Airborne Aircraft Carriers

[ORAC]

Seen most or all before, but nice to se a site pulling them all together.. :ok:

Airborne Aircraft Carriers (http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2012/08/huge-airborne-aircraft-carriers.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheThrillingWonderStory+%28Dark+Roasted +Blend%29)

ps. The Orion link (http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/10/project-orion-powered-by-atomic-bomb.html) is also good. I've got the book on this project and it's a fascinating read.

[mike-wsm]

YouTube - The Short Mayo Composite

[Courtney Mil]

http://dvdmedia.ign.com/dvd/image/captainscarlet5.jpg

[Lima Juliet]

Whatever next? Female fighter pilots?

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/cast_images/id_destiny.jpg

:p

[BEagle]

Back on the topic of 'aircraft carriers', even the UK came up with this crazy idea:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/nw969/V3.jpg

The Vulcan was to carry 3 Gnats, each of which were supposed to be launched about 100nm from their targtes, then rush off and drop a nuclear weapon on their targets before.....ah, bugger, didn't think of that...:hmm:

[racedo]

Think the future concept is Swarms of drones released heading to targets.

[Airborne Aircrew]

Think the future concept is Swarms of drones released heading to targets.

Taking note of recent defense cuts are we going to redefine a "swarm" as three then?

[racedo]

AA

3 is Multiple

Swarm is one and as its stealthy it means you can't see it and Govt reporting restrictions means its actions can't be reported.

Thereby

"Ministry of Information wish to indicate that Swarm of our aircraft sucessfully attacked our enemy today (not to be mistaken from whomever is our enemy tomorrow). The mission was a complete success but in order to protect Operational Security we are unable to report the location of the attack. The Government refuses to comment on ongoing military matters for operational issues"

Oh I wish the above would never see the light of day but coming soo to a news media outlet near you.

[mike-wsm]

McDonnell XF-85 Goblin - YouTube

[mike-wsm]

USS Macon & Sparrowhawks - YouTube

[mike-wsm]

Reconnaissance Parasite Aircraft - 1952, Part 1 - YouTube

[ORAC]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6793157210_2dfb9a327a_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6793157326_6605ccf3f7_z.jpg


Flikr: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alimarante/6793157326/in/photostream/) On Thursday 21 October 1926, MacKenzie-Richards and Flying Officer (later Air Vice-Marshal) R.L. Ragg participated in the experimental trials of launching twin parasite aircraft from retractable trapezes attached under the keel of the R33 airship using two Gloster Grebe fighters (J-7400 and J-7385) from Pulham aerodrome. The first Grebe, flown by MacKenzie-Richards, which was positioned aft, was released at 10.17am over Pulham at an altitude of 2,500 feet (762 metres), and, after diving for about 100 ft (30 metres), it leveled out.

The Times reported the next day: "The aeroplane, with her engine running, dropped like a stone and then regaining control, MacKenzie-Richards performed a series of stunts, looping-the-loop, rolling and flying upside down", while Flight indicated that the plane "gambolled gaily in the air as if glad to be free, at last, from the maternal apron strings," before landing safely back at Pulham. After some difficulty in starting the engine, the second Grebe piloted by Ragg, which had been positioned abaft of the first Grebe, was successfully released at 11.30am from a slightly higher altitude over Cardington, Bedfordshire, and made a safe landing at Cardington.

In another experiment, the Grebes piloted by MacKenzie-Richards and Ragg were released from 2,000 feet and were able to fly and then reattach their planes to a skyhook on the airship. Despite the successful trials, the technique was never adopted by the RAF but was successfully on the US Navy Airships USS Akron & USS Macon.

[ORAC]

Wiki: Campbell MacKenzie-Richards (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell_MacKenzie-Richards)

During World War I MacKenzie-Richards served in the British Merchant Navy and was decorated twice.

Around 1923 MacKenzie-Richards joined the Royal Air Force. On 24 January 1924 he was confirmed as Pilot Officer and later was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer, and was attached to the Bombing Squadron based at Martlesham Heath. After earning the reputation of being a highly skilled pilot, MacKenzie-Richards was attached to the experimental staff of the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough.

As part of the Airship Development Programme, from 9 October 1925 a hook-equipped de Havilland Humming Bird (Registration G-EBQP) was used in a short series of experiments with "an obsolete underpowered type of airship", HMA R33 (Registration G-FAAG) (known colloquially as the "Pulham Pig") in an attempt to develop an airborne aircraft carrier. On 15 October 1925 the Humming Bird (Registration G-EBQP), flown by Squadron Leader Rollo Haig, was released from the R33, and became the first to reattach a single DH.53 plane to a rigid airship, although mechanical problems forced it to be detached again and to land separately at the aerodrome.

On 4 December 1925 Flight Lieutenant Janor was the first to successfully hook a plane (a DH.53) onto a rigid airship (R33) and remain attached until the airship landed. Previously the Royal Air Force had modified two F.1 Sopwith Camels (serials N6622 and N6814) for trials by No. 212 Squadron RAF with airship HMA 23r, which culminated in Lt. R.E. Keys piloting one that was released on 6 November 1918, and the first launch and recovery of an aircraft in mid-air had been performed by the US Army TC-3 blimp on 15 December 1924, with "a Sperry Messenger biplane performing a sortie from and back to a "skyhook" attached to the blimp."

