. What I would like to know is why they chose the YF-22? Really seems to me the YF-23 was superior.

Have you seen or read any about the B-21? Pretty much an updated B-2 and has the radar signature of an insect, they say.

Yeah I have friends still on the bomber project, they are on the 21 now. I did get the invite link to watch the roll out. That was in the B2 hangar at Palmdale.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Another project I worked with.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Another project I worked with.

View attachment 704157

What an amazing career Rick. You’ve seen and worked on some of the coolest Chit ever imaginable. You are blessed.

 

[civilsmoker]

mach 3.05 or so they say......uh huh yeah.

I was ready to cross the runway and the tower to me to hole as the SR was coming in, way on the horizon you could see his landing lights, when he did a low approach the first pass he went around. They have a fuel dumping area in the desert just before they land and his approach you could see him dumping fuel. Landed right in front of me and poof his drag chute came out. The tower would not let me cross until the skunk was in its hangar. This was USAF Plant 42.

I was thinking mach 3+ by how they were talking and what an engineering/craftsman achievement!!!!

I've read about the Blackbird needing a full week of "recovery" time after each flight and that many of the upper leadership didn't care to invest in the "need for speed".....makes me wonder if this is why they didn't go with the YF-23....I mean that bird would still be ruling the sky's today!

 

[civilsmoker]

Obviously it was way faster than any production fighter anywhere in the world, probably why that is classified. What I would like to know is why they chose the YF-22? Really seems to me the YF-23 was superior.

Have you seen or read any about the B-21? Pretty much an updated B-2 and has the radar signature of an insect, they say.

I watched the unveiling and read the press. Some of my fav classic Star Treks are those with the cloaking birds of prey.....TV fantasy in reality!

 

[civilsmoker]

That was the advent of the JSF or Joint Strike Fighter concept that would be a common platform across the Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Nice idea by a politician, but sucked in reality.
Never was involved with the air frames, but supplied a lot of electronics during my time at Boeing.

FA, yea one size doesn't always fit all! The electronics side is whole other side of WOW on these birds. When I was doing the "tour" of the 777 the most impressive and standout image was the sheer numbers of cables and wires above the luggage racks and above the ceiling panels.....I mean each one of them goes into something to controlled something.....

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Few more other items I kept during my black project days. Was supposed to turn in a few 51 items but I kept em. Im sure by now they have all been under the de access paperwork. Yes I was at Dreamland, Joshua flats and Tonapah test range.
Ft Tejon but thats secret S.A.R.....LOL

The combined test force sticker was the squadron logo for the 509th at Whiteman AFB. I have a hat and patch somewhere. Another item I had for few years was Jake th 180lb test seat ejection dummy they used for ejection seats in the F-5. I donated him the the local Boy Scouts in Littlerock, Ca where I grew up at. They used him for medical stuff for bandage things. He had a metal bone structure with a threaded hole in his head for the crane to put into the seats.

 

[Fueling Around]

FA, yea one size doesn't always fit all! The electronics side is whole other side of WOW on these birds. When I was doing the "tour" of the 777 the most impressive and standout image was the sheer numbers of cables and wires above the luggage racks and above the ceiling panels.....I mean each one of them goes into something to controlled something.....

My wife and I got to be in the roll out ceremony for the 777 which was awesome.
I was on the Cabin Management System (CMS) team for the 777. Cabin is intercom, potty management, and other things to keep the passengers occupied or satisfied.
We were revolutionary in introducing the seat back video system so common on most commercial aircraft these days. It was challenging 30 years ago. We had to send many people to the vendors for the subsystems that were falling behind in development.
Friend of mine was one of the test pilots of the 777 He was very impressed with the initial test flights (A flights).

 

[civilsmoker]

Few more other items I kept during my black project days. Was supposed to turn in a few 51 items but I kept em. Im sure by now they have all been under the de access paperwork.

The combined test force sticker was the squadron logo for the 509th at Whiteman AFB. I have a hat and patch somewhere. Another item I had for few years was Jake th 180lb test seat ejection dummy they used for ejection seats in the F-5. I donated him the the local Boy Scouts in Littlerock, Ca where I grew up at. They used him for medical stuff for bandage things. He had a metal bone structure with a threaded hole in his head for the crane to put into the seats.

View attachment 704187

just a all around, the things you have done and can't talk about is honoring to those that don't know what it did for us!

 

[civilsmoker]

My wife and I got to be in the roll out ceremony for the 777 which was awesome.
I was on the Cabin Management System (CMS) team for the 777. Cabin is intercom, potty management, and other things to keep the passengers occupied or satisfied.
We were revolutionary in introducing the seat back video system so common on most commercial aircraft these days. It was challenging 30 years ago. We had to send many people to the vendors for the subsystems that were falling behind in development.
Friend of mine was one of the test pilots of the 777 He was very impressed with the initial test flights (A flights).

Very cool and impressive all around! I remember watching the "frozen turkey" 777 engine test to prove a double engine plane could be transatlantic.....one of the coolest/craziest things I have ever seen from a testing perspective!!!!!

 

[civilsmoker]

I screen shot these from the vid……just beautiful!!!! As one that specializes in geometry…….the flow lines (from a fluid mechanics perspective) are pure magic. Ie the faster this beast goes the more the air flow helps stabilize it……

This profile……it makes me speechless!

Seeing one and or both of them in person is now on my bucket list!!!!!

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Another one.

This F-5 had a horizon to horizon camera/video and could also take fwd to aft pics and vid. F-5 was at the Paris air show. I had one of the only tail stickers of the tiger but someone stole it.

 

[civilsmoker]

Another one.

This F-5 had a horizon to horizon camera/video and could also take fwd to aft pics and vid. F-5 was at the Paris air show. I had one of the only tail stickers of the tiger but someone stole it.

View attachment 704306

That’s a beautiful bird…. My whole design world now revolves around aerial imagery but it is mostly blade drone based and fixed wing (vertical take off). So I appreciate what a good image can relate!

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Very cool and impressive all around! I remember watching the "frozen turkey" 777 engine test to prove a double engine plane could be transatlantic.....one of the coolest/craziest things I have ever seen from a testing perspective!!!!!

that would be cool to see.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Few more items I saved.

Some of my patches. I have the other 18 spirit patches somewhere.

Test pilot gave me the blue Victorinox knife, kept my tug keys, 1oz silver ATF 23 coin, dog tag of the B2 bike this guys in NY made, F5 Tiger key fob.

ATF Silver coin. I heard that only 100 people got them. I have a few B2 silver coins but cant find right now.

My mouse pad that was on my desk. I dont use it as I will never get another.