Nasa's WB-57 takes to the air again after 41 years grounded.
They've just sent all three examples up for a fly-around Houston:
Three high-flying birds soar together for the first time since the 1970s | Ars Technica UK
Canberra - the aircraft that has been too useful to die for a veeery long time now!
Just as a matter of interest, just how expensive would it be thesedays to build something like that (or indeed the original) new? I don't mean load it up with massively expensive electronics, or design a whole new engine for ultimate performance. I simply mean build an airframe that looks the same, add the modern equivalent engines and a modicum of up-to-date avionics. Am I being cynical or would most of the money be lost to paperwork, political arguments, contract arrangements and set up time rather than actual metal cutting and joining?
Three high-flying birds soar together for the first time since the 1970s | Ars Technica UK
Canberra - the aircraft that has been too useful to die for a veeery long time now!
Just as a matter of interest, just how expensive would it be thesedays to build something like that (or indeed the original) new? I don't mean load it up with massively expensive electronics, or design a whole new engine for ultimate performance. I simply mean build an airframe that looks the same, add the modern equivalent engines and a modicum of up-to-date avionics. Am I being cynical or would most of the money be lost to paperwork, political arguments, contract arrangements and set up time rather than actual metal cutting and joining?
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N 927 is FMC
My internal company newsletter (DynCorp Int'l) announced that the rebuild contract for delivery of one WB-57 is complete. All three made a formation presentation over Houston after the customer took custody of the aircraft from our hangar. Godspeed, NASA!
For a 70 year old aircraft, it didn't take a whole lot of modification to add power, reassemble and retrofit new tech. It was literally pulled straight from "celebrity row" in Tuscon after having sat there for 40 years. Some of you have stood in front of the old 927 as a museum piece!!
When DynCorp Int'l sent me to Afghanistan from 2010-2011, I observed 928 operating out of KAF, parked in the CIA hangar at the end of the runway if it wasn't taking off. This new variant has advanced battlefield imagery systems, and serves as a long-range data hub "overlord" which is why a flight path is almost routinely loops over loops over a predetermined combat sector.
For a 70 year old aircraft, it didn't take a whole lot of modification to add power, reassemble and retrofit new tech. It was literally pulled straight from "celebrity row" in Tuscon after having sat there for 40 years. Some of you have stood in front of the old 927 as a museum piece!!
When DynCorp Int'l sent me to Afghanistan from 2010-2011, I observed 928 operating out of KAF, parked in the CIA hangar at the end of the runway if it wasn't taking off. This new variant has advanced battlefield imagery systems, and serves as a long-range data hub "overlord" which is why a flight path is almost routinely loops over loops over a predetermined combat sector.
Drewski429 It was literally pulled straight from "celebrity row" in Tuscon after having sat there for 40 years....
A recent google shot showing six B-57's (and two WB's):
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.1612.../data=!3m1!1e3
My internal company newsletter (DynCorp Int'l)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2e...57660882028929
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2e...57660882028929
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A photo here
AMARG Part III: The Aerial View ? FighterControl ? Home to the Military Aviation Enthusiast
Shows an ex NASA bird in one of the scrapyards outside DMs perimeter. presumably held back for spares
There were three airframes flying in the late 90s and one was being used by NOAA for a while. assume it (might be) this one?
V1
AMARG Part III: The Aerial View ? FighterControl ? Home to the Military Aviation Enthusiast
Shows an ex NASA bird in one of the scrapyards outside DMs perimeter. presumably held back for spares
There were three airframes flying in the late 90s and one was being used by NOAA for a while. assume it (might be) this one?
V1
wub Sandiego89:
There is a 3rd WB in that image....
There is a 3rd WB in that image....
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.1543.../data=!3m1!1e3
She looks more complete than the other two.
I also spot another short wing B-57 on "celebrity row"
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.1709.../data=!3m1!1e3
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Heck, when put beside a 737 it really brings home the size of that wing, in fact the overall size of the Canberra full stop, you wouldn't guess the length of one in the flesh standing beside it. What are the light trainers behind it?
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This looks to be the Air Training Command parking area except for the B-57. The 737 is probably a T-43, which was used for navigator training from about 1973 through ~2000.
The small trainers in the rear are T-37 'Tweets', which was the primary USAF pilot training aircraft for generations. These have been replaced by T-6 Texans. Off to the side are T-38s, still used for advanced pilot training..
The small trainers in the rear are T-37 'Tweets', which was the primary USAF pilot training aircraft for generations. These have been replaced by T-6 Texans. Off to the side are T-38s, still used for advanced pilot training..
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From what I recall the Germans put the pair into DM as a trial, for a few years. Although I can't remember how long it was intended to last. Or weather they really planned to put more in.
However I believe that them being in storage meant they missed some mods the rest of the German fleet got. And as a result I think the trial was eventually abandoned. In a similar DM thread on Phantoms by the poster on my other reply.
They also have an long spares recovered F-4F out there as well
As for the list of inmates even with Windows 10 and downloading the 7zip thing I can't read them!!
V1
However I believe that them being in storage meant they missed some mods the rest of the German fleet got. And as a result I think the trial was eventually abandoned. In a similar DM thread on Phantoms by the poster on my other reply.
They also have an long spares recovered F-4F out there as well
As for the list of inmates even with Windows 10 and downloading the 7zip thing I can't read them!!
V1
If you just want the different types in there, use the database / current inventory / aircraft type tab.
If it's the actual frame numbers that's something else.....
If it's the actual frame numbers that's something else.....
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
WB-57 providing all the air-to-air shots of the Spacex Dragon capsule re-entry into the Gulf of Mexico today. Somebody thought it was a good stable high altitude platform for today's job.