Who Likes Aircraft ?

[super-bee_ski]

So 'Ski' my son might be going to Canada to put boots on Northrop-Grumman Firebird(?)block 2. You probably know way more than me. Drone/piloted.

I do know Northrup-Grumann is the current "leader" in advanced drone technology along with the super secret Lockheed-Martin "Q" series
(Currently being launched out of Cypress, in the Mediterranean sea for Syria conflicts)
Some "DEEP" thinkers there in Northrup!


We have a team mate here with us who worked Northrup Drone program for a couple of years....
He said the Firebird is a totally modular component!
Stored or shipped in boxes and can be readily assembled for battlefield recon.
He says there is a "manned" and an "unmanned" version.

Northrup Firebird:

 

[super-bee_ski]

PS: I'll bet he may be going to "Cold Lake" Canada?
Been there...it's remote!

 

[super-bee_ski]

Now:
there is also a Northrup "Firehawk"
The Firehawk is a remote unmanned autonomous Helicopter.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Here's an interesting one-

View attachment 419082 View attachment 419083

Looks kind of like a predecessor to the Colonial Skimmer....

which was the predecessor to the Lake....

 

[Photon440]

I do know Northrup-Grumann is the current "leader" in advanced drone technology along with the super secret Lockheed-Martin "Q" series
(Currently being launched out of Cypress, in the Mediterranean sea for Syria conflicts)
Some "DEEP" thinkers there in Northrup!


We have a team mate here with us who worked Northrup Drone program for a couple of years....
He said the Firebird is a totally modular component!
Stored or shipped in boxes and can be readily assembled for battlefield recon.
He says there is a "manned" and an "unmanned" version.

Northrup Firebird:
View attachment 422599

I think that was the last big project that Burt Rutan worked on, it has his distinctive design look. Buying Scaled Composites was a great move for Northrup Grumman - this project went from concept to first flight in one year.

 

[Bladecutter]

I think that was the last big project that Burt Rutan worked on, it has his distinctive design look. Buying Scaled Composites was a great move for Northrup Grumman - this project went from concept to first flight in one year.

I've read that the SR-71 was concept to first flight in 3 months.
Cal Trans took a year & a half to rebuild an overpass.

 

[Slap Stick]

It was over two years between concept and first flight.
And the SR was basically a stretched A-12.

 

[super-bee_ski]

I think that was the last big project that Burt Rutan worked on, it has his distinctive design look. Buying Scaled Composites was a great move for Northrup Grumman - this project went from concept to first flight in one year.

sure did,
Great and "smart" acquisition...
I'm 20 miles from the Mojave airport, home of Scaled Composites, well, here is a list.....

ASB Avionics
BAE Systems
Code3 IT
Firestar Technologies
Flight Research, Inc
Flight Test Aerospace
Incotec
Interorbital Systems
Masten Space Systems
Mercy Air
Monster Fitness
National Test Pilot School
Orbital ATK
Progress Rail Services
Race Communications
Scaled Composites
Scroggins Aviation
Space Studies Institute
Shaw, Moses, Mendenhall & Associates Insurance
Stratolaunch Systems
Stratz & Company Financial Services
Stuart O. Witt Event Center
The Spaceship Company
Virgin Galactic
Voyager Restaurant
XCOR Aerospace

 

[super-bee_ski]

I've read that the SR-71 was concept to first flight in 3 months.
Cal Trans took a year & a half to rebuild an overpass.

Sorry Jimi,
Not accurate, that article
We didn't even have the Titanium!

 

[Car Nut]

 

[beanhead]

One of the ships my gramps was on during WWII sank near Espiritu Santo (now Vanuatu). The blacksheep were stationed there at the time and he had some neat stories and pictures of the corasairs and pappy boyington, so they've been my favorite prop fighter since I was a kid

 

[oldbee]

Bean, WHY wouldn't the Corsair be anybody's favorite? Big engine, biggest prop,etc.

 

[beanhead]

I think what did it for me was the funny-looking wings....!

 

[oldbee]

Something about wing clearance on carriers with the landing gear. My dad worked on the hydraulics on them in Korean War , USS Essex

 

[Basket case]

One of the ships my gramps was on during WWII sank near Espiritu Santo (now Vanuatu). The blacksheep were stationed there at the time and he had some neat stories and pictures of the corasairs and pappy boyington, so they've been my favorite prop fighter since I was a kid

View attachment 422674

 

[Bladecutter]

Sorry Jimi,
Not accurate, that article
We didn't even have the Titanium!

Why i qualified by saying i had read it, without stating it as fact. Did not know.

 

[Bladecutter]

Something about wing clearance on carriers with the landing gear. My dad worked on the hydraulics on them in Korean War , USS Essex

Take off clearance for the huge prop.

 

[Basket case]

 

[oldbee]

"Basket" loved the video!! Gotta love those old piston engines!

 

[Photon440]

Lockheed A-12 early design schemes started in late 1957. There were a lot of changes and upgrades during that time, starting with A-1. A-12 was the Jan.1960 development that was approved and ordered by the CIA, first flight was in April 1962 with P&W J75 engines. By 1963, with J58 engines these planes were already hitting Mach 3.2. Production ended in 1964 when the SR71 took over. Actual use of the A-12 ended in 1968.

Here's an A-12 (M21 variant) carrying a D-21 drone.