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/HMA_R_23_Airship_With_Camel_N6814.jpg/220px-HMA_R_23_Airship_With_Camel_N6814.jpg

[mike-wsm]

Reconnaissance Parasite Aircraft - 1952, Part 2 - YouTube

[Courtney Mil]

Having seen the fine "Royal Neyvee cheaps" in that film, I'm starting to see how we ended up with the Harrier.

[mike-wsm]

http://tanks45.tripod.com/Jets45/Histories/Do17/Do217-Me328_2.jpg

Me328 on Do217

www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org - Luftwaffe Resource Center - Experimental (http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/me328.html)

[mike-wsm]

Luftwaffe Mistel (1945) - YouTube

[Courtney Mil]

So, BEags,

Your Vulcan (flying over our house again today) with Gnat nuclear bombers. But that's an old idea that needs updating. So, think of a big jet that could carry a number of lesser aircraft to go off and do the business.

Where to start? A400 with a couple of Rafale? VC10 with 2 UAV defence "drones". How about RN AEW Helo with two Hawks with 2 x AIM9 to protect the new carier?

I need help here.

[racedo]

Courtney

What about an aircraft made up of 6 aircraft joining together which come apart into 6 attacking options or stay as just one.

Gotta be a kids toy like that out there.

[ORAC]

US Recce UAVs over Vietnam (http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_344.shtml)

http://www.acig.org/artman/uploads/eb54_001.jpg

[BEagle]

They used a different TLA for drones back then - RPV 'Remotely Piloted Veehickle'..:\

Interesting to read about the mission programming cock-up which allowed a drone to fly along the main runway of Kep Air Base at 6m rather than 60, on a 180 x not-a-lot against a landing MiG-17....:uhoh:

[Milo Minderbinder]

The "Wombat" from the Thunderbirds series always struck me as an interesting concept
Its a VTOL lifting body mothercraft carrying a parasitic high-speed nuclear strike / deep penetration bomber



http://www.keithmcneill.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Wombat.jpg



taken from Space Models Photography (http://www.keithmcneill.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/3c.html)

[Courtney Mil]

Beags,

RPV, UAV, 'drone', UPV, etc, etc. Who cares? It's a Civil Service conspiracy to keep pilots out of aircraft with the intention of stopping flying pay. I know for a fact that the big airlines are looking very carefully at Remotley Monitored, Self-Piloting Airliners. Hijack proof, less of a theat to the hosties and no worries about huge hotel bills, mini-bar penalties or drink/fly issues.

Milo,

I love it. Could it carry a Vulcan? The nozzles on the big jet look a bit skinny, but otherwise I think we should buy it. Oh, hang on. It's got lift fans - too much like Forger or F35B. Are you sure it works?

[Milo Minderbinder]

"The nozzles on the big jet look a bit skinny"

From what I remember of the plans from TV21 magazine all those years ago, it was supposedly nuclear powered (presumably a fast reactor?) with the cooling coils containing liquid sodium-potassium alloy (NaK) superheating the air in the "jet" pipes. So no flame, no combustion. Just very hot clean air as an exhaust. Just don't let the coolant get wet

[On_The_Top_Bunk]

The Avengers win hands down!

http://strikefighterconsultinginc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Schroeder_Carrier_022A_Lg.jpg

http://strikefighterconsultinginc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/url35.jpg

[racedo]

Top Bunk

That would be a great concept and could be tethered to a spot in West London where the residents wouldn't complain and hey presto .................Heathrow West or North West after a year etc

[Waddo Plumber]

Landing or taking off over the lift fan could be exciting!

[racedo]

Landing or taking off over the lift fan could be exciting!

Sounds just like what they say about the US JSF.

[MAINJAFAD]

The "Wombat" from the Thunderbirds series always struck me as an interesting concept
Its a VTOL lifting body mothercraft carrying a parasitic high-speed nuclear strike / deep penetration bomber

Milo

I'd guess that Mr Anderson nicked the idea for this one off Shorts and English Electric (Shorts PD17 jet lift platform and the P17 which later became part of the basis of the TSR2).

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/2697/54262982.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/17/54262982.jpg/)

[Kitbag]

There is also this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/SS2_and_VMS_Eve.jpg/300px-SS2_and_VMS_Eve.jpg

[Courtney Mil]

So much beautiful hardware here.

Milo,

"it was supposedly nuclear powered (presumably a fast reactor?) with the cooling coils containing liquid sodium-potassium alloy (NaK) superheating the air in the "jet" pipes. So no flame, no combustion. Just very hot clean air as an exhaust. Just don't let the coolant get wet "

Of course. How could I have been so stupid? (Don't answer that!)

[At ease]

I believe the sites linked to by the OP omitted the Bell X1/B29 and the NAA X15/B52.

Also, the supersonic D-21 drones launched from the SR71A.

Sorry, too lazy to find/download images/links.

[MightyGem]

I know for a fact that the big airlines are looking very carefully at Remotley Monitored, Self-Piloting Airliners
That's as maybe, but numerous studies have shown that the paying public won't fly on an aircraft without a pilot.

The passenger aircraft of the future may well be flown by the computer, but the minimum crew will be one pilot and a dog. The pilot will be there to re-assure the passengers and feed the dog. The dog's job will be to ensure that the pilot doesn't mess with the computer.

[500N]

MightyGem

That is gold, thank you, put a smile on my face:O:ok:

[Courtney Mil]

MightyGem,

numerous studies have shown that the paying public won't fly on an aircraft without a pilot.

Sorry, Mate. They've already thought of that...

http://www.projectoceanvision.com/temp/Airplane-1.jpg