LAST EDITED ON Mar-10-07 AT 03:34 AM (EST)
 
Aviation Week & Space Technology Photo of the Week, Aug. 30, 2405

Photo taken by Chad Collier at the 2406 WDF Air Station Avalon open house and air show, August 20, 2405. The aircraft is a Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, built in 1941. It was flown as part of a WDF History Flight featuring 20th-century Earth aircraft painted in the squadron markings of the Golden Age Eight-Ball Squadron. The P-40 was flown by and is the private property of retired WDF pilot Benjamin "Gryphon" Hutchins, now Chief of the International Police.

Also featured in the flight (not pictured):

- Eight-Ball Two: A Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum jet fighter, ca. 1985, piloted by WDF Grand Marshal Dave "Daver" Ritchie.
- Eight-Ball Three: A McDonnell-Douglas F-4S Phantom II jet fighter-bomber, ca. 1975, piloted by retired WDF pilot Erik "Saurian" Swimm.
- Eight-Ball Four: A Lockheed P-38G Lightning prop fighter, ca. 1943, flown by retired WDF pilot Mark "Haywire" Luchini.
- Eight-Ball Five: A McDonnell-Douglas F-15C Eagle jet fighter, ca. 1980, flown by WDF General Patricia "Terror" Currier.
- Eight-Ball Six: A Sopwith F.1 Camel biplane prop fighter, ca. 1917, flown by retired WDF pilot Maximilian "Genius" Sterling.
- Eight-Ball Seven: A Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat naval prop fighter, ca. 1944, flown by WDF Colonel Miria "Megaera" Sterling.
- Eight-Ball Eight: A Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8 Würger prop fighter, ca. 1944, flown by retired WDF pilot Komilia "Miss Liberty" Sterling.
- Eight-Ball Nine: A Hawker Tempest Mk V prop fighter, ca. 1943, piloted by retired WDF Veritechnician and pilot Therèse "Charioteer" Sterling.
- Eight-Ball Ten: A North American F-100D Super Sabre supersonic jet fighter, ca. 1956, flown by retired WDF pilot Robert "Ashura" Shannon.

The picture is a photo of P-40E AK940, which belongs to a chap named Tony Banta, cadged from the very excellent aviation photography website of Richard Seaman and twiddled by our very own Chad Collier, let's give him a big hand. :)

- Eight-Ball Six: A Sopwith F.1 Camel biplane prop fighter, ca. 1917, flown by retired WDF pilot Maximilian "Genius" Sterling.

Pardon me while I laugh uproariously at this image.

> - Eight-Ball Six: A Sopwith F.1 Camel biplane prop fighter, ca.
>1917, flown by retired WDF pilot Maximilian "Genius" Sterling.
>
>Pardon me while I laugh uproariously at this image.

The gang in the studio have pointed out to me that the inclusion of the Camel means that these ten aircraft cannot, in fact, fly in formation, since the F-100's stall speed is faster than the Camel can go.

I was going to give Max and Miria matching Hellcats, but at the last moment I decided to go for the "Max is such a genius, he has the airplane from World War I" gag instead.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/

You really should have given Miriya a red Fokker triplane....

>You really should have given Miriya a red Fokker triplane....

Yes, you're probably right.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/

>> - Eight-Ball Six: A Sopwith F.1 Camel biplane prop fighter, ca.
>>1917, flown by retired WDF pilot Maximilian "Genius" Sterling.
>>
>>Pardon me while I laugh uproariously at this image.
>
>The gang in the studio have pointed out to me that the inclusion of
>the Camel means that these ten aircraft cannot, in fact, fly in
>formation, since the F-100's stall speed is faster than the Camel can
>go.
>
>I was going to give Max and Miria matching Hellcats, but at the last
>moment I decided to go for the "Max is such a genius, he has the
>airplane from World War I" gag instead.
>
But of course - he's the "Blue Max" :)

Offsides

[...] in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.
-- David Ben Gurion
EPU RCW #π
#include <stdsig.h>

>The gang in the studio have pointed out to me that the inclusion of
>the Camel means that these ten aircraft cannot, in fact, fly in
>formation, since the F-100's stall speed is faster than the Camel can
>go.

It may be possible for short periods, assuming that they form up while diving and break before hitting the ground. That crowd just might be able to pull it off, and it's the sort of stunt they'd try just to prove that the impossible can be done.

What... no Hurricane or Spitfire in the mix there?
____________________

"It's difficult keeping up with the cross-continuity, but I think Cosmouse just gave The Saturnian Scraphunter his Ultimate Pacifier to use against Galactapuss..."

>What... no Hurricane or Spitfire in the mix there?

1) Only ten slots.
2) Tempest.
3) Come on, people, you're focusing on the garnish instead of the entree again. I demand love for Chad's 'shop skills.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/

>3) Come on, people, you're focusing on the garnish instead of the
>entree again. I demand love for Chad's 'shop skills.
>

Love given, then. I thought it was a complete CGI rendering until I read the photo credits and looked closer. It looks as good as any professional job that I've ever seen. Chad's kung-fu is good.

