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RAF Lightning pilot flew a solo intercept against a formation of 80 Soviet Tu-95 Bear and Tu-16 Badger strategic bombers off the UK coast

by Till Daisd May 25, 2024

The RAF Lightning

The Lightning was the first fully supersonic aircraft in the Royal Air Force, and Fighter Command’s maximum speeds were instantly doubled with its introduction.

Throughout its twenty-eight years on the front lines, the Lightning was always associated with the air defense role including the ability to intercept unidentified aircraft trying to enter UK airspace.

In the 1970s, Soviet aircraft entering the UK Air Defence Region (UK ADR) were intercepted at Leuchars by the RAF Northern QRA force, which consisted of 111 Sqn flying the Lightning F3 and 43 Sqn, the Phantom FG1. These aircraft might be directed by fighter controllers using the ground-based radar head at Buchan or Saxa Vord, or by the crew of an Avro Shackleton AEW2 airborne radar aircraft of 8 Sqn; additionally, AAR support for the interceptor squadrons was provided by Victor K1 tanker aircraft.

RAF Lightning pilot

23 Sqn Lightning pilot Fg Off S.W. Gyles recalls an incredible mission that took place on Apr. 23, 1970, in Robert Pike’s book Phantom Boys:

‘It was about 04:00hrs that morning when the squawk box crackled into life with the familiar “Leuchars, this is Buchan, alert two Lightnings.” In the event, only one aircraft was scrambled with my flight commander Squadron Leader ‘Chalkie’ White at the controls. Meanwhile, mayhem was breaking out on the station. Squadron personnel were being called in to ready more aircraft. The crew of the Victor tanker on the Operational Readiness Pan (ORP) was brought to readiness, and I was getting inundated with telephone updates from Buchan.

80 unidentified tracks rounding North Cape

‘Squadron Leader White had just returned from his sortie, shadowing two Bear Ds in the pitch black when the squawk box crackled into life again: “Leuchars, alert two Lightnings and as many more as you can get. We have 80 unidentified tracks rounding North Cape.”

“I was posted in 1968 to 11 Squadron at RAF Leuchars to fly Lightning aircraft. This proved, in a number of ways, a valuable precursor to my later posting onto F-4 Phantoms, and it was at an early stage of my time with 11 Squadron that I learnt in a most sobering manner of the need, one might say to expect the unexpected, a key quality for successful operation of the versatile and demanding Phantom. For it was in the spring of 1970, when the Soviet air force (Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily) decided, sillily, to celebrate the centenary of the birth of that amazing gremlin in the Kremlin, Comrade Vladimir Lenin, that by chance I became involved in this heroic event.

“On QRA duty over the night 22/23 April 1970, I awoke with a start in the small hours, at around 04:00, when an inconspicuous-looking ‘squawk’ box in one corner of the pilot’s crewroom started to make strange sounds. At once, I tumbled out of bed — pilots on QRA duty were allowed to sleep as long as they remained in flying gear — and dashed across the room to listen closely. The controller’s detached voice now reverberated from the box: ‘Leuchars, Leuchars, this is Buchan…alert two Lightnings.’

Has World War III broken out?

“As the nominated Q1, the first to go in the event of a scramble, the other pilot, despite looking as bleary-eyed as I felt, ran with admirable élan out to his aircraft. As the Q2 pilot, I set off the scramble alarm, acknowledged the Buchan controller’s call, scribbled down the time, then sprinted to my Lightning. For a brief period, both pilots sat in their individual cockpits before the controller’s voice crackled through our bone dome earpieces when he ordered the Q1 Lightning to scramble. When my colleague was safely airborne, the controller stood me down from cockpit readiness but by that stage I was too worked-up to think of going back to sleep.

“[…] My colleague returned just as dawn was breaking. He explained how, in pretty much pitch-black conditions, he had shadowed two Soviet bombers which he reckoned were Tu-95 Bear D aircraft. As we talked about his flight, suddenly the squawk box came to life again. “Leuchars, this is Buchan,” said the controller, who sounded a bit breathless this time, “alert two Lightnings.” A small but significant hesitation followed after which, most unusually, he went on: “and as many more as you can manage.” The controller’s tone sounded almost plaintive when he continued: “we have eighty plus unidentified tracks coming round the North Cape.”

“For a second or so we two pilots stared at each other in astonishment. We said nothing, but our thoughts seemed to coincide: eighty plus? Is he bonkers? Has he lost the plot? Has World War III broken out? This, though, was no moment to prevaricate and as we set off the scramble alarm I made a dash for my aircraft (the Ql machine was in the process of engineering turn-round).

Mass contacts too numerous to count up

“My carefully placed bone dome, judiciously laid-out cape leather flying gloves and thoughtfully positioned seat straps facilitated rapid progress as I leapt into the cockpit, plugged-in my personal equipment connector (PEC) and buckled up the seat straps. Very soon, when I spoke with the controller, he gave height, heading and other details as he ordered me to scramble and to maintain radio silence.”

