Ken Middleton Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5898152 Link to post Share on other sites
PDIXON316 Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5898152 COOOOOLLLL!!!! Now that would make an interesting model!!! Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Could that be one of the "new" Block 52 jets that the team is transitioning to? Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Walker Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Wow, great photo!! looking at the wheels, it's not a B50, to my eyes anyway... M Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Could that be one of the "new" Block 52 jets that the team is transitioning to? No, it's a 32. Jake Link to post Share on other sites
Keith Diamond Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Now, that is an interesting pic! Wonder how long it takes to paint a Thunderbird compared to a standard gray Viper. Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 That is a neat pic. Thanks for linking it Ken. Link to post Share on other sites
Henrik Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Hello all, It is a Block-32 - no landing/taxi lights at the front wheel and no CCIP. Greetings, Henrik. Link to post Share on other sites
PlasticWeapons Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 Neat. Are those the new 1:1 scale Eduard paint masks or Cutting Edge Black Magic masks?!?? :lol: Link to post Share on other sites
kenlilly106 Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 Checklist: 2 miles of Tamiya Tape check Some Bare Metal Foil for the canopy check 1:1 scale Eduard USAF Stencil Masks check Serious question, if the a/c is being towed, why is there someone in the cockpit? Just in case something goes wrong and they need to slam on the brakes? Ken Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 (edited) Serious question, if the a/c is being towed, why is there someone in the cockpit? Just in case something goes wrong and they need to slam on the brakes?Ken Hi Ken, It is SOP to have a brake rider in the cockpit for tows. For the aircraft I have worked on the towbar is fitted with shear pins and they will break if the load on the bar is too great. If the pins break the tow driver will accelerate away from the aircraft and the brake rider will slowly apply the hand brake and bring the aircrfat to a gentle stop (well that is the theory anyway, I have seen some runaway aircraft come to a very sudden halt when the brake rider applied the park break too quickly). Edited January 14, 2007 by Aussie747 Link to post Share on other sites
otis252 Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 Great pic. Note that the main gear doors removed. Chuck Link to post Share on other sites
Fouga23 Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 It is SOP to have a brake rider in the cockpit for tows. I love to do that never had to pull the brake, but love riding in the aircraft, even if it's just being towed :-) Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 Hello all,It is a Block-32 - no landing/taxi lights at the front wheel and no CCIP. Greetings, Henrik. With all due respect, I don't think you can tell from this photo if it is a 32 or 52. OK, I can't tell... The landing light for Block 52 is installed on the nose gear door, which is not installed. Main gear doors also not installed, so you cannot tell if they are bulged. Exhaust is covered so you can't tell if it is a -220 or -229. Reinforcement plates, if there, are covered. Number of CM buckets not visible. I'll give you the "no CCIP" but the antenna could have been removed for a Tbird jet. And, IIRC, the antenna housings are not supposed to be painted anyway. From the photo I can tell it is an NSI inlet and a Pratt engine, but I see no other clues to differentiate between a Block 32/52. Still looking for conclusive evidence. Can you tell from the main wheel design? Link to post Share on other sites
SimFixer Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 (edited) Well the date in the info field is October of '06. When did the T's start receiving Block 52s? I thought it wasn't until this past December. Perhaps they got one or two in earlier to get a head start on the transition? Edited January 14, 2007 by SimFixer Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 With all due respect, I don't think you can tell from this photo if it is a 32 or 52. OK, I can't tell... Can you tell from the main wheel design? Yes, Greg, the wheel is a giveaway. Although a few block 52s have already been sent to Nellis, they are still owned by the parent 57th Wing. To my knowledge, none have yet to be transferred to the team. This jet is certainly a block 32, and since no new block 32s have been transferred to the team since the crash a few years ago, this is most likely a regular repaint. Jake Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 The photo of this jet still has the old school AIM-9 launchers on the sta 1/9 (LAU-???). As do all Thunderbird Vipers, as well as the ACC demo jets. Jake Link to post Share on other sites
William G Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 As do all Thunderbird Vipers, as well as the ACC demo jets.Jake Why is that Jake? I was wondering about this when I saw the ACC East Coast Demo jets a few years ago. William G Link to post Share on other sites
Henrik Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Still looking for conclusive evidence. Can you tell from the main wheel design? Yes, the wheel design is THE evidence. That is the give-away, Jake nailed it- it IS a Block-32. Greetings, Henrik. Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Why is that Jake?I was wondering about this when I saw the ACC East Coast Demo jets a few years ago. William G I really have no idea. I couldn't even guess. Link to post Share on other sites
SimFixer Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 If the LAU's are "old school" (i.e. not fielded as much anymore?), maybe they take the "newer" ones off to keep in the field and replace 'em with the LAU's to maintain the Viper's flutter characteristics? I don't think the jet handles very well with nothin' on the tips. Does it? Or maybe I'm just readin' too much into it.... :lol: Link to post Share on other sites
Taco44 Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 AIM 9 Launchers are used on all demo jets because they are almost obsolete. By using them, it leaves more LAU-129 launchers in the field. Link to post Share on other sites
Henrik Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 AIM-9 launchers also leave better vortices that the -129s - I do not know if that counts!! Greetings, Henrik. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts