The Friday Flyby - 13 December

The Supermarine Spitfire

Back in July of this year, I mentioned my love for the Spitfire. In a post about the P-51 Mustang. Which followed a post about the Spitfire. The video in that latter post brought tears to my eyes. I liked that video so much, here it is again.

The sheer joy on Mr James' face still touches me.

I know, I know. Many of you find other aircraft more enticing, prettier, deadlier, what have you. For me, the Spitfire is the most beautiful aircraft ever to "have slipped the surly bonds". So here's to you Mr Mitchell and your magnificent creation.

Reginald Joseph Mitchell
British Aeronautical Engineer
Chief Designer at Supermarine Aviation Works
"Father" of the Spitfire
1895 - 1937

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Spitfire...

From Wikipedia -

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries in the Second World War. The Spitfire was produced in greater number than any other British aircraft and was the only British fighter in continuous production throughout the war, and it continued in use as a fighter and also in secondary roles into the 1950s. Owing to the iconic status that the Spitfire achieved during its operational years, preservation and restoration of remaining examples have occupied enthusiasts for the half century since it ceased production.

Polish Spitfire

The Spitfire "Unveiled"

Spitfire Pilots

Spitfire Hunting Party

Spitfire vs ME-110

Spitfire Mk XVI

Spitfire vs ME-109

The Carrier Version of the Spitfire
The Seafire

Spitfire Above the Clouds

The Two Most Beautiful Aircraft
Ever...

Yup, I love the Spitfire! (Can ya tell?)

Well done, Mr Mitchell, well done!

I Blame Buck

Actually it's more like the Cap'n's fault. He started it. Then I saw that Buck had taken the quiz as well and posted the results. So, as my Mother always said (when we were lads), "Monkey see, monkey do." (And my Dad one day completed the thought with "...monkey get his a$$ slapped too!" My brothers and I laughed. Mom did not. Nor did Dad when he saw the look on Mom's face.)

So, the quiz. It was interesting. I played with it a bit and felt the results were accurate for my own political leanings, such as they are. Many of my colleagues are libertarians. I used to think I was too. Then I did the research and realized that I was not a libertarian.

So there it is. I'm a self-confessed Centrist.

If you go to the Wikipedia article on Centrism, there's a picture of Ross Perot.

I can live with that.

Say What?

General Curtis Lemay

Reports from Colorado Springs indicate that a very loud spinning noise can be heard from as far away as Castle Rock when the wind is just right.

Further investigation has revealed that the sound is emanating from the grave of the late Air Force General Curtis Lemay.

The spinning began when news filtered out about the "gutless wonders" in the Pentagon who ordered a nativity scene removed from Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Story here.

The Scene at Shaw

Reminds me of a story a couple of years ago out of Travis Air Force Base in, of all places, California. Where base officials decided to keep their nativity scene and not allow the addition of a suggested atheist display.

Travis AFB, California, 2011

I've seen this sort of thing over the years from time to time. The Constitution is often invoked, usually incorrectly.

Mikey Weinstein and his fellow travelers at the so-called Military Religious Freedom Foundation strike again.

Given the behavior of some of the "officials" in the Five-Sided Puzzle Palace on the Potomac, I'd be surprised if any of our enemies fear us.

It wasn't like this back in the day. While I was no big fan of General Lemay, the man did have guts. Unlike some of our current "leadership". Sad times.

Sad times indeed...

The Mighty War Hoover

Yes, It Can Carry Weapons!

Fill'er Up!

Yes, boys and girls, it's the Mighty War Hoover. Also known as the S-3 Viking, Tuna's old ride.

So why do they call it "the Hoover"? Listen carefully!

Makes sense now, right?

So what are S-3 people like? Let's take a look. (I wonder if Tuna knows any of these guys. Hell, I wonder if Tuna is one of these guys!)

Well, I'm sure some of them are normal. Right? Tuna? A little help...

Blog Buddy Spill posted this S-3 Cutaway back in October. I reproduce it here. (Or you can chase the link, I won't be offended, really.)

Now the Hoover could carry a lot of stuff (as you can see in the diagram above). Here's a more exhaustive list from Wikipedia. (Where else?)

Specifications (S-3A)

General characteristics

• Crew: 4 (Pilot, 2× Naval Flight Officers, Sensor Operator/TFO)

• Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)

• Wingspan: Unfolded: 68 ft 8 in (20.93 m)

• Folded: 29 ft 6 in (9.00 m)

• Height: 22 ft 9 in (6.93 m)

• Wing area: 598 ft² (55.56 m²)

• Empty weight: 26,581 lb (12,057 kg)

• Loaded weight: 38,192 lb (17,324 kg)

• Max. takeoff weight: 52,539 lb (23,831 kg)

• Powerplant: 2 × General Electric TF34-GE-2 turbofans, 9,275 lbf (41.26 kN) each

• Internal fuel capacity: 1,933 US gal (7,320 L) of JP-5 fuel

• External fuel capacity: 2x 300 US gal (1,136 L) tanks

Performance

• Maximum speed: 429 kn (493 mph, 795 km/h) at sea level

• Mach 0.79, 450 kn (514 mph, 828 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)

• Cruise speed: 350 kn (405 mph, 650 km/h)

• Stall speed: 97 kn (112 mph, 180 km/h)

• Range: 2,765 nm (3,182 mi, 5,121 km)

• Ferry range: 3,368 nm(3,875 mi, 6,237 km)

• Service ceiling: 40,900 ft (12,465 m)

