BWDenver

Now that's funny! Looks like a great set! Bryan

So is the Mirage III E (Heller, Mistercraft) 1:72 nozzle set... Really $4,000.00?

On two of my several trips to Ft Bragg/Pope AFB I spotted CACA 212's on the Pope side. The shot of 159 was taken in Sep 1988, 158 in 1991. Rumor around Pope was the birds were purchased for "special projects" then when they were "open", they were used for paradrops and tests. 0158 MSN 320, was N214TA. To Drug Enforcement Agency in May 1988 then to 427th SOS at Pope AFB, North Carolina. 0159 MSN 328, was N215TA. Operated by US Army at Laguna AAF. To Drug Enforcement Agency then to 427th

Perhaps a little of both worlds, for the next F-35 sheet...

For those who have not seen this take a look at the Jet AC ejection seat thread in Jet Aircraft. the F-4 part is towards the bottom of the first page. I'm debating on putting in a index of seats covered... It covers the Phantom seats over time with photos of the seats and F-4's (http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?/topic/345490-jet-ac-ejection-seats/) enjoy, Bryan Wilburn

ESCAPAC 1C-1, 1F-3 and 1G-1 seat colors. Authors note. US Navy docs list the seat designation as “1C” v “IC”, some Douglas docs I have list the seats as IC, with a leading I instead of a 1. Just a little detail that can drive you round the bend… While the 1A-1 seats were colorful, starting with the 1C-3 seat the overall color was Black FS 37038. The reason for the change was simple, Black reduced the reflections in the canopy. One notable exception was the TA-4E, with Fluorescent Orange seats and black headrests shown in a shot via The Skyhawk Association

I appreciate the feedback. This installment was particularly difficult in tracking the various changes and getting the time frame right. The Archive folks at NNAM in Pensacola have been invaluable. Bryan

Interesting!

ESCAPAC IF-3 and IG-3 seats The separation of the pilot was always a concern to the Navy, and starting with the IF-3 seat a separation rocket was added to the left side of the headbox, and the bladders were removed. The separation rocket was referred to as an “Ear Burner”. Some seats were reworked, others manufactured new. Inspection windows added to the IF-3 seat 3 inspection windows were added to the side and top of the headbox to allow for preflight inspection as part of ACB 207, IC-3 seats 1 May 1971.

ESCAPAC IC-3 A-4F and subsequent airframes The final three seats Skyhawk were the IC-3, IF-3 and final IG-3. They were all physically similar after mid-1971. The IC-3 was structurally identical to the IA-1 seat, rated for loads of 40G horizontally, 27G vertically and 14G laterally. The IC 0-0 seat first started live fire tests on Feb 2nd 1962. Douglas started work on a STAPAC vernier rocket and the first test shot was Nov 30 1965. NOTS Sled test for IC-3 seats, in black and white and red, USN Photo Static 0-0 tests at Douglas factory, Douglas phot

The planks used in LZ Phantom were not the standard "PSP", but solid planks with 4 ridges each. Based on higher resolution shots I have, the Pads were made up of joining 13 segments together on the for and aft "long axis", and I think two planks wide with a bit of overlap. While I flew helos, I was never particularly interested in building models of helos...

Humous question…. I flew UH-1H’s for about 1500 hrs, I went into Fast Gas, ie Hot Refueling multiple times. We had a HOTPOL point just to the North of Hood AAF, Ft Hood Tx. But in all the times I landed on a HOTPOL pad, I never measured the thing. I doubt Rob did either... According to my -10 the skid on the UH-1D/H was around 8’ 6.6”, so you can work out the DIM’s on the concrete pad with a little measuring. Once or twice I landed on PSP pads in the field. But field HOTPOL points were grass with a grounding steak. In Iraq we would Hot Refuel at Tallil

Love to see the shots of the 53! In 1981 they changed the rules around getting out of a running helo on the Army. Drop it to flight Idle, and lock the controls. I was in Guernsey WY supporting some NG troops. Our Supply Officer lands at a TOC and gets out of his running OH-58A. A half our later he comes back and can't understand why I crawled down his throat. Not that I never got out of a running bird for a good shot...

Great shots!

They surplused all the H-13's and H-23 by the time I got to Rucker, Jul 73. We only had UH-1B/H Models. Some C Model gunships. I flew out of Hanchey. We flew the UH-1B as an instrument trainer, with an Aux tank behind the jump seat. Don't think it was crash worthy... The big grey thing in the back of the cabin. First tour was Ft Hood and the C\227th 1Cav, then 218th RC Crash Rescue flying Firebirds, and finally two years with 3\507 Dustoff when the disbanded the 218th. One if these days I'm going to finish the RC UH-1H I started...