Gyles continues: “The start-up and take-off procedures went without a hitch and before long, just as pale shafts of dawn sunlight began to emerge across the area, I flew the Lightning in a north-easterly direction. With my airborne radar, navigational aids, and ‘identification friend or foe’ system switched off to thwart the possibility of tactical information being passed on by eavesdroppers, I had to keep a good lookout for other aircraft. Old-fashioned navigational techniques were needed to plot the Lightning’s position and from time to time this could be verified by peering down at fixed-position North Sea oil installations.

“After thirty or so minutes, when approaching the general area briefed by Buchan, I reckoned it was about time to break radio silence. Glancing inside the cockpit, I therefore switched on the identification friend or foe system, the navigational aids and the AI23B airborne radar. The radar took some moments to warm up but when it had done so, and when I squinted through the fold-up rubber viewing shade of the radar’s B-scope display, what I saw made my pulse start to race and my brain cells to go into overdrive. The radar revealed mass contacts too numerous to count up. I had expected something unusual, but this was overwhelming; my mind became a turmoil of conflicting thoughts as I struggled to absorb the implications of such a mass of hostile images.

Soviet hordes

“While the mass contacts of 60…70…80 (who knows?) contacts which, as if raging bulls bent on widespread death and destruction, bore down on my sole Lightning, I spoke with the controller at RAF Saxa Vord. The controller confirmed that my radar information was correct and that the incoming hordes now ranged from twenty to sixty miles from my current position. ‘Copied,’ I tried to sound nonchalant but my voice had become annoyingly shrill. I swallowed hard, continued to study the radar screen and wondered what the hell to do next.

“In a way, though, the dilemma was resolved for me when I visually spotted the first wave of Soviet aircraft. From that moment, more or less, my radar became redundant as I concentrated on the visual picture outside the cockpit. The Soviet hordes, mainly Tu-16 Badger and Tu-95 Bear aircraft, seemed to have organized themselves into groups of finger-four formation. Selecting a nearby group, I maneuvered the Lightning for an interception and visident (visual identification) procedure.

RAF Lightning pilotIntercepting 80 Soviet bombers alone

“My nerves, as may be expected, were on edge; every move appeared to assume excessive significance. Having closed onto the selected group of Soviet machines and identified them as Tu-16 Badger aircraft, it was time to take photographs. Using a special 35mm camera with an automatic wind-on facility and plenty of film, I moved to the rear of the formation, took a photograph of both sides and underneath Badger number four, then moved on to the next machine.

“Just as I completed the photo shoot of the formation’s third Badger, my peripheral vision picked up a shadow passing over the Lightning’s cockpit. I glanced up to see another formation of four Badgers cross about 500ft above me. This seemed suddenly to emphasize the surreal nature of what was happening around me; as if caught up in some kind of crazy dream, I felt the need to pinch myself to return to reality. A small voice within me whispered, ‘Well I’ll be darned.’

“The situation, though, was no mere flight of fancy. There was a job to be done and before long, when I was joined by a Victor in-flight refueling tanker, my Lightning’s fuel tanks were filled to full. For the next one-and-a-half hours, as I moved from one Soviet formation to the next, I was able to photograph proceedings for posterity. Never before had we seen such masses and never, hopefully, were we likely to do so again. The reaction of Soviet crews was intriguing: some would studiously ignore us and these Bears and Badgers presumably had political observers on board.

Bear D was heading straight for Leuchars

“Crews on the non-political machines seemed to react altogether differently — almost festively — with chicken legs, drink cans, maybe even the odd tumblers of vodka waved around happily. After all, I had to remind myself, this was supposed to be some kind of bizarre birthday bash. If, from time to time, I asked Saxa Vord for ‘pigeons’ (i.e. heading and distance) to base, some of the Soviet crews would helpfully hold a map against one of their side windows and point. I became increasingly amazed by the turn of events. I had become embroiled in the affair by chance and, ridiculously, I seemed, along with the Victor crew and another Lightning that eventually entered the fray, to represent the entire people of the Western world.”

‘But that was not the end of the story. Quite conveniently, the tanker pilot reported that he was sitting with a Bear D that was heading straight for Leuchars and did we have any film left to record the event for posterity. So, we went to join him and expended the last of our films in various three-ship formations. At around 200 miles to go to base the Bear rocked his wings and turned gently away.’

Gyles concludes: “It was the following day, as I thumbed through the pages of various newspapers, that I came across a copy of one of my photographs in The Daily Telegraph with the caption: ‘Strike Command pilots are becoming increasingly adept at “Bear hunting” and although unable to communicate with the Russian aircrews, appropriate hand signals are invariably exchanged.’”