• Rate of climb: 5,120 ft/min (26.0 m/s)

• Wing loading: 68.5 lb/ft² (334 kg/m²)

• Thrust/weight: 0.353

Armament

Up to 4,900 lb (2,220 kg) on four internal and two external hardpoints, including:

• 10 × 500 lb (227 kg) Mark 82 bombs

• 2 × 1000 lb (454 kg) Mark 83 bombs

• 2 × 2000 lb (908 kg) Mark 84 bombs

• 6 × CBU-100 cluster bombs

• 2 × Mark 50 torpedoes

• 4 × Mark 46 torpedoes

• 6 × mines or depth charges

• 2 × B57 nuclear bombs

• 2 × AGM-65E/F Maverick missiles

• 2 × AGM-84D Harpoon missiles

• 1 × AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER missile

The two underwing hardpoints can also be fitted with unguided rocket pods or 300 US gal (1,136 l) fuel tanks.

Avionics

• AN/APS-116 sea search radar, maximum range 150 nmi (173 mi, 278 km)

• Upgraded on S-3B to AN/APS-137 Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR)

• OR-89 forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera with 3x zoom

• AN/ARS-2 sonobuoy receiver with 13 blade antennas on the airframe for precise buoy location (Sonobuoy Reference System)

• AN/ASQ-81 magnetic anomaly detector (MAD)

• AN/ASN-92 Inertial navigation system (INS) with doppler radar navigation and TACAN

• Up to 60 sonobuoys (59 tactical, 1 Search and Rescue)

That's a lot of stuff!

So, does the S-3 have ejection seats? Why yes, yes it does...

Emergency Egress - Viking Style!

Photo of the trials of the ejection seats of the (then) new Lockheed S-3 Viking at
the U.S. Navy Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, California (USA), in 1971.

Now Tuna claims that the S-3 is cousin to the Warthog. Perhaps we can get him to explain that to us some day. (Now I'm not saying "Tuna, you got some 'splainin' to do..." but, well actually, yes, I am saying that.)

But if we're all really, really nice to him, perhaps some day Tuna will regale us with tall tales of his Viking days. Back when Tuna wore the gold wings of a Naval Flight Officer and helped keep the Commie hordes at bay.

We can only hope!

For those with a greater interest in the S-3, check out the Viking Association website. It's pretty cool.

Do I Like the A-10?

Get Some!

Why yes, yes I do!

Buddy of mine posted this video over on Facebook. So I felt the need to share.

Because it's what I do.

I share.

Yes, the Old AF Sarge does Facebook. It's a very modern guy I am. Besides which, it's a good way to keep up with the progeny.

December

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

"We are nearer to Spring 
Than we were in September,” 
I heard a bird sing 
In the dark of December.

Oliver Herford (1863 - 1935)

The days are shorter and tend to gray.

The sun was up there, though shrouded by an opaque veil.

Every now and then peeking out, but then disappearing again.

By four-thirty in the afternoon it may as well have been night.

It is, after all, December.

There is snow somewhere out there, biding it's time.

December marches on, winter approaches.

Sleep now, but don't despair. Spring will come again.

It always has.

It always will.

For now I will enjoy this time.

Without winter, how would we know spring?

Air Raid Pearl Harbor, This Is No Drill

Diamond Head, Oahu

It's a beautiful place today.

It was a beautiful place 72 years ago as the sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen and Coast Guardsmen began another Sunday on Oahu. Another routine Sunday is what the men expected...

At Pearl Harbor.

At Hickam.

At Wheeler.

On Ford Island.

But soon this beautiful day in paradise would be ripped asunder. Many would die, a Nation would change. A sleeping giant would awaken.

USS Arizona, BB-39

On board the USS Arizona, no one had any idea that this proud ship would never leave her mooring again. No one had any idea that the majority of her crew would stay with their ship for eternity.

No one knew.

Then, it began...

Winging in out of a sky so beautiful it took your breath away, aircraft from four Japanese carriers began their attack. Wreaking death and destruction on this idyllic scene.

USS Shaw Explodes

Ford Island

Wheeler Field

Hickam Field

Battleship Row

USS Arizona, BB-39

Hell had come to paradise. When it was over 2,402 Americans lay dead and another 1,247 had been wounded.

• 4 battleships sunk
• 3 battleships damaged
• 1 battleship grounded
• 2 other ships sunk
• 3 cruisers damaged
• 3 destroyers damaged
• 3 other ships damaged
• 188 aircraft destroyed
• 159 aircraft damaged

When Arizona exploded and sank, 1,177 of her officers and crewmen were killed. Many still lie entombed within the shattered hull of their ship. Ever faithful to their shipmates and their country, they gave their lives that day.

Those that survived still remember those who perished. Their friends, their shipmates, their fellow Americans.

There are not enough tears to erase the pain of that fateful day. But still...

We remember them.

Their numbers grow fewer with every passing year.

Once they were young and strong. Those who survived went on to defeat our enemies.

Many survivors lived long and fulfilling lives, raising families and spoiling their grandchildren. Many, in the fullness of time, remembering a day, long, long ago, decided that they wished to spend eternity with their shipmates. Those who did not survive.

And so their ashes are scattered upon the waves above their old ship.

Let us not forget these men, men who gave their lives for their country. For us.

May we always have such men (and yes, women too).

There are those who deny American exceptionalism. Those who would belittle the American spirit. Those who do, dishonor the memory of these honored dead. Those who do, deserve not the freedom these men died to preserve.

I will remember them and honor their memory. Their service. Their sacrifice.

And always will...