>Love given, then. I thought it was a complete CGI rendering until I
>read the photo credits and looked closer. It looks as good as any
>professional job that I've ever seen. Chad's kung-fu is good.

Chad's Kung Fu is so good you dont even realise it was Photoshoped at all!

Love given. *applause* That really is one of the best Photoshop jobs I've ever seen, on top of an outstanding photograph - I swear I can hear the engine snarling when I look at it. I was especially taken by the little detail of having Gryphon's name written in script under the cockpit.

I'll bet that the sharkteeth detail on Valiant is, in addition to its other associations, a nod to the paint job on Gryphon's Eight-Ball One.

-Joe-

>Love given. *applause* That really is one of the best Photoshop jobs
>I've ever seen, on top of an outstanding photograph - I swear I can
>hear the engine snarling when I look at it. I was especially taken by
>the little detail of having Gryphon's name written in script under the
>cockpit.

Thanks! The original photo is here, for comparison. I could've done a little more perspective work on the fuselage markings, and there really *ought* to be an '001' on the foreground wingtop, but it was getting late and I didn't want to overtinker the whole thing. I am, however, monumentally proud of the WDF roundel on the background wing. Guess those Photoshop classes I took paid off some. :)

And, yeah, it wouldn't be a proper warbird wihtout the pilot name in cursive under the canopy.

>I'll bet that the sharkteeth detail on Valiant is, in addition
>to its other associations, a nod to the paint job on Gryphon's
>Eight-Ball One.

Heh, well, they all more or less go back to the P-40. I doubt his VF-1S has one, but to not have one on a Warhawk is, in fact, a crime in ZC space, so. ;)

	Chad Collier Smirking Kilrathi The Captain of the Gravy Train

LAST EDITED ON Mar-11-07 AT 10:18 PM (EDT) by Wedge (moderator)
 
sig quoting baaaaad ;) --wedge

>Heh, well, they all more or less go back to the P-40. I doubt his
>VF-1S has one, but to not have one on a Warhawk is, in fact, a crime
>in ZC space, so. ;)

Chad, your Kung Fu is best. PS - I like the whole idea of a WDF version of the "Heritage Flight"

"A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week" - Gen George S. Patton, Jr.

It's a very very impressive piece of Photoshop work, and I admitre that. :)

But it's the Brit in me that was wondering where those planes had gone. ;) And I should have noticed the Tempest before, it's true.
____________________

"It's difficult keeping up with the cross-continuity, but I think Cosmouse just gave The Saturnian Scraphunter his Ultimate Pacifier to use against Galactapuss..."

Excellent photoshop work there.
And my compliments to Haywie on his choice of aircraft.
I've always liked the P-38 :)

Polychrome

I'd just like to say that the shop is so good, upon opening the thread I actually stopped and went "Aww thats nice, some nut actually painted their plane up with WDF markings" :D

_____________________________________________
A long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. THERE IS ONLY WAR.
-kinda makes sense if you think about it.

It's a nice collection of airplanes.

Alas, when you only pick ten, some very good planes (the P-47, P-51, F-86, F-105, F-111, F/A-18, Su-27, MiG-15, MiG-17, and F-16) get left off the list.

>very good planes

>F/A-18

*cough*

I'm sorry, you were saying?

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/

>>very good planes
>
>>F/A-18
>
>*cough*
>
>I'm sorry, you were saying?
>
People don't understand why I don't like the F/A-18. Sure, the E/F "Super Hornet" is more capable than the previous gen -18's, but so what? The fact is, the Navy seems to be settling on one platform to simplify supply issues, a platform that can perform all of its jobs with the comfort of a one-size-fits-all sweater.

Lets have some new planes, Navy.

>The fact is, the Navy seems to be settling on one platform to
>simplify supply issues, a platform that can perform all of its jobs
>with the comfort of a one-size-fits-all sweater.

Ha ha haaaaa, you think this is some bad juju now, wait'll the F-35 is online*.

But that's well outside the scope of this document.

--G.
* if it ever is
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/

The F-35 is going through its paces now, and is gonna be built.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/03/14/212602/picture-lockheed-martins-f-35-joint-strike-fighter-soars-on-first-afterburner.html

The bad news: You can't VIFF. :(

http://thedewline.typepad.com/stephen_trimble/2007/03/sweetman_no_vif.html

>The F-35 is going through its paces now, and is gonna be built.

The question isn't whether it's going to be built. The question is whether it's going to suck.

--G.
SIGNS POINT TO YES
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/

LAST EDITED ON Mar-16-07 AT 04:07 PM (EDT)
 
>The question isn't whether it's going to be built. The
>question is whether it's going to suck.

Nah, it's gonna defy all known laws of physics. It's gonna suck and blow at the same time.

I still maintain the Navy got brought in on the Joint Strike Fighter program under threat of loss of funding. That's the only way they'd have agreed to scrap decades of naval aviation design to agree to what is essentially an Air Force fighter.

<i>I still maintain the Navy got brought in on the Joint Strike Fighter program under threat of loss of funding. That's the only way they'd have agreed to scrap decades of naval aviation design to agree to what is essentially an Air Force fighter.</i>

Something like that, from what I've heard. There's going to be three versions of that thrice-accursed F-35: a standard, a carrier, and a VTOL version (where the carrier version has re-enforced airframe bits to support the tailhook, and the VTOL one has the usual accoutrements for that sort of thing).