Phantom Boys is published by Grub Street Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by Royal Air Force, Arpingstone and Mike Freer – Touchdown-aviation via Wikipedia

That time a lone RAF Lightning intercepted a horde of 80 Soviet strategic bombers

May 25, 2024 0 comment

Cold War

Flying the SR-71 with just one engine in full afterburner was Blackbird aircrews’ most dangerous operation

by Till Daisd May 23, 2024

written by Till Daisd

The SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71, the most sophisticated spy plane in the Blackbird family, which also included the A-12 and YF-12, was created by a team of Lockheed personnel under the direction of Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, who was vice president of Lockheed’s Advanced Development Company Projects at the time. Known as the “Skunk Works,” this group is now a division of Lockheed Martin. The Blackbird completed its first flight on Dec. 22, 1964.

The SR-71 was built to reach altitudes of up to 85,000 feet and cruise at “Mach 3+,” or more than three times the speed of sound, or over 2,200 miles per hour.

SR-71 Blackbird flying with just one engine in full afterburner

The amazing pictures in this post, taken on Nov. 1, 1981, by US Air Force (USAF) Scene Camera Operator Ken Hackman, show an SR-71 Blackbird employing only one rudder and one engine running at full afterburner.

Why is that?

‘That is what we called a “single-engine go around,”’ says Stormy Boudreaux, SR-71 Blackbird pilot. ‘It was a practiced emergency procedure. It simulated what you had to do if you were making a single-engine approach to land and for a variety of reasons something made the runway or the landing impossible so you “went around” on only one engine. The tremendous thrust with one engine in full afterburner and the other in idle was eye-opening! To counter the yaw from that engine required full rudder as well as banking the aircraft into the good engine in order to maintain your flight direction down the runway.

Flying the SR-71 with just one engine in full afterburner was Blackbird aircrews’ most dangerous operation. SR-71 pilots explain why.

‘Most twin-engine aircraft have to do something similar but it’s darn right frightening the first time you try it in the SR-71. That one engine in AB is really pushing the nose around trying to turn the jet away from that engine and the amount of bank angle when at low speed makes you glad you are strapped tightly in the seat. It’s almost a knife-edge pass!’

Single engine go around

Boudreaux is echoed by David Peters, another SR-71 pilot.

‘As Stormy said the picture[s] indicate a single engine go around. Thrust was never an issue. What became imperative was the ability to point the airplane. Under most conditions full opposite rudder and a slight bank into the operating engine was enough. By under certain conditions other factors came into play. Minimum control speed being most important.

‘We had a couple of missions out of Mildenhall that went hot to the tankers. That required a heavy takeoff using a 65,000-pound yo-yo fuel load. In the winter time with freezing temperatures in England min control speed was a huge factor. Once the burners lit if you lost an engine on takeoff once the burners were lit your only option was to eject. Why you ask.

Blackbird aircrews’ most dangerous operation

‘Well the runway there is only 8,000 feet. There was so much thrust developed in the cold, heavy air climate that your speed combined with gross weight would not allow you to abort since you couldn’t stop the airplane. There was plenty of thrust available to fly on one engine but there was so much thrust you could not control it below min control speed which in those cases was generally around 260 knots. So, the only thing you could do was pull both engines to idle pop the chute and eject.

‘I always felt that was perhaps our most dangerous operation.’

Check out Habubrats SR-71’s Twitter profile and Born into the Wilde Blue Yonder’s Facebook page for further Blackbird photos and stories.

Photo by Scene Camera Operator Ken Hackman / U.S. Air Force

May 23, 2024 0 comment

History

Why a US Army UH-1 Huey crew member had great difficulty prepping raw meat for a meal since the mission where he had to evac seven KIA South Vietnam soldiers

by Till Daisd May 23, 2024

written by Till Daisd

The UH-1 Huey

The UH-1 “Iroquois” helicopter, also known as the “Huey” for the phonetic sound of its original designation, HU-1, served as the Army’s workhorse throughout the Vietnam War. The Army had great expectations for the helicopter’s combat effectiveness, but it took some time for the technology to reach that level of development during World War II. Early helicopter versions, such as the widely used OH-13 “Sioux” and the USAF H-19, were used for medical evacuation and resupply transports during the Korean War. These early aircraft’s combat experiences taught crucial lessons that helped create the UH-1.

The UH-1 Huey during the Vietnam War

The first Hueys were transported to Vietnam in 1958 when they were employed in “dustoff” medical evacuation (medevac) operations by US advisors. The Army incorporated the helicopter into its broader operations during the Vietnam War, extending the platform’s role beyond medevac. Because of its reputation for “doing anything a horse could do,” the Huey went from being a means for moving troops and supplies to providing direct support for combat guns.

The beloved Huey was called Slick or Dustoff. What were the differences between a Slick and a Dustoff?

The UH-1 Slick

A Vietnam vet and former UH-1 Huey crew member explains on Quora;

‘Slicks were primarily used for transporting troops, supplies, cargo, VIPs, maintenance material missions, etc. Slicks were typically armed with two M60 machine guns, one on each side. The left gun was manned by the crew chief who also prepped the ship. The right gun was manned by an enlisted man we typically called “the gunner.” He was responsible for cleaning and maintaining the M60, a daily job.

‘The M60’s on a slick were primarily for defensive purposes. You would not typically use a slick for attacking enemy positions. If a slick got in trouble with the enemy, the best thing to do was to back off, shoot your way out if you have to, then call in the gunships.’

