Bit of a shock sighting-Canberra

[emg]

Originally Posted by fdcg27
I had no idea that any of these were still flying. I have no idea what NASA uses them for but it is neat that they've kept a few and use them.


They use them for filming rocket launches, among other things. I believe they were used for the early IR recordings of SpaceX booster re-entries.

Not quite on topic, but I was rather surprised one day about five years ago when I was standing at a bus stop and a Lancaster flew over. No idea where it was going, but I presume it must have been the Canadian flight-worthy Lancaster on its way somewhere.

 

[john_pifer]

Originally Posted by DeepFriar
My questionable memory coughs up a data point from long ago....When Northrop was developing the F20 Tigershark in the early-mid 80's the requirement they were working to was a cold and dark airplane sitting strip alert with the pilot onboard. When ordered it was to be wheels up in 23 seconds (actually the requirement was 30 seconds and it beat it). To do that the aircraft had to have been shut down in stored heading align in the RLG INS and have explosive start for the engine. I'm the end Northrop couldn't sell a single squadron to the USAF which meant they would never be able to sell it offshore to replace F-5's sold earlier to allies around the world, it's intended purpose. They scared Lockheed bad enough that Lockheed were (lyingly) offering to sell more F-16's to USAF for $10M apiece (!). The F-20 was a fine aircraft, better in most respects to the F-16, but they could not overcome the raw political power of Lockheed.

The B-57 has done it all. Recon, nuclear sniffer, bomber (Vietnam), research, you name it. Martin produced them here. The Soviets had a VERY similar aircraft NATO code name "Mandrake" (YAK-25) if I recall correctly. Both it and the 57 were converted to high altitude recce with engine changes and much longer wings ala the U2.

Cheers

Larry


Lockheed?

General Dynamics (formerly Convair) was the original designer & builder of the F-16.

 

[DeepFriar]

Originally Posted by john_pifer
Originally Posted by DeepFriar
My questionable memory coughs up a data point from long ago....When Northrop was developing the F20 Tigershark in the early-mid 80's the requirement they were working to was a cold and dark airplane sitting strip alert with the pilot onboard. When ordered it was to be wheels up in 23 seconds (actually the requirement was 30 seconds and it beat it). To do that the aircraft had to have been shut down in stored heading align in the RLG INS and have explosive start for the engine. I'm the end Northrop couldn't sell a single squadron to the USAF which meant they would never be able to sell it offshore to replace F-5's sold earlier to allies around the world, it's intended purpose. They scared Lockheed bad enough that Lockheed were (lyingly) offering to sell more F-16's to USAF for $10M apiece (!). The F-20 was a fine aircraft, better in most respects to the F-16, but they could not overcome the raw political power of Lockheed.

The B-57 has done it all. Recon, nuclear sniffer, bomber (Vietnam), research, you name it. Martin produced them here. The Soviets had a VERY similar aircraft NATO code name "Mandrake" (YAK-25) if I recall correctly. Both it and the 57 were converted to high altitude recce with engine changes and much longer wings ala the U2.

Cheers

Larry


Lockheed?

General Dynamics (formerly Convair) was the original designer & builder of the F-16.



You're right. Lockheed didn't buy them until 1992 or so. The F-16 has been Lockheed so long I "misremembered". So it was GD that put the k ibosh on Northrup. Feel better?