The plane's trying to be everything for everybody--and as a result (in my admittedly not-entirely-informed opinion) it'll fail for everybody in various and sundry ways.

I'm rather distressed that they stole the P-38's name for it, though--that was a lovely aircraft, and I'm sad to see its namesake being such a piece of...well, garbage, really.

(And the folks who designed it obviously have never been in a machine shop in their lives, too. I can't exactly *say* anything, but whoever designed one particular part was a bloody idiot who got too happy with 'nifty keen complex curvature thingy' when "simple curve plus bolted on piece" would have more than sufficed.)

LAST EDITED ON Mar-15-07 AT 11:09 AM (EDT)
 
>>very good planes
>
>>F/A-18
>
>*cough*
>
>I'm sorry, you were saying?

It's actually pretty good. Jack of all trades, making it perfect for any sort of "light" carrier (be it traditional sea-going or a space-going carrier). In a sense it is much like some of the classic planes of World War II, including the F4U Corsair and the F6F - or the F-4 Phantom for that matter. It is, for all intents and purposes, a fighter-bomber that does both tasks very well, particularly in it's E/F variants.

>>>very good planes
>>
>>>F/A-18
>>
>>*cough*
>>
>>I'm sorry, you were saying?
>
>It's actually pretty good. Jack of all trades, making it perfect for
>any sort of "light" carrier (be it traditional sea-going or a
>space-going carrier). In a sense it is much like some of the classic
>planes of World War II, including the F4U Corsair and the F6F - or the
>F-4 Phantom for that matter. It is, for all intents and purposes, a
>fighter-bomber that does both tasks very well, particularly in it's
>E/F variants.

Hehe. Seen the EA-18G "Growler" variant yet? That's going to hit the street quickly here...it will be nice, (personally) we shouldn't have been so quick to unload the Spark Vark (EF-111)

>Hehe. Seen the EA-18G "Growler" variant yet? That's going to hit the
>street quickly here...it will be nice, (personally) we shouldn't have
>been so quick to unload the Spark Vark (EF-111)

The F-111 is one of my favorites. It does one thing VERY well (I wonder if in UF, they have some of them rigged for use on carriers), but it had its problems. They tried to make it do a number of contradictory missions, when in reality, it was best suited to deliver a lot of ordnance on target. It did that very well (I sometimes imagine what a F-111 carrying 36 500-pound JDAMs - enough to ruin a villain's evening, don't ya think). Trying to make it a fighter was a mistake.

>The F-111 is one of my favorites. It does one thing VERY well (I
>wonder if in UF, they have some of them rigged for use on carriers),
>but it had its problems. They tried to make it do a number of
>contradictory missions, when in reality, it was best suited to deliver
>a lot of ordnance on target. It did that very well (I sometimes
>imagine what a F-111 carrying 36 500-pound JDAMs - enough to ruin a
>villain's evening, don't ya think). Trying to make it a fighter was a
>mistake.

The reason they tried to make it a fighter was because of that bane of the 1960's military's existence: Robert McNamara. Originally the Air Force and the Navy had two totally different design programs going, with the Air Force needing a bomb truck and the Navy needed a missile-packing carrier-based fighter. McNamara, in all his infinite "wisdom," decided "Well, perhaps they can combine the two and come up with a common platform." When neither service was willing to agree on the characteristics they both needed, he again overrode them and set up his own list and requested proposals. Then, to ensure he'd thoroughly screwed the pooch for years to come, even after Boeing's design had won over both the USAF and USN, he instead declare General Dynamics the winner with Grumman as subcontractor.

The only good thing to come out of the whole debacle is, when the Navy's variant of the Aardvark (F-111B) proved to be too heavy, they got Grumman to build them a brand new design based upon what they were looking for in a fighter. The result was the greatest fighter in modern aviation, the F-14 Tomcat.

>It's a nice collection of airplanes.
>
>Alas, when you only pick ten, some very good planes (the P-47, P-51,
>F-86, F-105, F-111, F/A-18, Su-27, MiG-15, MiG-17, and F-16) get left
>off the list.

You could probably get half way to ten greats before you even get out of WWI, (Camel, SE5A, Fokker DR.1, Albatros D III just off the top of my head, and there are no French birds there).

I just noticed something - the "base" on the nose of the warbird is the SDF-17 WAYWARD SON. I thought that kind of marking was for the current base of operations? Was that done to remember the previous base as kind of an honor, or is it an "oops"? I would make sense if the date was a couple hundred years earlier, but the other threads' discussions on the timing of the exile made it stand out for me...

Offsides

[...] in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.
-- David Ben Gurion
EPU RCW #π
#include <stdsig.h>

>I just noticed something - the "base" on the nose of the warbird is
>the SDF-17 WAYWARD SON. I thought that kind of marking was for the
>current base of operations?

Dude, it's a warbird in a heritage flight. Those markings are intended to mirror the original Golden Age Eight-Ball One.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/