Tailspin Turtle

In spite of trying, I've not been able to determine why the different A-4 tailpipe endings came about and when. For my last look, see https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2016/08/a4d-skyhawk-one-more-time.html. It didn't result in any comments.

? Both seats had the chute on the outboard side...

Bryan, the right-hand seat did have the parachute on the right-hand side.

The XV-15 had LW-3B seats, mounted side by side. We did one static (on the ground) test. Note that the parachute is on opposite sides even on the OV-10 installation, which if I remember correctly was to insure seat separation laterally. Yours truly is in the left seat; note the parachute on the left side of the seat.

For the B yes. More here from my F-111 subject-matter expert: http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/f111indetailjr_4.htm

http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-f-111b-production-main-landing-gear.html The Air Force main landing gear tires were "fat" for unpaved-field operations; the As were 47" x 18". The Navy tires were narrow high-pressure, 42" x 13". Note that the first three F-111Bs had Air Force landing gear.

I think I would prefer the M-B garters to those shin clamps...

Mine arrived from Casemate Publishers last week.

My review: http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2024/03/operation-eldorado-canyon.html

Bryan, I should have clarified my nitpicking by noting that the 10th F4H-1 with the Stanley seat was BuNo 145310 (#11), which made its first flight on 29 August 1959, while BuNo 145309 (#10) didn't fly until 19 February 1960, delayed by the availability of the first Raytheon Airborne Missile Control System, so strictly speaking, the first 10 F4H-1s to fly had Stanley seats.

"The first seat in the Phantom II was a joint seat by McDonnell/Stanely. Although I have not found specific information what parts were made by McDonnell and what parts were by Stanely. The attached shots are from McDonnell. It was installed in the first 10 airframe and was in the aircraft for a number of records." Stanley, not "Stanely". Strictly speaking, the original seat wasn't in the first 10 BuNos since 145309 was completed with the Martin-Baker seat. For sure, 142660 (#2) and 145307 (#8) were retrofitted with the M-B seat. According to my notes, the others kept the origi

Some more background: https://thanlont.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-first-launch-of-unmanned-aircraft.html https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2009/11/f6f-drones.html

My favorite is this one: https://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2019/09/douglas-xb-4243-main-landing-gear.html. It's amazing what you can visualize with things like a paper clip and an eraser: https://www.historynet.com/tough-turkey-why-grummans-tbf-avenger-was-the-ultimate-torpedo-bomber/

I'm pretty sure that the "small hydraulic cylinder" both unlocks the "locking brace" and causes it to double up, pulling the main strut into the wheel well, along with closing the doors.

For what it's worth, my tutorial on anhedral/dihedral and wing sweep from an aerodynamicist's standpoint: https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2014/03/anhedraldihedral-and-wing-sweep.html And one on the C-130's dihedral: https://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2017/01/c-130-dihedral.html