The UH-1 Dustoff

US Army UH-1 Huey crew member explains why he has great difficulty prepping raw meat for a meal since the mission where he had to evac seven KIA South Vietnam soldiers

‘Dustoffs were primarily used for med-evacs and carried the requisite medical gear to treat wounded in flight. The crew in the back often were just the crew chief and a medic or two. They also often had a red cross on the nose. Via Geneva Convention, dust-offs were not allowed to carry armament, which in theory, would insulate them from enemy fire. Of course, most VC had never heard of the Geneva Convention and dust offs frequently took fire. The red cross on the nose was a perfect aiming point. Since the crew had no way to return fire, the dust-off mission was one of the hairiest in VN.

‘So that’s the difference between slicks and dustoffs. The helo’s were the same but the armament, crews and the missions were different. However, if there were wounded on the ground that needed evacuation and there was no dust-off available, a nearby slick would be called upon to medevac the casualties out. This happened to me.’

Slick called to evac seven Army of Vietnam soldiers from a hot Landing Zone

‘My slick was called to evac seven Army of Vietnam soldiers from a hot Landing Zone. The gunner on the right suppressed the enemy while I loaded the ARVNs [Army of the Republic of Vietnam] through the left doorway. All were dead. The KIA’s buddies were in a huge hurry as we were under fire, so they simply tossed the KIA’s into the cabin. We got out of there in a hurry with a pile of seven limp, shredded, burned, bleeding, broken, leaking ARVNs and the swirling air current in the cabin distributed their remnants and bodily fluids throughout the helo’s interior. And on me. We dropped them off at a Vietnamese mortuary, then flew home. That night, I scrubbed and scrubbed the cabin floor but could not get the stench out. The bodily fluids had seeped through the gaps in the floor boards and down into the belly.’

Great difficulty prepping raw meat for a meal

He concludes;

‘To this day, I remember the smell of freshly cut and shredded flesh. The only time I had a flashback after VN was when I had to visit a slaughter house to gather 5 gallons of bovine blood for testing a medical device. The smell was overwhelming and I had to get out. Butcher’s businesses had the same effect on me. Awful. It’s also the reason I have great difficulty prepping raw meat for a meal. Thank God my wife does not mind.’

Huey crew members explain why UH-1 helicopters (almost) always flew with doors open during the Vietnam War

Photo by U.S. Army

May 23, 2024 0 comment

Cold War

When a KC-135 Stratotanker crew crossed Vietnam DMZ and went into a dive to refuel a flamed-out F-105 Thunderchief

by Till Daisd May 22, 2024

written by Till Daisd

The KC-135 Stratotanker

The KC-135 Stratotanker was the first offspring of the Dash 80. It was the only tanker employed by the Strategic Air Command for fifteen years, and it was built especially for aerial refueling.

The propeller-powered KC-97 tankers were replaced by the KC-135 because they were unable to keep up with the jet fighters and bombers. The last KC-97 and the first KC-135, dubbed “The City of Renton,” shared the Renton tarmac when they rolled out of the plant in 1956, providing a clear image of The Boeing Company’s full conversion to jet power.

Nine years of the Vietnam War saw 813,000 aerial refuelings of combat aircraft by KC-135s.

KC-135 Stratotanker crossing Vietnam DMZ

To save two F-105s that were running low on fuel, one tanker even crossed the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between Vietnam and China.

Richard Crandall, former USAF F-111 and F-15E Pilot at US Air Force (1980-1998), explains on Quora;

‘In the book Thud Ridge – Wing Commander Jack Broughton was leading a 2 ship of F-105s that was attempting the rescue of a downed Lt who had been down for a week.

‘They had helicopters inbound but one had problems and both left – in accordance with “doctrine”. He commented that it was within the rules but in previous rescues, one helicopter had been willing to continue alone. As an A-1 was leaving it was hit and caught fire – it called a Mayday. Broughton and his wingman, with no fuel to do so returned to CAP him in case he too ejected. The A-1 went into a vertical high-speed dive – gutsy move Maverick – as the high speed could have caused the wing root where the fire was to fail from the weakened hot metal. The fire however went out.

KC-135 heading to Vietnam DMZ

‘Broughton and his wingman, Ken Bell, now had no fuel to make it home. They called for help – eventually a Strategic Air Command KC-135 answered. I think the call was “do you have any gas for us?” and the reply was along the lines of “not really, but what little we have sounds like you need more than us”. The tanker broke the rules from SAC and headed North of the DMZ to meet them. The tanker was a Strategic Asset – needed for Air to Air refuelings for B-52s in case nuclear war with Russia occurred.’

Crandall continues;

‘Normally fighters will turn onto the tanker. The fighters and the tanker fly towards each other in opposite direction. When a certain distance away the fighter does a 180 degree turn and rolls out behind the tanker. Col Broughton was told by Bell “Boss, I’m hurting” as he was so low on fuel. Wingman never ever ever say that – the calls are “2, Joker, Bingo, Mayday and I’ve got the ugly one (at the bar)”. Colonel Broughton knew they had minutes only.

