ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Just for fun, I thought I'd start a thread devoted to aircraft for which the members of All Sci-Fi have a special affection.

And to kick things off, I'd like to nominate the Lockheed Super Constellation.





Okay, I know exactly what you're thinking.

"Good Lord, what a beautiful plane! If there had been an Air Force One back when Eisenhower was president in 1950s, that would be it!"

Well . . . guess what? It was!

A site called Hars Aviation says, "The L-749 Constellation was the original Air Force One used by President Dwight D Eisenhower. She was known as Columbine II."

Again . . . I know just what you're thinking.

"Wow, that's cool! I wish I knew where it is now."

Wish granted. The info below is included with the YouTube video which follows it.
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An L-749 Constellation was flown from Arizona to Virginia in early 2016 to be fully restored by Dynamic Aviation. This VC-121A-LO was the original Air Force One used by President Dwight D Eisenhower. She was known as Columbine II.
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Eisenhower's Lockheed Air Force One, Columbine II


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[mach7]

You are speaking my language with aircraft!

I love the Connie! Great aircraft, but it was built by Lockheed so it had to be great!

I love Lockheeds, but I'm biased having spent 4 years and 3000 hours flying one. The C-5.

Too bad the Super Constellation did not take off, but the jet age was coming and it could not match the fast jets.

Her speed and range were matched only by her beautiful looks, both were unparalleled for the time.

[Bud Brewster]

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Well, my goodness. Why am I NOT surprised.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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"War demands engineering innovations."
~ Bud Brewster

Okay, so I just made that up — but it's obviously true! Here's a prime example.

Only the horrors of war could make it necessary to drop thousands of bombs on the country which produced the most intelligent people on Earth!

One of the incredible machines which America created to carry out this gruesome task was the B-17 Flying Fortress.





Frankly, it's impossible not to love his magnificent aircraft — if for no other reason than the unique view it offered its crew of the Wild Blue Yonder as they cruised the skies above Europe on their way to their doomed targets in Germany.





The brave, red-blooded America boys who fought this terrible war were just itchin' to get back home and romance all those girls whose boyfriends were off in foreign lands . . . just like they were!

So, the more artistic guys enjoyed decorating the great aircraft which they hoped would win the war soon.





The brave men who risked their lives (and frequently lost them) to accomplish their gruesome mission took no joy in what they were ordered to do — but because of their brave efforts, the world was saved from a maniacal dictator who wanted to rule the world!





Imagine the world today if that same nation of proud and brilliant people had dedicated their intelligence to the benefit of mankind . . . instead of it's brutal conquests!

_________Historic WWII planes are in Great Falls


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[mach7]

Wow Bud,

You have a knack for picking great aircraft from the past.

And the B-17, another aircraft I have deep personal connection with.






https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoo_Shoo_Shoo_Baby

[Bud Brewster]

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Thanks, Mark!

It took me a while to figure out which one should be featured next, because the Constellation set the bar high, and I wanted to feaature an aircraft that would have an emotional connection for out members.

I hope you'll like the next one just as well.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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During WWI, battles were fought in the skies by earlier versions of the biplane. They were incredibly maneuverable, but they weren't exactly beautiful.





At the beginning of WWII, biplanes were still in use, but they'd changed dramatically. With more powerful engines, enclosed cockpits, and retractable landing gear, these were the planes used on aircraft carriers in 1930s!





Over the years, snazzy modern biplanes have been built which certainly would have impressed the Red Baron in WWI.





Imagine a time travel story in which the famous German air ace goes through a temporal vortex and ends up in Kansas in the 1950s. He could start a business called Red Baron Crop Dusters, Inc.!





Biplane designs have become more and more elegant —








— until now they've become almost futuristic!





And the next step looks quite amazing!



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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[mach7]

Back to the B-17 for a post.

Back in the summer of 1981 I was in Air Force ROTC.

Summer camp for me was at Dover AFB in Delaware.

Saturday mornings were an additional duty day. Myself and another cadet got assigned to work on the Shoo Shoo Baby restoration. For 6 Saturdays we hung around a bunch of retired Air Force mechanics restoring her. We did whatever gofer work they needed. We got to crawl all around her.

It was a great way to connect with the prior generation of Air Force guys and a classic, historic aircraft with a proud wartime record.

But the story gets better. I got stationed at Dover in January 1988. The first thing I did was track down Shoo Shoo baby. She was almost complete, and she flew to the Air Force museum later that year. I got to see her fly out.

In 1991 I flew a mission to Wright Pat and made sure I stopped by to say "hi" to her.

You can bet I'll make the trip to Udvar-Hazey when she is put on display there.

The B-17 is as tough as she is beautiful, the quintessential American bomber of it's time.

[Bud Brewster]

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What a wonderful experience you had. I'm green with envy. .

I'm know you'll take your camera when you go to see her on display.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[mach7]

I will take photo's of her.

Back in 1981 I did not have a camera with me when I spent time with her.

Same in 1991 at the museum.

Somewhere I do have a photo of her flying out of Dover AFB.

But when I next see her I'll be sure take a lot of photo's!

Sorry, But I'm not big on Biplanes, I appreciate them but don't
know a ton about them.

[Bud Brewster]

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Today I learned about the YP-38 Lightning, and unusual and highly effective American fighter which was instrumental to our success in WWII.

She was not only beautiful, she was an awesome weapon of war which was feared by both German and Japanese fighter pilots.








A Bizarre American Aircraft that Terrified the Luftwaffe


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[mach7]

Another beautiful Lockheed aircraft.

Having flown many different aircraft, Lockheed is my favorite. They know how to build a world class aircraft!

The P-38 is probably one of the most misunderstood US WW2 aircraft, Highly capable and hard to down. It was fast and maneuverable, and if it couldn't out turn an opponent the fight could be taken vertical. In the hands of a skilled pilot it was very, very hard to beat.

[Bud Brewster]

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I'm delighted to hear that a beautiful aircraft I chose to include in this thread because it appealed to me aesthetically also preformed well in combat because it was brilliantly designed!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[mach7]

The Air Force Museum took Shoo Shoo Baby off display a few years ago when they put Memphis Belle on display.

Belle is an older F model while Shoo Shoo Baby is the newer G model. They could have left them both on display, but The Udvar Hazy museum on Dulles airport got her.

I expected they would fly her there this year.

I was at the museum recently and saw this:









Why they would cut her up and not fly her there is beyond my comprehension!

It will probably take them years to get her on display now.

[Brent Gair]

Young Brent Gair at the controls of an Armstrong Whitworth Argosy circa 1970.