What Cockpit? MK VI
Yes, Paul Bikle's record-breaking SGS 1-23E N91893.
This aircraft has a very interesting history. The 1-23E was a one-off, built for Paul MacReady (of "MacReady Ring" and Gossamer Condor fame) to compete in the 1954 World Championships in the UK, where he finished fourth.
It was sold to Paul Bikle, who used it to set a world record speed of 88.5 km/hr over a 200 km course in 1957 and absolute altitude (46,266') and gain of height (42,303') world records in 1961. The single-seat records have been subsequently surpassed, but interestingly the Open Class gain of height still stands. Paul's account of his flight can be read here:
The Aerosente Glider Workshop: The World Altitude Record of Paul Bickle
Besides being an accomplished glider pilot, Paul Bikle was also director of NASA Flight Research Center (now NASA Dryden) from 1959 to 1971.
These photos were taken in a hangar at Dryden in 2011, when Paul Bikle's sons assembled their father's aircraft.
If you are going to the stratosphere, you need a big oxygen bottle!
LM has control.
This aircraft has a very interesting history. The 1-23E was a one-off, built for Paul MacReady (of "MacReady Ring" and Gossamer Condor fame) to compete in the 1954 World Championships in the UK, where he finished fourth.
It was sold to Paul Bikle, who used it to set a world record speed of 88.5 km/hr over a 200 km course in 1957 and absolute altitude (46,266') and gain of height (42,303') world records in 1961. The single-seat records have been subsequently surpassed, but interestingly the Open Class gain of height still stands. Paul's account of his flight can be read here:
The Aerosente Glider Workshop: The World Altitude Record of Paul Bickle
Besides being an accomplished glider pilot, Paul Bikle was also director of NASA Flight Research Center (now NASA Dryden) from 1959 to 1971.
These photos were taken in a hangar at Dryden in 2011, when Paul Bikle's sons assembled their father's aircraft.
If you are going to the stratosphere, you need a big oxygen bottle!
LM has control.
Last edited by India Four Two; 22nd Mar 2013 at 10:10.
... from Sweden. 
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It was a VERY interesting (but brief) search... The thought process went:
Obviously rotary-wing
Forward, mid, aft, temperature gauges with fairly low values on them
Hard to say, but it looks like oil pressure gauges ditto
...so, something with a long transmission perhaps
Could it be a tandem rotor?
Wiki'd tandem rotor helicopters because the lists there tend to be quite complete, by chance picked the Piasecki 21 as the first to look at properly, as I didn't know much about it, and found the cockpit shot. Job done, I hope!
Hmmm, have we had it before?
Piasecki CH-21 Shawnee 57 1123 15/04/2007
Obviously rotary-wing
Forward, mid, aft, temperature gauges with fairly low values on them
Hard to say, but it looks like oil pressure gauges ditto
...so, something with a long transmission perhaps
Could it be a tandem rotor?
Wiki'd tandem rotor helicopters because the lists there tend to be quite complete, by chance picked the Piasecki 21 as the first to look at properly, as I didn't know much about it, and found the cockpit shot. Job done, I hope!
Hmmm, have we had it before?
Piasecki CH-21 Shawnee 57 1123 15/04/2007
Last edited by TheiC; 22nd Mar 2013 at 18:49.
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Indeed TheiC and I42.
AKA the Vertol 44A Hkp1.
I didn't expect it to last long!
Glad it provided some interest, TheiC, and I like your deduction process.
YHC TheiC.
AKA the Vertol 44A Hkp1.
I didn't expect it to last long!
Glad it provided some interest, TheiC, and I like your deduction process.
YHC TheiC.
Last edited by The late XV105; 22nd Mar 2013 at 18:51.
F-102,or F106 possibly..?
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Nope, and nope, I'm afraid, my sparring partner... (or if this is history and nostalgia, would that be re-sparring partner?).
Last edited by TheiC; 23rd Mar 2013 at 19:19.
Alright then ;American naval,possibly piston ,tricycle u/c...?
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I never know how I feel about answering significant questions very early on in these threads; I sometimes feel we could end up in a situation in which people post questions which enable a rapid whittling of possibilities, perhaps slightly against the spirit of the thread...
So, perhaps I can answer for now that a search for US Navy piston-engined, tricycle-geared aircraft would not bear fruit...
Further clarification in the morning if not before. I will say that I was a little suprised that this aircraft had not already featured in the thread.
So, perhaps I can answer for now that a search for US Navy piston-engined, tricycle-geared aircraft would not bear fruit...
Further clarification in the morning if not before. I will say that I was a little suprised that this aircraft had not already featured in the thread.
As it seems to have a `primitive` Russian style ejection seat,and is possibly twin engined,possibly jet,how about a Yak-25 Firebar..or East European..?
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Not a Yak-25, and not from Eastern Europe, I'm afraid...
And to put promised meat on the bone, this is not a Naval aircraft. Further clarification of answers to sycamore's questions as the day goes by...
And to put promised meat on the bone, this is not a Naval aircraft. Further clarification of answers to sycamore's questions as the day goes by...