Flamed out F-105

‘The tanker did a fighter turn onto the fighters instead – a descending turn to roll out in front of the 2 F-105s. As the tanker rolled out Bell’s jet flamed out. The boomer told the pilot to push over into a dive – probably 10 to 20 degrees nose low and then talked him into position in front of the flamed out 105. Bell had likely extended its Ram Air Turbine to have electrical and hydraulic power without the engine running. Remember that the pilot in the tanker cannot see the 105 – it is behind and below him – has to solely go by the directions of the boomer. The boomer stabs the boom into Bell’s 105 and pumps the gas. On the boom Bell does an airstart. Meanwhile Col Broughton’s jet is chugging – just like in a car about to run out of gas. He jumps onto the boom before his engine quits and gets gas. All 3 aircraft return to Col Broughton’s base in Thailand – the 135 had to go there as no gas to return home.’

Crandall concludes;

‘I am sure that the entire tanker crew was hospitalized due to massive alcohol poisoning from the drinks they were given at the bar that night. Every fighter pilot who hear of this story has tremendous respect for all involved in this incident. Truly awesome aviation on everybody’s parts. On Col Broughton and his wingman for not abandoning an aircraft in distress and for the tanker that saved both of them.’

The Story of the KC-135 Stratotanker pilot that went into a 20-degree dive to refuel a flamed out F-105 Thunderchief — A US Air Force Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker refuels four Republic F-105D *Thunderchief*s over Southeast Asia, in November 1967.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

May 22, 2024 0 comment

Cold War

CIA stored in boxes A-12 spy planes to Area 51 to keep the Oxcart project a secret

by Till Daisd May 21, 2024

written by Till Daisd

The A-12 Oxcart at Area 51

Area 51, a top-secret military installation hidden in the desert northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, has been the testing ground for the United States’ most classified aircraft programs since 1955. The site is Groom Lake, referred to as “The Ranch” by the crews and workers of the time.

There, the Lockheed U-2 had been tested and flown. However, plans were underway in 1961 for the advent of an airplane that promised powers that would astound. The “Skunk Works” division of Lockheed, under commission by the CIA, created the A-12, which was intended to conduct reconnaissance missions over any target at heights above 80,000 feet and speeds exceeding Mach 3. If demonstrated to be effective, the A-12’s combination of speed and altitude would render it practically invulnerable to interception. This was the first aircraft flown under the renowned “Blackbird” name.

A-12 Oxcart stored in boxes

The A-12 had to be transported from its Skunk Works production site in Burbank to Area 51. In order to create a wide enough space for the aircraft, they occasionally had to excavate around the road during the trip.

Frank Murray, A-12 Pilot and Roadrunners Internationale Historian, contributed some exclusive details in his extensive and beautiful article (CLICK HERE to read the complete story). GROOM LAKE – AREA 51 A-12 ARCHANGEL CIA PROJECT OXCART, HOW THEY GOT HERE: On-The-Road:

‘The pictures show the varied nature of the trip from Burbank to Area 51. A couple of pictures show what can only be described as a “revolting development,” getting the big box wheels sunk in soft soil. Wonder how they got it jacked up and going again. No pictures of these steps. Several photographs show how close the box comes to signs, bridge abutments, etc. Travel was allowed on mid-week days, with no movement on the weekends or Holidays. During one of the movements, a Greyhound bus nicked the big box. The bus driver was paid cash for the bus repairs without any resultant attention to the details. The end of the road was the main hangar complex at Area 51, where the airplane was off-loaded into the hangar for re-assembly.

Did you know? To keep the A-12 project secret CIA stored in boxes Oxcart spy planes and moved them from Skunk Works production site to Area 51

A-12 Oxcart Arriving at Area 51

‘The first convoy departed Burbank on 26 February 1962 and arrived three days later. The second convoy carrying Article 122 departed for Area 51 on 26 June 1962, followed by Article 123 in August 1962. The two-seat Article 124 got to the Area in November 1962. The rest of the A-12s and the three YF-12s arrived by mid-1964.’

Murray’s article continues with an eyewitness account:

‘To whom it may concern:

‘My name is Jim Noce, and I recall being on those moves from the “Skunk Works” to the ranch. We left the Area early in the morning, taking turns driving until we reached Burbank. When we arrived, the Article was concealed in a large crate and covered with a tarp on the semi, ready to travel. We headed East on the Freeway, and the California State Police gave escort.

‘The CSP had long poles along the route to clear hanging power lines or unpin road signs hinged for clearance purposes. When we reached the CA/NV border, we pulled to the side of the road and ate sack ‘lunches made up by the mess hall in the Area. We also had igloo coolers of lemonade and thermos of hot coffee or chocolate. We also had soda pop. Not bad for the ’60s.

Greyhound Bus barely scraping the side of the A-12 Oxcart box

‘After we had lunch, we headed up Highway 95 until we reached Mercury, that had our security clearance for entering the Atomic Proving Grounds. I may be wrong, but I think that once we reached the Ranch, the Article was uncrated and put on a cart by something like a cherry picker and I do believe the box was broken down and loaded back on the trailer, and sent back to Burbank. I never knew of anyone taking pictures from our group and I do recall the incident where a Greyhound Bus barely scraped the side of the box, and the driver was given cash to fix the few scratches avoiding insurance claims.

‘Sincerely, Jim Noce Former CIA agent Area 51.’

Check out Habubrats SR-71’s Twitter profile and Born into the Wilde Blue Yonder’s Facebook page for further Blackbird photos and stories.

Photo by Roadrunners Internationale

ADDITIONAL CREDITS

Dorsey G. Kammerer – Former Lockheed Enginer – Source of Photos
Jason Owen – Grandson of Kammerer- Contribution of Photos
Jim Noce – Former CIA Security Participant
Bob Murphy – Former Lockheed Project Manager
T.D. Barnes – Former EG&G Special Projects
Central Intelligence Agency
Lockheed-California Company
California Highway Patrol
Nevada Highway Patrol

Be sure to check out Roadrunners Internationale for some unique info about U-2, A-12 and YF-12 programs.

May 21, 2024 0 comment

History

Even though the Boeing F-32 may have had some advantages over the F-35, it would have had the same issues as the Lightning II

by Till Daisd May 20, 2024

written by Till Daisd

The Boeing X-32

Boeing was given a four-year contract by the US Department of Defense in 1996 for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program competition’s concept demonstration phase. The intention was to create a low-cost, multirole tactical aircraft that could be used by the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as the Royal Air Force and Navy of the United Kingdom.

At its plant in Palmdale, California, Boeing assembled the X-32A and X-32B concept demonstration aircraft.

On Sep. 18, 2000, the X-32A made its first flight from Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The X-32A demonstrated conventional takeoff and landing characteristics for the Air Force as well as carrier approach flying qualities for the Navy. The aircraft made 66 flights during four months of testing. The flights validated the aircraft’s handling qualities for inflight refueling, weapons bay operations, and supersonic flight.

The X-32A took off from Palmdale and made its first flight to Edwards Air Force Base in California on September 18, 2000. The Air Force used the X-32A to demonstrate conventional takeoff and landing characteristics, and the Navy used it to demonstrate carrier approach flying qualities. The aircraft was tested for four months, making sixty-six flights. The aircraft’s handling qualities for supersonic flight, weapons bay operations, and in-flight refueling were confirmed by the flights.

On March 29, 2001, the X-32B aircraft took off for its maiden flight. It completed 78 test flights in four months, including a transcontinental ferry flight from Edwards Air Force Base to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The aircraft successfully transitioned to and from STOVL flight mode by using its direct-lift system to redirect thrust from the aircraft’s cruise nozzle to the lift nozzles. Additionally, the X-32B demonstrated off its capacity for hovering and vertical landings.

Following the end of the flight tests in July 2001, the Department of Defense declared on October 26 of that same year that the Lockheed Martin X-35 had been chosen over the X-32. The X-35 was further developed into the F-35 Lightning II.

The Boeing F-32 may have had some advantages over the F-35

Were there any areas where the Boeing X-32 was better than the Lockheed Martin X-35?

‘Of note was that the X-32 arrived at the competition nearly a month before the X-35. It was ready to go, and clearly had the early lead,’ says David Tussey, former US Navy A-7 pilot, on Quora.

– Probably cheaper. The X-32 took a less complex design, more manufacturable approach. And the proposed final design, which was different from the prototype, was much more conventional (dropped that one-piece delta wing).

– More survivable in combat. Probably, again owing to the less complex design.

– Probably more expandable, over time. I think the Lockheed design is somewhat more rigid, but that’s mostly speculation.

Tussey concludes;

‘One can only imagine what the designs would have looked like had the STOVL requirement been dropped. Once the Lockheed thrust-fan was proven to work, the competition was all over.’

The Boeing F-32 may have had some advantages over the F-35 but it would have had the same issues of the Lightning II. Here’s why. — This is the X-32 as flown and tested. Note the large delta wing.

The F-32 would have had the same issues of the F-35

However, as the mockup of the final F-32 shows, the aircraft would have had a totally revised wing (in place of the large delta wing of the X-32) and taileron concept. ‘When the competition winner was announced, this F-32 only existed on paper and in fiberglass models. It would have required years of further development to come to fruition,’ says David Rendall, an aviation expert, on Quora.

‘Boeing hadn’t fully appreciated the naval aspects of control in carrier landings and so had to start afresh after they finalised the X-32. It was a huge error on their behalf and was one of the reasons they lost the deal, X-35 was much closer to the final product.’

Rendall concludes;

‘Most of the problems with F-35 have come from new avionics and coding issues and maintenance of the stealth outer coating. These would have been the same systems and materials used on F-32 so it would have had many of the same delays and problems on top of it needing a couple more years in the wind tunnel.’

Photo by Boeing and U.S. Air Force

May 20, 2024 0 comment

Cold War

Naval Aviator recalls F-4 sliding off carrier deck during barricade landing

by Till Daisd May 19, 2024

written by Till Daisd

The Barricade landing

Navy carrier operations are a furious ballet that flogs the senses, even in the calmest circumstances. This is taken a step further when the choice is made to rig the barricade, giving a few dancers PCP and sledgehammers.

Tim Hibbetts, former US Navy A-6 Intruder and F/A-18 Hornet pilot, explains on Quora;

‘If the call to rig the netting is made, it’s because the jet can’t land normally and the captain feels the conditions are perfect to take it aboard versus letting the pilot eject alongside the ship and simply plucking him out of the water, returning the plane to the taxpayers (though inconveniently parked). Even if the plane lands perfectly, there’s still a high chance that it’s going to be badly damaged. They are just not designed to take the barricade anymore.

‘Why so dangerous? The primary reason is that once the plane gets past a certain point on the approach, there is no way to safely wave off. It’s committed. In fact, you cut power and hopefully engage the netting as you touchdown.’

F-4 Phantom II sliding off the deck of the carrier

David Tussey, former US Navy A-7E Corsair II pilot, recalls on Quora;

‘I saw one snap in my entire Navy career of 20+ years. It was an F-4 that had almost hit the ramp on the previous approach. The impact broke one of the main landing gears in half, but the airplane managed to get airborne again. A decision was made to rig the barricade and trap the Phantom in it. It was late at night… Pitch dark.

‘The pilot flew a flawless approach to the barricade. As directed, he shut the engine down just before touch down. The aircraft engaged the barrier successfully, but the sheared main landing gear sliced through the bottom cable of the barricade, rendering the netting useless. The aircraft slid off the deck and the crew ejected. The RIO was recovered alive, but the pilot was never found. Tragic event.’

Tussey concludes;

‘This was on the USS Independence in the mid-70s. We later did several trial riggings of the barricade and discovered some mistakes in procedures, but nothing that would have prevented that accident. It was terrible watching that happen in real-time on the flight deck camera.’

Photo by U.S. Navy

May 19, 2024 0 comment

History

Vigilante pilot recalls giving a nearly Mach 2 ride to Jackie Cochran in the A3J

by Till Daisd May 18, 2024

written by Till Daisd

The Vigilante

The North American A3J Vigilante was once intended to be a Mach 2 all-weather bomber with nuclear weapons capability. However, as nuclear submarines took over the Navy’s strategic deterrence mission, the Vigilante was converted into a fast reconnaissance aircraft. The resulting RA-5C Vigilante had advanced electronic equipment installed in its bomb bay, including vertical, oblique, and split-image cameras, passive electronic countermeasures, and side-looking airborne radar.

The Navy was eager for publicity after the Vigilante’s maiden flight in August 1958 and its numerous outstanding performance milestones by June 1960. According to Mark A. Frankel’s story in his book North American Aviation Jet Age: The Columbus Years 1941-1988, the public relations department of the NAA was authorized to invite noted aviatrix Jackie Cochran to ride in the rear cockpit of a Vigilante as it exceeded Mach 2.

A nearly Mach 2 ride to Jackie Cochran

Test pilot John Moore recalls the event:

‘We checked Jackie out in the rear seat of the A3J-1 Vigi. There were no flight controls in that cockpit, but she really did not care on this mission. She just wanted to achieve Mach 2. With the wisdom of a woman who held many aviation records, she carefully reviewed and digested cockpit matters related to the ejection system, radios, and the like. But she was impatient and wanted to get on with it.

‘The day was clear and warm, which caused me some concern. At 35,000 feet the temperature norm is minus 65 degrees[,] but on this day the weatherman gave us a minus 56 degree reading, which would be marginal for attaining Mach 2. Our performance guys said it might be close, but I should make that speed okay with my precious cargo in the back seat. So off we went. Our FAA[-]assigned supersonic corridor stretched from Knoxville, Tennessee[,] to Columbus, Ohio[,] with the provision that we be subsonic over both cities.

‘About Mach 1.6 our acceleration rate became noticeably slower as the “Vigi” engines struggled with the warmer air. At Mach 1.9 we were accelerating very slowly, and I was running out of fuel and supersonic corridor at the same time. But I knew exactly what to do I pushed the intercom button and said with pride, “Jackie, here we are at Mach 2.” There was a moment’s silence, then she replied, “Buster, you may be at Mach 2 in the front cockpit, but I am only at Mach 1.96 in this cockpit.”

‘Rats! I had forgotten that she had a Mach meter on the instrument panel in her cockpit…’

At last, Jackie Cochran reaches Mach 2

Moore concludes;

‘She elected to stay another day to try again with more optimum temperatures projected along with a faster pilot. So, our boss, Jim Pearce, saved the day by taking his elegant passenger to Mach 2,01 in both cockpits of the Vigilante at the same time.’

North American Aviation Jet Age The Columbus Years 1941-1988 is published by Schiffer Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force

May 18, 2024 0 comment

Cold War

US Navy A-7 pilot recalls when he flew alone into a formation of Soviet Tu-16 bombers to see if they were conducting a missile strike against his carrier

by Till Daisd May 17, 2024

written by Till Daisd

A lonely US Navy A-7 intercepts a formation of Soviet Tu-16 Badger bombers

The Tupolev Tu-16, also known by the NATO reporting name Badger, was an innovative project that was developed in response to a need from the Soviet Ministry of Defense for a fast bomber that would counter the threats posed by NATO. Built around two turbojets, the most powerful jet engines in the world at the time, and it was the first Soviet medium bomber with swept wings. The Tu-16 was first flown in 1952 and was used for missile strikes, Electronic CounterMeasures, the delivery of nuclear bombs, and reconnaissance.

Upon entering service, the Badger was employed to track the movements of NATO carrier task forces. Western aviation publications were full of images of Soviet Tu-16s flying over the US Navy and Royal Navy aircraft carrier decks in the 1960s and 1970s.

Tu-16 Badger “simulated” attack on two US Carriers

Former US Navy A-7 Corsair II pilot David Tussey recalls on Quora;

‘I once intercepted a Badger “simulated” attack on two US Carriers operating in the Sea of Japan in 1986. The Badgers were out of Vladivostok. It was about 3 am in the morning. 5–6 aircraft. The formation sped quickly (450kts+) towards the carrier battle group, reached their presumed “launch position” about 100 miles away, and then turned back and slowed down to return home.

‘My job was to verify that there were no missiles on the Badger’s wings, which there weren’t any… So, we knew it was just a simulated attack. Using the carrier battle group as training. The carrier had spotted these aircraft very shortly after takeoff and was tracking them for well over a hundred miles before they turned back.

Flying inside a formation of Soviet Badger bombers

‘Got to admit…it was weird flying inside a formation of Soviet Badger aircraft in the pitch black of night…and they didn’t have their lights on. (My lights were on full display, so they knew for sure I was there.)

‘Creeeeepy. I’m sure the Soviet strike leader was none too happy to have this Navy jet along with them, moving from plane to plane to ascertain they weren’t carrying any anti-ship missiles.’

Tussey concludes;

‘In the end, the Badgers turned back. I left the formation. We tracked them all the way back to Vlad. I returned to the carrier just in time to catch an early breakfast, then hit the rack.

‘Just another Tuesday in Naval Aviation.’

Photo by U.S. Navy

May 17, 2024 0 comment

History

USAF F-4 crew members ejected two times from a Phantom II, grounded, and never flew an F-4 again

by Till Daisd May 16, 2024

written by Till Daisd

The F-4

Constructed initially as a high-altitude interceptor, the F-4 Phantom II soon proved to be a unique aircraft, setting more than a dozen world records for speed, altitude, and climb time. It was unique because it carried no internal cannon, so the F-4 relied on radar-guided missiles for offense. An individual known as a Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) was needed to use its sophisticated sensors and weaponry.

The aircraft’s first flight took place in 1958 and was first delivered to Navy and Marine Corps squadrons in 1960. It became one of the most frequently used aircraft in aviation history when its performance and versatility eventually drew the attention of not only the US Air Force but also the air forces of 10 other countries.

The F-4 flew with the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels and was the premier air superiority fighter for the Navy and Air Force for more than 20 years. Was there anything negative about the legendary F-4 Phantom II, even though its amazing skills are undeniable?

USAF F-4 Phantom II crew members were grounded

David Ecale, who served in the US Air Force, explains on Quora;

‘For F-4 pilots who eject a second time from an F-4, there is a very special punishment:

‘THEY ARE GROUNDED AND WILL NEVER FLY AN F4 AGAIN!

‘Who gives them this punishment? Their boss? Nope! The Board of Inquiry? Nope! The Flight Surgeon? Yup!

‘You see, ejection from an F-4 permanently compresses your spine. Two times & you’re done! (Note the profile of the WSO [the photo depicts a US Navy Phantom II hence the backseater was called RIO] in this picture. That’s some serious acceleration. You can actually see the compression in action.)

Airman explains why USAF F-4 Crew Members who Ejected two times from a Phantom II were Grounded and Never Flew an F-4 Again

‘WSOs get grounded, too!

‘I was at Luke AFB when the Base Commander ejected. I watched him get wheeled into the Hospital ER on a gurney. … It was his second F-4 bailout.’

By contrast, there was not a two-ejection limit for US Navy Phantom II crews as explains John Chesire, former F-4 and F-14 Tomcat pilot;

‘While the two-ejection limit was true for the Air Force, it was not true for the US Navy. I once knew and flew with a Navy RIO who had five ejections. Only the first four were successful. (Lt. David J. “Goose” Lortscher. His callsign Goose later became the RIO character’s callsign in the movie, Top Gun.)’

Photo by U.S. Navy

May 16, 2024 0 comment

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